2 My mother could not read or write, but she was naturally clever and street-wise. The five of us experienced hardships, including hunger, which is an indescribable pain. However, my mother worked extremely hard to provide food, even walking across vacant land looking for edible weeds to make sure we would survive. We owned enough olive trees and a small vineyard for our own use, so my mother encouraged her children to drink red wine, and flavour the food with olive oil. My mother was confident that the combination of both would give us enough strength to survive. At the end of the war, it was the best news ever to receive a letter from my father, saying he was well, and equally when my father received a letter from us saying we were all well! Imagine the excitement and happiness for all of us as, in those days a letter would take thirty-five days to reach its destination! The second best news was when my father decided to call Australia home, and the whole family was called to emigrate in 1948. I thank God for my early sufferings because, by the experience of sacrifice, your heart and mind become more compassionate. Because of the war, during my most important school years in Italy, there were shortages of books and necessary learning utensils, including teachers. As a result, I missed out on something for which I was longing - a good education! When I arrived in Australia at the age of sixteen, meeting my father was like meeting God. Since I was only four years of age when he left Italy, I could not remember my father. It was the greatest moment of my life! Within two days of our arrival, I started to work in Colac, digging potatoes and picking onions from the ground. The basic wage was then six pounds (equal to twelve dollars) per week. Because I took advantage of the opportunity to succeed in life, I was a fast worker and I earned, on average, eighteen pounds (equal to thirty-six dollars) per week.