Debra Gavranich - The girl who left: From Croatia to the canefields

PRAISE FOR THE GIRL WHO LEFT

It was my privilege to have known Maria. Her kindness and generosity touched everyone around her. Her indomitable spirit carried her from the horrors of World War II in Croatia to a new life in tropical Queensland. The girl who left tells the tale of a young woman whose faith and courage enabled her to thrive through the challenges of war in Europe and immigration to Australia. A wonderful story of hope and love from a time not so long ago.

Prof. James Scott, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

The girl who left is a timeless story of familial love, and the horrors of war. This beautifully captured story of survival of Maria, a young girl living through the horrors of WW2 in Yugoslavia, who makes a brave decision to leave her homeland, culture, family and friends behind in search of a better life as a proxy-bride in Australia, demonstrates the importance for Australians to appreciate and continue the conversation about our kaleidoscope of stories from our post-World War II immigration history. Debra Gavranich has delivered her mothers lullaby as a lesson in gratitude and humility.

Cheryl Koenig OAM, Author & Motivational Speaker

This is a beautiful family story of one womans courageous journey to a new and foreign country on the other side of the world, richly woven with touching detail of her lifefrom war-torn Yugoslavia, to finding her place in the rugged and remote landscape of North Queensland A quintessential Australian immigration story, showcasing our diverse cultural heritage, our multicultural identity and what it means to be Australian.

Tania Blanchard, best-selling author

Debra Gavranichs recreation of her mothers life story is a timely reminder of the resilience and hope of Australias post-World War II immigrants. Gavranich also provides a glimpse into the complexity of Croatias recent past. The book is a fitting tribute to a courageous woman, one of many.

Vesna Drapac, Assoc. Prof in History, University of Adelaide

The girl who left

From Croatia to the canefields

DEBRA GAVRANICH

Published by Wild Dingo Press

Melbourne, Australia

www.wilddingopress.com.au

First published by Wild Dingo Press 2021

Text copyrightDebra Gavranich 2021

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright owners and the publisher of this book.

Cover designer: Janine Nicklin

Editors: Bernadette Foley & Melanie Myers

Maps supplied by Shutterstock

Printed in Australia.

Gavranich, Debra 1960- author.

The girl who left: Croatia to the canefields/Debra Gavranich

ISBN: 9780645140521 (paperback)

ISBN: 9780645140538 (ebook:pdf)

ISBN: 9780645140545 (ebook)

AUTHOR'S NOTE

My mother was a constant in my life, a rock, my best friend. Losing her when I was thirty-five years of age, with three young children under five, was unbearably painful. The first few years were so difficult. Even now, years later, I cry when I speak of her. I listen to my friends with envy when they talk about the close connection their children have with their grandparents. I feel the hole in my life and sad that my children never knew her. This story is for them.

From the first time I visited Blato as a twenty-two-year-old, I felt the connection to the village, to the country my parents came from. Like a boomerang I keep returning, loving it more with each visit. Maybe, in my heart, Croatia makes me feel closer to my parents. I am lucky that my parents were good people. Life was not always easy but they worked hard, had kind hearts and they loved each other. For this I am grateful.

This book is an historical account of my mothers life and told through her eyes. She was born in Blato on the island of Korula, in Croatia. At the time, Croatia was a part of a union or federation of states called Yugoslavia, so there will be references to the former Yugoslavia throughout the story when that political entity was still in existence. While I have endeavoured to keep it factual, some names have been changed, and certain events and scenes have been compressed, expanded or changed to fulfil the needs of the story. Some of the conversations and encounters have been approximated and some are correct according to the people who kindly shared their memories with me.

CONTENTS

Blato, Yugoslavia, 1950: A proposition

T here is a man from Australia looking for a bride, Alena blurted, from Australia!

What are you talking about? Marija was confused and waited for her friend to regain her breath. Alena had sprinted up the two flights of stairs from the courtyard to the balcony.

I thought of you, Marija, rushed Alena in small gasps.

Who? Wh

As soon as I heard, I thought of you. A broad smile lit up Alenas face as she poked strands of hair back into her messy bun. You might even know the family.

Alena pulled up a seat next to Marija, who was busy peeling potatoes for the evening meal. Marija glanced over her shoulder into the dark kitchen and the shadowy figure of her mother.

Why me? she whispered.

Well, I heard my mother talking about the procurement. The proxy marriage. She was saying that one of our neighbours daughters had been selected, but then my mother said that this girl has had too many boyfriends, she gushed, the words tumbling over each other.

Marija paused, her attention captured.

I heard this Australian man is fussy, very fussy. He is from here. Alena hesitated, trying to remember the details she had heard. He left as a child over twenty years ago but wants a bride from here. My mother said he wants someone young, someone strong and someone she giggled, who hasnt had any boyfriends. Thats you.

Alena. Marija blushed.

Well, its true. You know its true. Youre so good, you pray all the time and love going to church. You hardly ever go to the dances. And you havent had a boyfriend. This town is so small, I would know if you had.

You said that I might know the family? Marija asked.

The township, in the middle of an island of Yugoslavia, was small, with no more than five thousand inhabitants, so Marija thought she would at least know of him, or know someone who knew him.

Hes related to the Ani family. A cousin.

Alena rambled on about the family connection. Marija stood and cleaned her hands on the faded red and green chequered apron tied around her waist. She walked over to the edge of the balcony, rested her palms on the smooth, cool balustrade and looked out over the village. Her village. Blato.