Hello.
My name is Rita Dunstan, I'm the daughter of Connie (O'Leary)Dunstan and Robert Henry Dunstan. I was born after the war ended in Nth.Qld.
My parents Robert(Yank)& Connie Dunstan were in Charters Towers,Nth.Qld.during the War from 23 March 1944 to just before 19 February 1945. My father had been transferred from Booval,Qld. to Charters Towers Qld. They were both from Cairns where their parents and family were. My father being in the Railway and then classified as Essential Services because of the war was transferred all over the State.
During the time my parents were in Charters Towers they lived in the Flat next to the cyclist and his family - now the famous Sir Herbert Oppermann, he was then based at the Air Base in Charters Towers.
My mother loved to dance but it appears during this time she became pregnant with twins - apparently not my father's, but to as I was told by my father before he died in 2000 to an American Serviceman- hence his nick-name "Yank"
Mum did tell me that she had lost twins - but didn't say anymore, or as to their father or of the babies, I always thought they were Mum & Dad's children.
After she lost her babies she went back to Cairns and was confined to a Recovery Hospital on the Atherton Tablelands for 6 weeks because of a break-down, my brother it seems stayed with Mum's sister during that time.
As I was almost 9yrs younger then my brother and didn't look anything like him or either of my (2) younger sisters, I always thought I was adopted - this I suppose was the reason she told me about the twins.
I'm not wanting to dig up anything from the past, all I really want to do is if possible find where my brother/sister (not sure what sex they were)are buried and acknowledge them as part of us. I also have a younger sister that died within a few days of her birth, and she is buried next to our father in the Cairns Cemetery.
I have tried over the last 12yrs to find anything about this missing part of our lives but have always come to a brick wall. I am now wondering - did my mother ever write to the man I believe was the father of my siblings. I know now that she was in love with this man so did she tell him that they were to be parents?
My parents did go on to have (4) more children, that includes myself, but sadly their marriage was long over before that.
After the death of my sister in 1952 the decline was just horrible - Mum blamed Dad and it went on and on.
I was 9yr.when they parted and that was that - long story, but I ended up in later years being the "Carer" of both my parents right up until the day they both passed away. And yes both within 6mths of each other. Dad 22 Sept.2000 - Mum 25 March 2001