Australia

[Louis the fly]

I first visited Australia as a 16 year old deck boy on board Shaw Saville's Cedric in 1963.
As with all teenagers I was interested in music and fashion, two of the reasons why I was definitely not impressed with Oz. Kids my age dressed like their grandfathers and the 60's music scene had not yet arrived.
Pubs were like large open canteens with wooden decks, all the workers would rush in at four in the afternoon to drink as much as possible before they closed again at six.
Over the years I returned to Oz a few times on two Port boats and a Chapman's tramp. Everything was changing for the better, cities were booming and expanding, new buildings seemed to appear overnight and Monties in Sydney was one of the best bars in the world.
My sister and her husband decided to emigrate, Adelaide first then moving to Perth where they built a very successful and happy life for themselves and their children. After a couple of years when they were settled my parents who were both in their late sixties gave away all their possessions to relatives and neighbours and joined them in Perth. The Aussie government looked after them really well, their pensions were increased and they had a very nice unit to live in. A gardener, which they did not have to pay for, would come regularly to cut the grass and tend the flowers and plants. They lived out the rest of their days far better than they could have ever done in England.
As you will guess my opinion of Australia has changed completely. My advice to anyone wishing to escape the gloom of the U.K. is to get down to Australia House and see if it is possible to emigrate.

[Richard Quartermaine]

Hang on Louis - the British National insurance pension the paid for will be capped at the time of leaving Britain and what does come through will be deducted from the Aussie pension. They'd also need to carefully check that they are in the right place when they get off their conveyance.
But gripes aside, it's really a great place; pity it's being stuffed up.
Richard

[Colin Hawken]

I don't think Australia has any need of oldies like us.I'm sure they've got enough of their own.

[j.sabourn]

Would probably have to pay for all your medical bills also. I was 53 when emigrated, but worked until 65 so was eligible for a government (partial) pension which is means tested. Also was a citizen. If you came to live here unless the rules have been changed would not be eligible for such if not working. Is not as easy to get into as UK unless of course you are an illegal immigrant and say you are escaping, which if believed would give you the same rights as some of them who are entering now. John Sabourn

[Neil Morton]

May 25th next year marks my 50th year as a legal resident of this fair land. A 10 pound Pom as we are called. The changes Louis the Fly commented on did indeed happen quickly, to quickly for me. I liked the way it was in the 50's and 60's. Plenty of work for all, a cost of living that was manageable and people were welcoming if a little rough on new chums. I dished out as good as I got leg pulling wise and soon made friends. Even now I cop it re the cricket and would not change a thing on the home front. The Old Age Pension is adequate if you own your own home which we certainly had plenty of opportunity to do. My Brit family had lived in Council houses for generations so a mortgage was foreign to me.
Now of course in our rush to imitate the US of A everything has gone to the sh,,house. I would not care to be starting a young family in this day and age. To buy a house a deposit of 10% will set you back $35 to 40,000 in a Melbourne suburb that is if you have a job. Interest rates are low and wages high as I say if you have a job, but the cost of living is the highest in the world according to most international bankers.
In short we have chucked the baby out with the bath water. The image of the lanky, laid back beach loving, happy go lucky character of yore has been replaced by a yuppie with a trophy wife, a four wheel drive monstrosity, a huge mortgage and a maxed out credit card. The weather is all right though the bloody politicians haven't been able to interfere with that yet. Although given half a chance they will.
If any of your family are thinking of coming my friends, tell them to head for the bush there are remnants of the good old days back there.

[j.sabourn]

#5 Very true Neil. My only wish is that we had come here when you did, as was 1991 when I finally managed to get out here to live. The usual a wife who didn't want to leave her parents etc. etc. Mind to a certain extent I can see her point as I used to disappear on long trips as was the norm then and she had to rely I suppose on her folks. As seamen we took a lot for granted. My wife although was hard to get her out here has often been back to see her parents when they were alive, but would no longer think of going back permanently to live. As you say you can live on the pension if you have no mortgage or rent quite comfortably here, I wouldn't like to have to survive in uk on the (full) British pension. I think the average Australian is not blindfolded on the risks of going down the wrong path, and should watch carefully the mistakes that can and have been made in European politics. Anyhow the average pollie out here is not looked on as anything special and only stays there until something better pops its head up. Regards John Sabourn

[happy daze john in oz]

Hang on Louis - the British National insurance pension the paid for will be capped at the time of leaving Britain and what does come through will be deducted from the Aussie pension. They'd also need to carefully check that they are in the right place when they get off their conveyance.
But gripes aside, it's really a great place; pity it's being stuffed up.
Richard

It may begin to improve now Rudd the dud has gone

[happy daze john in oz]

Came here some 33 years ago having sold two pubs and a restaurnt in UK. I doubt I would ever have reached the level of living I now enjoy had we not come here. Yes over time it has changed and no doubt will continue to do so. The problem we now have is globalisation, the younger generation want it all yesterday and some are not prepared to put in for it.
The there are those flat out like a lizard drinking working all the hours they can, my brother is one, and they end up doing very well. We have more than our fair share of millionairs who began with nothing, me I began with nothing and still have most of it left.
But with all its faults in my opinion there are few countries as good as this one. The biggest thing here, you can be who you want to and no one will stop you.

[j.sabourn]

#7 See Rudd resigned from politics yesterday, with great emotion and a few tears. Probably Mz. Gillard has offered him a cameo part of himself in her next big Hollywood venture. Was just showing his acting prowess plus the fact he must be thinking of all the perks and foreign travel he is given away.This will no doubt be made up for the wacking big pension he will get. John Sabourn

[Captain Kong]

I have always loved Australia, just being there is enough for me. I love it in the Bush towns and the deserts, having driven all over the States, NT,VIC, NSW, WA. SA. QWLD. That is the real Oz, The Cities are just like Manchester in the sun.
But over the years, from 1955 when I was running £10 Poms out there on the old GEORGIC, I have seen a massive change, both in the people and the way of life.
From the Poms in the immigration Camps, two families to a Nissen Hut with one tap of water on the outside surrounded by barbed wire fences where they had to stay for a year, in a job given to them without choice to what it is today. Those people were real pioneers, they put up with a lot of hardships both in the camps and on the ships that took them there.
Today they want it all for nothing.
Most people there then were POMS with a few Ities and Greeks now they have been overtaken by the Asians /Chinese.
Australia is changing fast. In the 50s Politicians seemed different than the ones they have today. altho` they were still bent and corrupt. I remember when we took the Australian Army, 2RAR, to Malaya in 55, They were confined to Penang Island outside the war zone, they should have gone to Butterworth on the mainland where the war zone was, we had to take their ammo and weapons there for the Brits to look after. The Prime Minister then decided to keep the 2RAR in a safe place until after the forthcoming elections as he didnt want any body bags to be coming home before he was re-elected. It didnt matter after and the body bags did start to come home.

If theres a life
"That follers this,
If theres a Golden Gate.
The only words I want to hear is
"Good on yer Mate". 2RAR.


I always try to get to Australia every two years. Love it.
Cheers
Brian.