Maria Isgrò Petrika, the eldest of four children, arrived in Australia in June 1965, recalled by her father's sister with the intention of matching her with a young man whom, after a few doubts, Maria then agreed to marry.
Originally from Sant'Agata di Militello, in the province of Messina, Maria had come to marry a family friend of Serbian origin. She was 18 years old. After travelling between Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Kalgoorlie and marriage and family issues, Maria managed to rebuild her life.
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