Coming home to the unknown: Australian couple traces Czech roots

Australian couple Jean Svoboda and her partner Richard have returned to Czechia to continue a remarkable journey—one that began in online archives and led them across Europe. Jean, whose father was Czech and mother Latvian, has spent years reconstructing her family’s past, piece by piece. Richard, himself of British origins and new to genealogy but moved by Jean’s commitment, joined her in uncovering stories long forgotten. Together, they reflect on identity, belonging, and what it means to rediscover home—half a world away.