The rest of the Grima family pass through Fremantle en route to Adelaide. Johnie (left) pictured with his mother, and brother Charlie.

Reunited at Last
A few months later Brother Keaney invited Johnie's father over to Bindoon to labour on building projects at the site. When Johnie's father took up on the offer, the whole Grima family was finally reunited at the end of 1953.

The "homestead", which is no longer standing, was a mud-brick, tin-roofed construction located some two miles from the institution at Bindoon. Johnie says his father was unhappy that he received very little payment for his hard work. His mother was even less happy. Johnie says she wept every day in the isolated bushland homestead away from her wave-lapped island home, and from the relatives and neighbours she had left behind.

Not Country Folk
Johnie's father scrimped and saved until, in 1956, the family had enough money to move to East Fremantle - an urban world of buildings and bitumen, far more comfortable and familiar for the Grimas than the harshly beautiful "empty" landscape of the Australian bush. Here, life began to improve for them. But Johnie's father, and more so his mother, still pined for Malta. So much so his mother wrung a promise from his father that, if she died before him he was to ensure she was buried in Malta.
Over the years, Johnie's father regularly promised to take his entire family back to Malta for a visit -- but there just never seemed to be enough money!

Johnie Goes Home

Finally in 1965, Johnie determined to make the journey by himself. Working as a car spray painter, he stayed for two years. It was during this time that he met and married his wife, Mary. Similarly determined by this stage, his father had finally managed to save enough money for the family to make their long-promised visit home to join Johnie in Malta.

A Cruel Twist of Fate
Just days before they were due to leave, Johnie's mother died of a heart attack. No longer the joyous trip they had planned, instead Johnie's father was now called upon to honour his promise, escorting his wife's body back to her cherished homeland. Johnie recalls with much sadness greeting his grieving father at the dockside in Malta. Shortly afterwards his father returned to WA where he died of cancer a few years later. Johnie also returned to WA to begin a more settled life with his wife in their adopted country.

Settling Down
For a number of years Johnie worked for a wool store company, and then for 20 years as a bus driver. A serious accident a few years ago, which was caused by the seat collapsing the bus he was driving, left him with a severely damaged spine and forced him into early retirement.

At this stage in his life, Johnie says he is very settled and content with his life in Australia. He and his wife Mary have achieved a successful family life. They are proud of their three grown sons - Geoff, Simon, and David - and of their two grandchildren.

All but one of Johnie's six brothers and sisters still live in Perth, so he quite a family of nieces and nephews living nearby.

Johnie (right) shows brother Charlie the place they set out from so many years ago.

The call of his birthplace is nevertheless very real to him and he is greatly looking forward to a five months visit at the end of March. Once again, he will have an opportunity to renew his relationship with the place of his birth and early childhood, and the extended family his father and mother left behind so sadly all those years ago. This visit will also bring some sadness for Johnie with the opportunity it presents to spend some special time at the side of his mother's grave.