"Every day is Family day for the Family family" read the headline on the front page on this day in 1994.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For CT reporter Bill Norman, it couldn't have got much better in terms of an assignment to find a case study for a story about the first United Nations International Day of Families.
In introducing the Family family to Canberra readers, he really nailed the brief.
The Family family, of Spence, were Iranian refugees who had settled in Canberra, where the rarity of their name meant they swiftly had to develop a sense of humour.
Dealing with bureaucracy was a particular challenge, Iraj and wife Pary said, relating how exasperated officials would say to them "No, no, I asked you for your surname not your family".
At the time of the article, the Family family was the only one with that name in Canberra. They had left Iran after the revolution of 1979, spending four years to make a journey through Pakistan and India before being allowed to settle in Canberra.
The article described them as "a talented, uncomplaining family who have lost much that they held precious in coming to Australia''.
The Family children, Shervin, Shiva and Shamim, were doing well at school, particularly art. What the family missed most about life in Australia was the lack of closeness they had with neighbours back in Iran. Mrs Family said it seemed Australians didn't need their neighbours as much because "they don't have any problems".
