My mother was 15 when I was born. They took me away and I grew up in St Vincents de Paul orphanage for girls in Clarendon St.

When I was 14 they said I was uncontrollable because I talked to boys. So I ran away and hitched to Sydney. For the next few years I ‘ran’ with a Koorie woman and we worked our way around Australia, but I was well into my thirties before I discovered I was Koorie.

I met Karlo in 1957 and we married. He was Croatian and I became Mrs Starcevic . I loved that man, but I still had a wild streak and they called me ‘Diamond Lil’. During those times I had a diamond in my front tooth and a few too many adventures ........ it was always the get rich quick schemes that got me in.

Karlo died in ‘89 and this is all I have of him ......... and our children and grandchildren who call me ’ Fluffy’.
Maria Starcevic - South Melbourne