“There are secrets I will take to my grave,” Martha told her daughters, Helen and Eve. “I don’t want you to think I am a hero,” declared their father Feliks.

The horrors of war in Poland were to be left behind and Martha and Feliks Ash were determined they would create a new life in Melbourne and a loving family environment. It was time to enjoy the good life they could only dare to dream of in their struggles to survive the Holocaust.

Helen and Eve were determined to uncover their parents’ past and in doing so discovered the harrowing experiences that had been endured and overcome with extraordinary courage. Helen’s eighteen connected stories tell of unspeakable loss, cultural dislocation, chutzpah, hope, creativity, deception and love.

To be Launched: 24 July 2025