Andrija Franić

Andrija Franic was the first of the Franic's from Vina Croatia to have migrated to Australia.

It is believed that Andirja was involved with a dispute with a local farmer over fishing rights on the Matica river that runs through the 'polje' (fields) in Vina, Austria (circa 1923). In the spring and summer the fishing was plentiful and it bought along many wildlife like ducks geese that gathered on the waters during the season. One day Vice Franic (Andrija's brother) was fishing on the banks of the Matica when a local man had an argument with him over fishing nets. He claimed that Vice Franic had laid fishing nets in an area of the Matica that did not belong to his family. Vice claimed that the land bordering the Matica was his families and that he had a right to fish there. An argument broke out and Vice was attacked by the local who hit him with an object. Vice went home and explained to his family what had transpired. At that time Ante Franic (Vice and Andirja's father) was in the United States of America. Andria being the eldest took charge of the situation and went to confront the offender. he was brandishing a small pocket knife at the time and struck out at the man taring a hole in his abdomen. The police were called to arrest Andrija but by that time Andrija's mother Iva had organized to send Andija to the USA with his father Ante in place of Vice who was scheduled to be the next son to go to the USA. However Andrija had somehow found his way to Australia and therefore in a unique way can be considered a 'convict'. Andrija then helped Klemo migrate to Australia and subsequently many others had followed.