Gympie woman Sue Chapman has found her Mount Isa father she has never met in 55 years.
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In March Ms Chapman contacted the North West Star looking for help to find her biological father.
Ms Chapman was adopted out but knew she was conceived in at the Mount Isa drive-In cinema in August 1961.
“I am trying to find my father...he doesn’t know that I exist,” Ms Chapman said at the time.
Ms Chapman does know her biological mother who won’t reveal all but told her he was from a well known Mount Isa family.
“My mother said he was known as PK so I imagine his initials were PK.”
Now a thrilled Ms Chapman has contacted us (Sunday June 4) to say she has found her father though it turns out those weren’t his initials.
She said a DNA test led her to her great grandmother and through contact with a second cousin she found a man who had written a book about living in Mount Isa.
“I called him to ask if he knew my Grandfather Doug Croyden and he knew straight away. . He said You are my little girl,” Ms Chapman said.
“Absolutely blew me away. My Dad’s name is Max Streidl.”
This happened on Friday and they have spoken many times since.
“We have planned to meet for the first time very soon as soon as possible,” she said.
“He and his Family live in Mackay and they all have accepted me into the family.
“I could never have imagined how much I would have cried from sheer excitement and emotion from finding my Dad. He is so excited also and he said he is proud to announce that he is my Dad.”
Mr Streidl worked at Barkley Motors in Mount Ia as an apprentice spraypainter and panelbeater when he left school early. His wife Beryl was also a Mount Isa girl and Ms Chapman said Beryl always knew he had a child.
‘It was never a one night stand and he was never known as PK,” Ms Chapman said.
“They actually loved each other and were separated from each other due to my mother’s aunt.”
Ms Chapman gave huge thanks to all who have supported and helped also big thanks to The North West Star.