Maura was born in the Philippines. She has one brother and a half-sister, and her father was in the US Army. When it came to education, it was Maura’s mother that sent her to the National University in Manila to study, but Maura didn’t finish.
“I decided to go into fashion and studied dressmaking - which was a short course,” said Maura. “My proudest moment was becoming valedictorian of my class. And I got to design and make uniforms for nurses.”
Maura was very young when she married - just 20 years old, and her husband was 26. They had seven children. “When we met, my husband had a girlfriend but when he saw me, he said he fell in love,” said Maura reminiscing.
“I remember he was jealous at the start, as I had a doctor and a lawyer who were also interested in me. I don’t consider myself a beauty at all. I am very simple when it comes to my looks, as I rarely wore makeup and prefer the natural look,” said Maura humbly.
Living a healthy life is very important to Maura. “I like different kinds of foods but you need to control what you eat. If I go to a party, I will have a glass of coke but I will only have a little bit. These days, when I wake up in the morning, I always exercise in my room.”
Maura and her husband arrived in Australia on 10 Sept 1988, and it was their daughter, who was working as an auditor and accountant, that encouraged them to migrate to Australia. Shortly after, the rest of the children followed.
The one thing that is most important to Maura is education. “My children attended the University of Manila, and I am so proud that they all received a good education,” said Maura. “And my grandchildren have followed in their footsteps. My children and grandchildren are all living wonderful lives, with great careers.”
