Pamela Staff

It began with a dream so clear that I can still see it today. I was welcomed into my great grandmother’s house, but I had no knowledge of her existence.

So began the long journey of discovery into her life, leading to trips to Ireland, Sydney and the kauri forests of New Zealand. There were some amazing relatives who regaled me with lots of information and even some photographs.

She was never spoken of in our family, although I knew my mother had a great respect for someone related to my father. And he once told me of an aunt who wished to take him to live with her in Sydney, but his parents forbade it.

What a journey it was, and I learnt much about myself in the process.

The DNA had not fallen far from the tree.