“I met an Australian Navy man named Cyril at the age of 17 and fell madly in love. My family felt I was too young to be interested in boys and I was sent to live with my father in Tamworth in the country. A year later Cyril followed me to the country and my father realised this was serious and I wasn’t going to marry a farmer as was his wish…

My mother had a Café in Sydney at the bottom of George Street towards the wharf. I had to stay at my grandmothers at night times because it was war time in Sydney and the young yanks from the army, navy and air force were out and about, and at the age of 16 we were very interested- but we were kept well away.

I have 10 children from 2 marriages. I was a widow for seven years between marriages…”