STELLA (MARIA) VOOLSTRA nee MUSCAT
| Town/City | HEMMANT QLD. |
|---|---|
| First name | STELLA (MARIA) |
| Last name | VOOLSTRA nee MUSCAT |
| Country of Origin | MALTA |
| Date of Birth | 9TH JULY 1948 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1958 |
| Submitted by | STELLA (MARIA) VOOLSTRA |
Story
My father came to Mackay Qld. Aust. to work on the Sugar Farms with his uncle and due to the depression they had to walk out off their farm. My father was a young man so he returned to Malta and then married my mother. He always loved Australia and seeing that there wasn’t much of a future for my sister & I my parents immigrated on the $10 fare.
We came across on a P & O Straiteden in 1958 I was only going on 10. We travelled up the Suez Canal and I still remember the narrow passage. We stopped in places like Eden, Colombo and others. I enjoyed the trip, I use to go to the nursery and help look after the young ones.
We arrived at night time and we docked at midnight so could not see much, but the next morning when we woke up at our sponsors house, my sister & I looked out the window expecting to see Kangaroos & Koalas in the street. We were warned about the aboriginals and so we were a bit worried to go out. We soon bought our own house and lived in Coburg, suburb of Melbourne.
I have since returned to Malta to see my birthplace and family, but am pleased to be an Australian Citizen. I have married and had 2 daughters and have 2 grandchildren, this is home to me.