In 1922, Carmelo left his hometown of Castiglione, in Sicily, and migrated to Australia.

He left behind his wife and young daughter, who grew up to have seven children of her own in his absence.

Only now have Carmelo and Maria been reunited.

“I wanted to join my husband earlier, but I couldn’t leave my mother,” Maria explained.

When her mother passed away four years ago, Maria began making the arrangements to move to Australia and finally be with her husband.