Reunion Story: Debbie Costello
I would like to thank Link-Up (Qld) for supporting me throughout my journey. Thank you for keeping in contact with me all throughout, and to the staff from Bur-del Community and Home Support for helping me.
I am so amazed that Link-Up (Qld) put me in contact with my family. I was really hungry for my family, and Link-Up (Qld) went to great extremes when looking for them.
I thank them for supporting me through my trials of finding my great grandfather and my family. My granddad Mick Lucy, Michael Lucy. I would like to thank the families, wherever they are and my Aunties up in Atherton. I am glad I come from Atherton on this beautiful great big continent of Australia. I would like to thank Link-Up (Qld) for finding my family’s background and everything like that.
My reunion was TERRIFIC! Terrific in capital letters! I got in contact with all my Aunties and my great Aunties. I had two beautiful Aunties that looked after me and one of my Auntie’s has passed on and another is alive. It’s marvellous, now I’ve got a lot of Aunties that I didn’t know I had. I keep in contact with them. It was lovely to meet and be reunited with family members over facebook and then to meet them in person, they took photos with me and my brother. My brother was also happy with Link-Up (Qld). Link-Up (Qld) found where my Grandad Mick Lucy was buried.
Above: Debbie with a picture given to her by Link-Up (Qld) staff and at Mick Lucy’s gravesite in Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville
I was amazed, gobsmacked to see a loved one laying in the cemetery and I went home feeling that I don’t have to leave Townsville, I’ve got family right here. Now I can go out there to the gravesite anytime and meet a person there.
Link-Up (Qld) helped me to open up and helped me to say hello. I feel more rested and at peace. Josh from Link-Up (Qld) was so really helpful and Aunty Sylvia, and Michelle too for taking photos. It was really beautiful. The graveside reunion was very moving and I often look at the yellow, red and black flower arrangement they done up, and a little Aboriginal ornament I have.
Above: Debbie was a guest of honour at a recent Link-Up (Qld) Board meeting, pictured here with Board Directors, Link-Up (Qld) staff and staff from Bur-del Community and Home Support.
I am thankful I was fostered out to a lovely South Sea Islander young lady. She raised me up and brought me up in the church, and I am so privileged to have known her. But I feel like I don’t know my own culture very well and learning about it with Link-Up (Qld) and my family members has been amazing. It has been so nice to ask my family questions and learn about my ancestors, it’s a new beginning.
I would like the Lucy’s now to come forward and let me know more about our family. So, if there are any Lucy’s out there know that Deb Costello is your cousin, your family, your niece or great niece. Come forward Lucy’s and Costellos.
Love you all.
Published September 2021.