I've always been fascinated by history. As a primary school student, stories of historical figures sparked my imagination. I vividly remember borrowing two large books from the Mt. Gravatt Library in Brisbane—one on Greek myths and the other on Roman legends. History quickly became my favourite subject in high school, where my teacher, Mr. Cameron, taught it so brilliantly that my passion deepened even further.

Although my interest in family history is more recent, my love for the past has been with me since childhood. This fascination intensified when I started reading novels by James Baldwin, whose powerful storytelling made me curious about the narratives that shape us.

James Baldwin was a groundbreaking American writer and civil rights activist. His essays, novels, and speeches explore race, identity, and social justice. As a gay man, Baldwin also challenged societal norms, weaving his reflections on love, desire, and oppression into his works. His voice resonates deeply with me, especially as I trace the Anthony, Mazlin, and Poulton family narratives. These stories, though seemingly distant, are living threads that continue to shape who we are today.

My love for history carried through to my studies at the University of Queensland, where I completed a Bachelor of Arts, focusing on revolutionary events in France, Russia, and China. Later, I became a history teacher on the Gold Coast and at an international school in Thailand, which further fueled my interest. My fascination with Thai history eventually led me to pursue a Master of Letters, focusing on Thailand’s response to the Japanese invasion during World War II. I then earned a Doctorate from the University of New England, researching the diplomatic history between Australia and Thailand from the 19th century to the Cold War.

Just as Baldwin gave voice to marginalized narratives, my project aims to reclaim the long-lost stories of my ancestors, whose lives have quietly shaped my own.