Andrea Andre Sabine Buehler

The subject of this portrait by Andrea Andre is Sabine Buehler, a family friend who modelled for the artist on a number of occasions.

‘My mother, sister and I met Andrea Andre and her two children on an Italian migrant ship in December 1952,’ Buehler recounted year later. ‘Both families came from Germany and were on their way to reunite with the respective husbands and fathers who had come to Australia some time earlier.

‘From 1965 to early 1969 I was overseas – the first two years spent working in Papua New Guinea and then hitchhiking through a large part of the world following the hippie trail. When I returned, Andrea asked me to model for this portrait, which I think she entitled Migrant woman. She felt strongly that migrants made a significant contribution to Australian society.’