Version 1: In 1960 the government social worker handling the adoption told Mum that our birth mother was a sensitive woman who only had half a house and who received no help from her relatives. Version 2: Quoted from the New South Wales Government, Department of Youth and Community Services. ‘Giving you up for adoption was a very difficult decision for your parents to make. They were experiencing financial difficulties and could not live on your father’s wage and support twin

I decided to research the history of Istria because my biological mother was Istrian. It was a bad job from the start and it finished off worse. Nevertheless, I am reminded of the quote from Cicero: ‘To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.’ So I proceed with confidence. Here is what I had: Silvana was born in Tar, Istria (today’s Croatia) in 1920, educated in Udine and Florence in Italy, travelled to Australia in 1950 (and thereafter)