Her father, Bernhard Stracke, came to Beagle Bay from Germany in 1931 as a brother of the Pallotines, who ran a mission house there, near Broome. He joined the brotherhood at the age of 16 and learned the locksmith's trade. At the mission, he taught the young people several trades. It was there that he met Liz's mother, who grew up on the Mission, and has a typical Broome background, incorporating First Nations, Malaysia, Japan, China, Scotland and several others. After the Second World War, during which all residents above the 26th parallel had to leave northern Australia, he also left the Order and married Liz's mother Monica. The couple lived in Broome all their lives, and their daughter Liz, whom I spoke to, still lives in the most exciting town in the Kimberley. In between, however, she has visited Germany regularly, and learned her father's language there. We'll find out more about that soon, in the second part of the interview.
This is a photo of Liz' father and his family in Germany shortly after he joined the order of the Pallottines.
Bernhard Strake nach dem Eintritt bei der Pallottinern Source: Liz Davie
Monica Dolby, die Mutter von Liz Source: Liz Davie
Monica Dolbys Staatbürgerschaftsurkunde von 1946 Source: Liz Davie
Liz Davie schaut sich ihre Ahnenwand an Source: Trudi Latour
