My cousin the superstar

“Baby Reata”.

“Ah – My Kathleen”.

Julie said the sisters took their glasses off and touched each other’s faces and kissed each other over and over again. Julie said her Aunty Reata impulsively burrowed her head into her sister’s breast and stayed sobbing for several minutes unable to release herself from the warmth of her embrace. Over a cup of tea it became apparent to Julie why there was no mention of her mother Kathleen in Lin’s book. Most of the family information contained in the book was a result of Lin locating Reata from her name in her mother’s funeral notice and visiting her with daughter Samantha in Melbourne soon after.

Reata told Julie that she heard a rumour that Kathleen had been killed in a car accident when she was a teenager. As a parting gesture that day Reata gave Julie a hand mirror that her mother Kathleen gave her for her 16th birthday.

A couple of months after the reunion Lin requested a meeting of Reata, Kathleen and Julie with Samantha and herself who were invited to Melbourne to appear on Bert Newtown’s ‘Family Feud’.

Sadly, Julie, who was sick in hospital at the time undergoing follow up procedures on a successful liver transplant, couldn’t make the meeting but said by all accounts the sisters, Reata and Kathleen, had an enjoyable time with Samantha and Lin at their 5-star Hotel courtesy of Channel 9.

Late last year Julie did manage to catch up with Lin at Wet ‘n Wild Fun Park on the Gold Coast. Julie told me she avoided telling Lin the dates of her visit to Queensland with her husband and children for holidays and it was only by co-incidence that Lin had contacted Aunty Reata to inquire of her whereabouts that her secret was revealed. Lin, on finding out Julie’s movements, made a hurried trip from her flourishing business in Brisbane to meet up with her at the Fun Park.

Julie said she didn’t take up the offer from Lin to visit the islands around the area in her boat with her family the following day because she felt insecure and out of place with her well known and wealthy relative.

Julie has yet to meet her famous cousin Samantha but said she hopes to do so one day.

As our conversation came to an emotionally tiring end I asked Julie if she had found her biological father. Julie said she felt it was inappropriate for her to dig up the past with her unknown father, who she reasoned, probably had his own children and grandchildren to worry about without any new and sudden bolts from the blue. She did say however that she was at least proud that her father, who she understands met her mother whilst serving in the RAAF in Dubbo and later rose to the rank of Wing Commander, paid her mother child maintenance up until she was 16 years of age.

I praised Julie for her incredible efforts in reuniting her family; many of which have overcome their setbacks to lead successful and happy lives today, but urged her to now put closure on her life by making contact with her father. Julie said she was exhausted after all the effort she’d put into locating her people and the bad news she received recently that the liver transplant, that prevented her meeting Lin and Samantha last year during the Bert Newtown show is continuing to cause her concern.

With a sad voice Julie said she will know in a couple of months whether she will need to be hospitalised whilst she waits for yet another liver transplant – if and when one becomes available. I could barely hold back the tears as Julie told me of her health concerns but managed to wish her well and concluded with the following remark:

"Your father could well be sitting back in comfort in leafy Toorak or seaside Vaucluse with all the creature comforts he could wish for but his heart may well be aching for the one thing money can’t buy – and that is knowledge and reassurance that his olive skin baby is well and living a happy life."

I’m confident my good friend Julie knows exactly what Confucius alluded too when he said; "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall".