Ferdinand Cornelius Boers (1935)

Ferdinand Cornelius Boers, known as Ferdi (born 1936) was born in Holland, the Netherlands in 1935.

Early Life
Ferdi Boers was born in Valkenwaard, Holland, near the Belgian border. His German-born mother came to Holland as a child. His father was a cigar maker who played in a band four nights a week. After the Second World War the family decided to immigrate to America. They were denied because they had no sponsor. They were also denied from Canada and New Zealand for the same reason. The place that would accept them was Australia. They arrived in September 1954.

There were no jobs as cigar makers in Australia, and the employment office gave his father a job as a labourer at Emmco. Ferdi completed a three-year apprenticeship as a toolmaker along side his brother Keith, who later worked for Emmco in Sydney. Ferdi started as a labourer but after his exams completed his apprenticeship in 1957. In October that year his father was laid off but got a new job as a tool storeman, which he kept until his retirement. Ferdi and his father then formed a band, the Skymasters.

Marriage and Children
Ferdi Boers married Jennifer Ellen Smith (1942) 'Jenny' in 1961. They have two children:


 * Warwick Boers


 * Heidi Boers

Ferdi and Jenny Boers are based in Orange, New South Wales. Ferdi is a retired toolmaker, and Jenny is a retired stenographical secretary.