Having thought she was an only child all her life, long-time Queenstowner Erina McLean says she\u2019s thrilled to have learnt otherwise.<\/p>\n
McLean, who turns 84 next week, says “I\u2019ve been an only child for 81 years and it\u2019s been a lonely life, I never ever, for a moment, thought there\u2019d be anyone, anywhere”.<\/p>\n
However, after taking a DNA test, on her daughter Tracie\u2019s suggestion, and a Facebook message from a son of a cousin she didn\u2019t know existed, she\u2019s discovered four half-siblings \u2014 two half-sisters and two half-brothers \u2014 who had the same dad she did.<\/p>\n
Having grown up in Whanganui, McLean says her hunch is her mum had a fling with New Plymouth-based Bill Holland, who\u2019d come through with his band.<\/p>\n
“He was a bit of a party animal and he loved dancing and so did mum \u2014 she was a beautiful redhead.”<\/p>\n
However, McLean says her mum never mentioned anything.<\/p>\n
“She had a very unhappy marriage when she was married to who I thought was my father.<\/p>\n
“I was 18 months old when she left him,” she says, after which she was raised by a foster family till her mum remarried.<\/p>\n
Describing it as an emotional experience, McLean\u2019s met all her \u2018new\u2019 family including a half-sister and half-brother who run a small retirement village in Australia.<\/p>\n
She feels close to half-sister Madeleine Holland, whom she met in Snells Beach, near Warkworth, before Holland stayed here, confusing a close friend of McLean\u2019s due to their likeness.<\/p>\n
“The silly thing is she has also sewn all her life and been in a band \u2014 I used to sing in a rock and roll band when I was a teenager.”<\/p>\n
McLean\u2019s also formed a close bond with New Plymouth-based half-brother Norm Holland, whom she met in Marton \u2014 he\u2019s also paid a visit.<\/p>\n
“I feel as if I\u2019ve known him forever.”<\/p>\n
She admits she could easily have remained oblivious of these blood relations.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s a feeling inside me, I\u2019m not alone any more, I\u2019m just thrilled about it.”<\/p>\n