Kent to Brisbane

[claire8]

Hi there-we are moving to Brisbane mid September hopefully & will be staying with my brother & his family until we get our bearings etc. I have 2 children-boy of 14 (15 in July) & a girl of 13. My son has mixed feelings about going as he is worried about making new friends-typical teeenage response I suppose- but my daughter cant wait so its mixed feelings all round. Im hoping to send them to Kenmore HS as we will buy a house in the catchment area-I have picked my sister-in-laws' brains about private versus state schools & there doesnt seem to be the huge divide that we have here. They are both at grammar schools here (single sex) but suprisingly they both want to go to a co-ed school which makes it easier for me in every way. Im having a few wobbles about leaving friends & family which is normal I suppose but at the moment we have about 8 friends who are coming out to visit-not all at once hopefully!-so its not going to be a case of 'goodbye for ever'.
Would be nice to hear from anyone who is going through/gone through the same thing especially with teenagers!
Claire

[ItsJo]

Hi....I too was from Ashford, grew up there but later moved to Romney Marsh...Ashford was always my home though...
Paul and I moved here last year with a 15 yr old (son) and 12 yr old (daughter)..Both of them have settled really well, much better than we could have ever hoped for..Both have them have lots of friends at school and our sons friends are always over at our house...I dont think you kids will have too much trouble settling..our son was lucky as another english lad started at his school the same day..
He is doing really well at school and enjoying his life to the max..He is now 16 and hasnt expressed once that he wants to return to England..
Our daughter who is now 13 is in the school soccer team, and also is loving school..She has missed our family back in England but it hasnt really upset her...
I wont deny it is gonna be tough when you first get here. So much to do etc..But it all comes together and hopefully your kids will enjoy it here as much as our kids do
Good luck and keep us posted..whereabouts in QLD are you headed...We are on the Sunshine Coast...
Jo x

[claire8]

I actually grew up in Dartford then moved to Maidstone then Ashford-just kept coming down the M20! We have lived here for about 10 years-so have seen quite alot of change-i.e better shops etc! Its nice to hear from someone who has older kids & that they have settled well-did your son find the transition to the Oz education system difficult? Did he have to do alot of 'catching up' on many subjects?
We are looking to settle in Kenmore/Bellbowrie/Moggill areas if possible which I think is west of Brisbane. We havnt actually been to Brisbane-only Sydney!! Please say its going to be ok!!!!
Claire x

[saunders clan]

Hello Claire,

I am off to the Gold Coast from Tonbridge, Kent (eventually!). I have small kids however so I suppose it's really us as parents who have the battle of settling more so. I do wish you all the luck in the world that the kids will be happy and adapt. I am sure there will be teething troubles. But IT WILL BE OK!

In most cases kids don't meet any long term mates until they start secondary school, so hopefully you have caught your kids early enough for them to start again. And then when they leave school they then have to start all over again at uni or the workplace anyway. Plus you will find loads of other families in the same situation who have emigrated and are starting again knowing no one.

Good luck!
Kate

[claire8]

Hi Kate
Youre right about kids having to make friends again when they go to Uni etc-I have pointed that out to my son-I just get a dirty look! I also pointed out that they have the perfect opportunity to make friends quickly & it will be me & his dad sitting at home alone!
Good luck with your move as well-my brain is about to go into melt down with all the lists of things to do-its nice to speak to people who know what we are going through.
Thanks
Claire

[saunders 5]

Hooray this is the most positive post I have read in ages. A family that are settled and happy !!

We are from the Isle of Sheppey - yes I know - lovely !! All ready to hit the Gold Coast as a nurse with my husband and 3 kids aged 9,6 and 3 but keep reading so much negativity at the moment that we are having huge doubts. "BUT" you have helped immensly with such positivity. Thankyou so much.
Ali X

[saunders 5]

Hi Kate,
We are the Saunders 5 off to the Gold Coast from Kent too. Where are you planning on going ? How old are your children ? Such a small world.
Ali X

[claire8]

Hi Ali
When are you leaving for Oz-do you have a date yet? We have just booked our flights for 15th Sept-my OH will only be staying for about 2 weeks as he has to come back to sort out business things etc so its gonna be hard for us for a while BUT got to look at the reasons why we are doing this long term. I just have to look at the weather at the moment-I had my heating on yesterday as I was so cold!!
Good luck with all your plans
Claire x

[everhopeful]

Hi Ali

Just joined the site, after browsing for a while as I had to post to a fellow Swampy. When are you hoping to go? We may have to do a visit in October, providing we get the visa before then. House is up for sale at the moment, not much interest, no surprise there! We are going to Adelaide eventually, as I have rellies there. Good lick with everything

Joanna