Katina Comino's 70th- A Women Of Love

When I was 4, mum explained to me that if you love someone, it doesn’t mean you can’t love another person, that love grows, that my heart grows, and that love is limitless, unconditional, and that’s what’s so beautiful about love- it never ends, it will never run out.

She has modelled this my whole life. From her drive to stand up to bullies who would terrorise her family because they were “wogs“, to becoming the vice head girl in high school (she voted for the other contender for captain, the captain then won by 1 point.) Then to fight against the Vietnam war, gay and lesbian rights and First Nations rights in rallies, even though she got beaten up by the police.

From her love of loving my brothers unconditionally like they are her own, loving my father and marrying him when there was a big chance she would become a widow as he was told he had two weeks so live, sticking by him through thick and thin and deciding everyday that she chooses him, for the rest of their lives even though it is not damn easy,

Her love of education - constantly educating herself and educating others, her love of fighting for minorities and injustices, her love of nature, art, literature, music, dance, media, anthropology, and always a yearn to learn. Mum has been a mentor to many people and loved it, so many people speak so highly of her guidance. Mum had such a big love that she bought a house so that my Yiayia and Paupau could live with us so that she could care for them when they were elderly and sick whilst still raising me. This experience taught me so much, I remember being 8 and making their bed everyday, putting out the crosswords out for Paupau, helping Yiayia with basic daily needs- this taught me that you do hard things for the ones you love. Mum has shown me love by doing the right thing- e.g. picking up some shopping that someone’s dropped, smiling at a stranger, sticking your neck out for a stranger, but most of all stand for what I believe in, for fighting with love against injustices- to not speak for people but advocate and be an ally for people.

She has shown me that sometimes love means giving the last bite of your ice cream to your loved one.

She has shown me such perseverance and patience with my illnesses starting from a young age, sleeping on chairs or uncomfortable cots in the hospital every night for weeks and visiting me every single day whilst still working full time and staying until I fall asleep. Her life being work and hospital. And always advocating for me and fighting for the best treatment for me. She has fought tooth and nail for me to get the best medical care, trying every treatment under the sun, including a doctor ordering me to eat only white food for a year- she sacrificed her love of food and ate white food with me. She taught me when I was scared or having night terrors to breathe, put myself in a pink bubble and imagine a garden full of everyone I love. She taught me to turn on the love light when I’m in the dark. Dad now has dementia, so mum is not only a primary caregiver to me, but to dad too. She not only spends so much of her time on dad and I, but she also spends her spare few minutes to help friends, family and community- again, showing love is limitless. Mum is turning 70 this year and I would

love to raise money for mum and dad to go on an overseas holiday. This will be the last chance to travel together as dad is deteriorating quickly. They have a strong love of travel and learning about history and culture in their travels. Every cent counts, even if you can give a $1. I want to make a holiday for mum to remember and for mum to retell stories about their trip to dad to spark any memory later down the road.

Let's give them one last trip to remember!