REVISITING SYDNEY WITH FAMILY MEMORIES AND A LOVE FOR HERITAGE-BUILDING

Have you ever felt the magic of reconnecting with an old flame? It's that familiar bond you've known for life—comforting, even a bit predictable. But then, when you meet again, you notice they've transformed in such beautiful, graceful ways that your connection feels renewed, deeper, and more meaningful than ever.

- CHRISTINE DAYRIT

That is exactly how I felt returning to Sydney.

Once residents of this vibrant land, we have always held a special place in our hearts for Australia. My beloved late parents, Ting and Mila Dayrit, in their desire to find an alternative abode in the early 1980s, chose Australia for its warmth, openness, and less stringent immigration rules. We used to return every three years to have our passports stamped and revisit the country that had, in many ways, shaped our family's path.

Sydney was always special, but over the years, it has grown into one of the most beautiful, cosmopolitan, and progressive cities I know. Sydney possesses an extraordinary love for heritage-building: instead of tearing down old structures, the love of renewal or restoration is applied so that the building gets a fresh lease on life with a newer designation, yet somehow still honoring its erstwhile purpose.

I spent some time during my youth in Australia. My first encounter with snow was in Canberra, the capital, where rows of provincial and city government offices lined the streets, housed in beautiful buildings. My only brother, Mark, studied in Brisbane Grammar School while my sister, Michelle D. Soliven, spent a summer in Queensland.