Linda Medlin’s reunion story
I was born in Brisbane Qld in the mid-60s to Lance and Frances Medlin. I had an older brother Joe and sister Debbie who I just adored.
1967 was a year of mixed emotions. Debbie passed away after a freak accident, leaving Mum traumatised by the experience. Mum found out soon after Debbie’s passing that she was pregnant, and on Christmas Day our brother William was born. In 1970 Andrew (Grub) was born followed by a sister Kylie in 1971.
When I was in Grade 2, Mum and Dad decided to move to Winton to give us a better life as a family. In Winton, Mum and Dad continued to grow the family and in 1975 the youngest member of the family was born – another brother named Murray.
The family was now complete with 4 brothers and 3 sisters. In high school Mum told us of another sister Donna who had been adopted as an infant and who was searching for her birth mother. We met Donna at Sea World in the late 70s or early 80s and we clicked. Throughout the years the relationship developed and was nurtured. Donna had many questions around family history. We didn’t have much information other than for the present generations.
This got Mum thinking, as family meant everything to Mum. So, when she started her search in the 90’s for her Mother’s family Isobel Lane, I was honoured to be there with her and learn from her and others we met upon that journey.
known as a great horseman.
During the 1990’s in Mt Isa we attended the Mulkuddi Festival and it was there that Mum was called to be a part of a Yarning Circle with Elders from Boulia and surrounding areas. Mum was told by this group, in particular Aunty Peggy James that her mother was of Kalkadoon descent and her totem was Emu. Mum was so excited, she asked if she could get me and bring me into the Circle. She ran back to me and brought me into the Yarning Circle where I was accepted by the Elders who also shared with me the stories of my Grandmother Isobel Lane.
Mum had contacted Link-Up (Qld) and they were able to provide some documentation around Grandma Isobel and a half-brother named Freddie. Mum could add to this information – whilst we were in Boulia, Mum was saying she could never figure out why her and her sibling had gone with Grandma Isobel to a funeral in Boulia as they didn’t know this person. From the timing of the funeral it seems that may have been the funeral of her Uncle Freddie.
Mum continued her search and was often disappointed and depressed with the lack of information she could source. In 1998, our Mum passed away and she never got to find the answers she was looking for. It was a painful topic for the family to follow up on and no one else had the energy to commit.
I wanted to continue the search that my Mum had commenced back in the 90’s. So, I reached out to Link-Up several times but did not follow up due to other significant deaths in the family. In 2017, I started the process again and this time continued to maintain contact with Link-Up.
I needed to pay my respects to my Mum and honour the journey she started.
Upon receiving the information from Link-Up, I shared it with family members, siblings and cousins. My feelings upon reading the information initially was that of excitement, however, I wasn’t really ready for the emotional journey it would take me on. I am the knowledge keeper and ‘go to person’ to lead things of my immediate family. I thought it was just another thing to process….. and I did just that…. Process.
My brother Joe stood beside me and we supported each other in this journey to honour our Mother and close a chapter. Together we closed a chapter of the family book, and we can start the healing in our Generation so that the next Generation doesn’t need to do it.
It was a graveside reunion. I went to boarding school in Townsville, I lived in Townsville so did Joe. But none of us ever knew that Granpa Joe was buried there. I think we may even have been the only family members that have ever been to his grave.
Heavy. I definitely felt heavy after the sun set on the gravesite and we honoured Mum. There was a lot to process again.
I would like other family members to follow up through Link-Up the dotted lines of possible parents and siblings of our Grand Mother – Isobel Lane and Great Grand Mother Minnie McCulloch.
The family would really like to thank the Link Up staff who have supported us through this journey. I would like to give a big shout out to Anne Garrett and Alison Bell for their unwavering support in the final lead up, on the day of the graveside reunion and since returning.
Linda Medlin
Published September 2020.