This is Maria's exploration of the tapestry embroidered from five generations of women and men in her family, from the turn of the twentieth century to its final years, from the poor villages of Italy to the cities of Australia, and back to a nineties Italy that is both alien and home. THE AUTHOR Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli has gained national recognition in Australia as being a leading writer, researcher, lecturer, consultant and activist in the issues of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and social diversity in health and education. With a PhD from UTS, Sydney, she lectures at Deakin University in the School of Health Sciences, Melbourne. She enjoys working with young people in schools and is passionate about her work, social justice, and her incredibly supportive family and friends.