Every time Frida Kotlyar sits at a piano she is reminded of the opportunities it has afforded her throughout life.
The instrument played an integral part in her journey from her homeland to the other side of the world.
Like many migrant parents, she was ultimately motivated to give her children the best chance in life.
"My young sons had no opportunity in Russia to be what they are now," she said.
"I had a vision that both of them were going to be successful; as life shows it, they [are]."
The love of two mothers
Ms Kotlyar grew up in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, which was part of the former USSR during the Cold War.
An only child to Jewish parents, at four years old she lost her birth mother who died from heart complications after contracting typhus.
When her father found love again, Ms Kotlyar fondly recalled the joy of meeting her new mother.
"That was something like sunlight in my life.
"I had a beautiful childhood with her. She supported me in learning piano and music and everything that I did."
In her late teens Ms Kotlyar married and moved to Moscow.
In her late 20s she was teaching and studying music when the death of her second mother occurred.
"She had a heart attack which was a big shock for the whole family and for me especially."
Departing the Soviet Union
By the late 1970s Soviet Jews made up less than 1 per cent of the country's population.
"As Jews were the very small minority, Russian [and] Ukrainian [citizens] had priority to go to universities," Ms Kotlyar said.
"Of course that makes it very difficult to get in no matter how good your marks are."
When travel restrictions were eased for many Soviet citizens, Ms Kotlyar and her husband decided to emigrate with their two sons.
Although the majority of their family had already moved to Israel, they instead chose to settle in Australia.
"No conflict, nice easy life, and you can concentrate on your future for the children and for yourself."
Ms Kotlyar was overwhelmed by the beauty of her adopted country when she and her husband arrived in 1981.
"First, what I saw was a blue, blue sky and it makes me [think] wow, I never saw this blue sky.
"I was so happy. I didn't even want to think of Russia then."
Playing a new tune
Of the few possessions she could bring, her most cherished was a German-made upright piano that was transported in a shipping crate.
"Surprisingly we were not allowed to take [photographic albums] because maybe we will smuggle some money," she said.
"The restriction was for books as well. I had a lot of music books and art books that we [were] not allowed to take with us."
While her husband worked as a mechanical engineer, Ms Kotlyar continued her practise of music.
She easily found work; first as a pianist for a ballet school and then at an Anglican private school in Sydney where she taught for 29 years.
"It gave me a house, gave my sons education.
"So I was able to achieve the dreams to give my sons the ticket into life and they can do whatever they want with their lives."
Dreams can come true
Ms Kotlyar would later remarry and also upgrade her beloved piano — the German upright couldn't hold its tuning in Sydney's humid climate.
But it was the success of her two sons that would validate her decision to live in Australia.
Her son Eugene is an Associate Professor in cardiology at University of NSW and treats heart disease patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.
His younger brother Jacob works in business administration for a prominent information technology company in New York.
"Every time I hear them or see them, or I talk to them or I think about them, it brings me so much happiness," she said.
"I think nothing else can bring me so much happiness, because that was my dream and my dream came true."
