The Australian Women's Register

Marija Zaknich was the daughter of Franko Kolinac and Kata Tabajin, and sister to Petar and Jakica. Marija’s father left Blato in 1928 to find work in Western Australia, and to send money home. For twenty years he worked at Brunswick Junction living in a tent before returning to Croatia in 1948. His son Petar was killed during World War Two.

On 22 May 1961, Marija bid farewell to her parents and sailed for Australia on the Orsova with her two daughters, Katica (Katie) and Merica (Maria). Marija would be reunited with her husband, Tony Zaknich, after six years apart. The family settled in Broken Hill, New South Wales, where Tony was working and living with his parents. Within two years, Marija had given birth to twin boys, Anthony and Frankie.