Am I looking at Doing the Right Thing ??

**Iain H** · 05-08-2008, 10:00 PM

Hello to Everyone !!!

I am a happily married 43 year old father of three kids who, along with my wife, have grown totally disillusioned with "Once Great Britain". My office is close to the local police station / Magistrates courts and I regularly walk past the Burberry Cap wearing Chavs waiting to appear in court and get their meaningless ASBO so they can carry on sticking two fingers up to society. The thought of my eldest daughter ( now 10 ) growing up and ultimately, when older, going out on the night in this town with it's never ending violence frightens us to death. We have no close family in the UK to hold us back. To that end, we are looking at emigrating to Oz probably to the Sunshine Coast around Maroochydore. I want to be fairly near to Brisbane ( within an hour or thereabouts ) if possible. I am not naive enough to think that problems are not apparent on Oz too but surely by population density alone, it must be less than 25% compared to the UK ??. Can anyone out there confirm that I am thinking of the doing the right thing ?? Any info on Maroochydore or anywhere within 30 miles would be of interest. Money wise, we are OK and I am about to start the visa application process. I would be looking to enter on a business visa so I can set up or invest in a business over there - Thanks for listening to me droning on but any thoughts on the above are more than welcome and much appreciated !!!

**cantwait** · 05-08-2008, 10:07 PM

Hi Iain

Welcome to the site. I say go for it. You only live once and the worst that can happen is if you don't like it you can come back. My sister left Nuneaton last year. My brothers still live there. I don't blame you wanting to leave (no offence meant!!).

Good luck
Karen

**Iain H** · 05-08-2008, 10:11 PM

Thanks Karen !

I dont mean to trounce everybody who lives in Nuneaton. I know there are a lot of good people too !! Thanx - Iain

**cantwait** · 05-08-2008, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Iain H

Thanks Karen !

I dont mean to trounce everybody who lives in Nuneaton. I know there are a lot of good people too !! Thanx - Iain

My brothers live in Arley - it is pretty bad there. It was quite nice where my sister lived though.

Regarding Australia, you don't want to look back in 20 years thinking 'what it?'. Better to try it and have no regrets. Good luck.

Karen

**Sam&Si** · 05-08-2008, 10:26 PM

Hi Iain,

We're heading to Brisbane too, we can't face the thought of bringing kids up in the UK either. And as Karen has said - whats the worst that can happen? Better to have tried and failed and all that!

Can't help with the areas you mentioned but there are some great people on PIO already in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast that I'm sure will be along soon and able to give you lots of info ,

Best of luck

**buckbuchanan** · 06-08-2008, 02:34 AM

If your one and only reason for moving here is to get your kids away from chavs then don't do it. This place is full of them. The fact that the population is smaller means you have more chance of your kids hanging out with them.
You can move to a nicer part of the uk to get away from chavs - it will cost you a fraction of what it costs to come over here and will be a damn site easier.
However, if you have other reasons for coming here (e.g. climate) then go for it - as someone else said you might regret not making the move.

Just don't expect that you can come here, buy a huge house for next to nothing and live in an area where there are no chavs. You will ALL the same problems you have in the UK over here.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

**linziloo** · 06-08-2008, 03:33 AM

Just my opinion ( I have a 5 yr old son) and the thought of him growing up in the UK did frighten me also. I say go for it, also, just wanting to move here just for the climate is not ( in my opinion) the best reason to move to the other side of the world. Yes there are some bad areas, like everywhere.
Hope you make the best decision that suits you.
Linz x

**fatpom** · 06-08-2008, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by Iain H

...grown totally disillusioned with "Once Great Britain". The thought of my eldest daughter ( now 10 ) growing up and ultimately, when older, going out on the night in this town with it's never ending violence frightens us to death.

If you're simply bored with the UK and/or want to try something different then by all means give it a go.

If its disillutionment with the UK especially violence etc... think very carefully because you're unlikely to find it any different in this respect overall.

People on this site talk of a knife culture in the UK... here we have knife and gun culture... its only about 10-12 years ago proper gun control was introduced.
I never heard gunshots after dark where I grew up in the UK but I've heard them in Aus (in several towns). Probably kids playing with their toys but!!!!

**moonraker1961** · 06-08-2008, 06:40 AM

I have to agree with Buckbuchanan on that score.Be careful of your reasons for wanting to go to Oz,you may be disappointed!If you're expecting sunshine and beautiful beaches,you'll get them,otherwise its virtually the same.Good luck!

**Iain H** · 06-08-2008, 07:22 PM

Thanks for all your input guys !! - Obviously it's not just the plight of the UK. My kids are 10,7 & 4 and they are very sporty. They love sport ( and are pretty good at it too ) and I think the outdoor lifestyle in SE QLD will be very suited to them ( Both my wife and I would be very happy with the climate ). I cant imagine actually planning a barbie more than a day in advance that would be unreal !!! LOL !!!. Anyway if there are any punters out there who have any experience of SE QLD ( Maroochydore and surrounding areas I would love to hear from you with the good and bad if any ) Thanks everybody