NOVEMBER 22, 2014: AN unsung Port hero who had dedicated her life to helping vulnerable people revealed how she fled the horrors of the Second World War in a real-life ‘Sound of  Music’ story.

In a remarkable story which drew parallels to the smash hit American musical film starring Julie Andrews, Therese Galli said her family trekked through the mountains under the cover of darkness and hid in barns during the day in their desperate bid to survive.

The modest 83-year-old, of Minard Road, who was the vice chairman of Phoenix Health Community Health Project in Greenock and cared for an Alzheimer sufferer voluntarily, said she was overwhelmed to be nominated for a Great Scot award.

She said: “I thought it was a wind-up and I was really surprised."

Therese says her life as a child living in Hungary changed forever when the Second World War erupted.

The Tele told There Galli's story on this day 10 years ago.The Tele told There Galli's story on this day 10 years ago. (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “A lot of people fled to America for a better life as they were frightened that the Russians were going to move in.

“Me, my three siblings and my mum and dad left on foot, walking all night and hiding in hay barns during the day.”

After the war Therese came to Scotland, working in Bridge of Weir as an au pair and then at the old Peesweep Sanatorium in Paisley, where she met her husband, Mario, from Port Glasgow.

The couple had a daughter Evelyn, who has cerebral palsy, but sadly Mario passed away after suffering a heart attack aged just 34.

Therese brought up their daughter on her own and also started to get more and more involved with the community, working with Your Voice and with the Phoenix project, whose co-ordinator Duncan Shaw and emotional support worker Bernie McKee nominated her for the award, describing her as ‘incredibly compassionate’.