Paul Capsis

And she was a virgin and they had her first sexual experience and she got pregnant.

In 1961, 1960, that was hugely scandalous.

Also because of their backgrounds, him being Greek Orthodox, my mother being Catholic Maltese.

They were forced, really, to marry.

She was forced to marry my father and she was pregnant.

No, with my older brother, Manuel.

So they got married in early 1962 and then my brother was born in 1962.

And they tried to, you know, have this family life, married life, but it was difficult.

You know, because of the pressures, I think.

My father had a lot of pressures from his Greek family, particularly his father, my Greek grandfather.

He did not approve of my father marrying a non-Greek.

And it was really a thing back then.

It was like the biggest scandal, the worst thing that could happen.

Because not only wasn't she Greek, she wasn't Orthodox.

So towards the end of their marriage, somehow I came to be.

And not long after I was born, they separated.

Well, initially we lived in Redfern.

And then with my auntie, she had a little sort of one-room thing at the back in the yard in Redfern.

And then...

the relationship between my mother and father was breaking down.