My sister Beaula and I paid a month-long visit to Australia, to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, visiting friends and relatives. The highlight of the trip was seeing our Aunty Alice, the last of my dad's siblings. Aunty is 97 years now, and appears to be in good health, her mind crystal clear especially when recalling her childhood escapades.
Aunty never tired of anecdotes from her days of growing up in Boralessa. She appears to have been quite a tom boy, but may also have been my grandmother's favorite daughter. Aunty was glad to have Beaula and me to share her stories, because we are familiar with the people and places she mentioned. On one occasion, at cousin Virginia's home, she went on for more than an hour, recalling incidents from her childhood of more than 80 years ago.
This group photo shows Aunty Alice surrounded by Heather (Aunty's youngest), Beaula, Stan, and myself.
With Stan (Stanley Braine) at his place in Brisbane.
Beaula with Maureen, Aunty Alice's oldest.
A group photo at Maureen's home. Her husband Fuad and son are also in the photo.
With Gordon, Aunty Kate's son. He's elusive and apparently makes no effort to keep in touch with the four cousins in Brisbane. They were surprised to learn that he met with us.
With Virginia, Aunty Alice's second daughter. She has the loveliest home we stayed in.
In Melbourne, with some Chelvaratnam cousins, children of Aunty Amy. Lloyd, Ann, and Nagesh. In Sri Lanka, they lived in Negombo before emigrating to Australia.
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