What’s your relationship like with your children and how has it evolved?

Margaret and I talk about everything together. Ever since I’ve been getting sick, I tell her everything that’s happened. She’s become my mother now! She’s very wise, and tells you what you need to know.

Diane and I’ve got so much closer just recently since I’ve been sick. She’s always felt like she was the middle child. The funny part is I’ve realised that she was me all over again. “I’m not gonna do as I’m told” - they tell me to do something, I’ll do the opposite. So she got as many beltings when she was young as I got when I was young.

Now Diane and I are getting closer by the year, by the day. It’s really good. She’s a great grandma now - she’s got the three lots of family there. I’m very proud of her.

Briany Brines likes to do what I used to do. Hold court, as we call it, often on a Sunday at the Tavern in the Basin. I’m a bit that way - when you walk into a pub and everyone goes “G’day Joyce!” because I can drink with the boys, and I love that.

Leonard and I are similar in that he enjoys his alone time. He’s never been money focused - and he’s happy being married to Trina up in Port Douglas while she’s in Bendigo. See, I like being on my own too, I’ve been on my own since 1985. That’s a long time.

It’s amazing how they’ve turned out. I sort of breathe a sigh of relief every now and again. Yeah, they’re in their 70s now. I reckon if we counted it all we could find 30 of my lot, just my people on my line. And then there’s the other side. When you work it out I think there’s about 100 of us all together. I’m glad in a way that things have gone the way they have because at the end of my life, I’m glad to look down the line. There’s 30 people that I’m kind of responsible for living on this earth and we’re all not a bad lot.