"I grew up as a slav kid in the 1960s. My parents sacrificed much to give my siblings and me a better life built on a good education. I am grateful for the strong Catholic tradition that my father, Marijan Fatovich, passed onto me, and for the strong female role model that my mother, Winnie (Vica) Fatovich, provided for me."

"West Australians, especially those of Croatian origin, are not fully aware of the great contribution made by Croatians to Australia and WA in particular in the last one hundred and fifty years. We aim to document the history of these Croatians and by so doing promote pride in their achievements.”

"Early Croatian migrants came to Australia and were recorded under various national and imperial labels that did not recognise their language or heritage. For the most part, they built quiet lives and received little attention from the media or government. Being a member of this group gives me an opportunity to help fill a gap in Australian social and migrant history. At the same time, this work will give historians in Croatia a better understanding of their diaspora."

"We can enrich our lives by understanding the life and experiences of our WA Croatian pioneers. After leaving the beautiful shores of Dalmacia our pioneers endured harsh conditions in the Goldfields, S-W timber cutting and clearing land for farming, market gardening and viticulture. It is only through their hard toil that we enjoy our WA lifestyle. They deserve to be honoured by collecting & sharing their life experiences."