The Publican's Daughter: June's Story

This is not your usual biography, as it contains such gems of imagination that are awe inspiring. The gift of words is not endowed to everyone, but certainly it is an attribute that June was able to bring to her memoirs. June was born in 1929 in the upstairs bedroom of the Camden Head Public House where her Father was the Licensee. Her story encapsulates life full of many wonderful experiences in her early years. These were idyllic times, however at the tender age of just 8 years of age, her Father died, which turned life literally 'upside down'. The family moved to Chelsea, where 'The Princess of Wales', became their family home. At just eleven years, she was sent away to Boarding School due to the bombing in London during WWII. This is a story of resilience, of enduring incredible hardship at times through circumstances that one would never dream of occurring in one person's life. In her early twenties June survived Tuberculosis which should have claimed her life, the details of hospitals and sanatoriums and the impact it had on her family are almost chilling. This story is also a reflection of a family's life in London throughout the 30s, and then the war years. Her siblings all contributed to the 'war effort', and although June was still quite young, she reflects on her memories of experiences throughout this period.In 1963, married with three children, the family emigrated to Australia however although considered to be a fantastic 'adventure', June was plagued by homesickness. She kept in touch with her Mother by sending hundreds of letters. It was the only way she could stem the feeling of being isolated from everything she knew. It was eight years before she was able to return home for a holiday. She now knew that she could finally enjoy the best of both worlds.