Back from Melbourne validation trip

**ashmalog** · 02-07-2009, 01:58 PM

Warning - this is a long post - sorry!!

Hi all, just wanted to let you know how we got on during our validation trip to melbourne. We got visa in december but house hasn't sold so our family of 5 had to make the trip out to validate the visas. we left on an emirates flight and found it to be brilliant especially for the kids, so much to do and the staff were so friendly, food nice and i was certainly impressed with the service despite a 2hr runway delay, until we got to melbourne 22hrs later with no luggage!!! - it had been left in dubai due to a baggage handling fault. Hubby was less than impressed but i just went with the flow. we did get it back 21hrs later!!

we were staying close to the city for the first 4 days (hawthorn east) with family and spent our 1st day catching up on sleep and family. my oh uncle lives in a 3.5 million $ house with pool and tennis court so not what we are used to - didn't want boys to get used to it either as we certainly wouldn't beable to afford this way of living. they took it all in their stride. loved the city and riding on a tram (highlight of my 3yr olds trip!!) and on our 2nd day they got to personally meet the socceroos in federation square and gots lots of autographs and freebies. they loved it as they are soccer made. they also loved the eureka tower at night.
Uncle managed to get the boys tickets to see australia vs japan at the MCG so that made their day. An amazing stadium and who says the aussies don't like soccer - there was a crowd of 70,000 which is more than most england games. This was really the making point for the boys and they are happy to live in australia now, even the 8 year old.

the following fews days we went to view some high schools, Hampton Park school was nice but we didn't like the area, not much there and older housing. was really impressed with the resources and facilities that government schools have, endless computer suites and high tech facilities for design and technology and cooking. preferred narre warren south p-12 school which had fantastic facilities, the boys were wow wow wow for the 2hrs we spent around the school. good signs. berwick has good results but the school is so run down and dirty, my 11 yr old was not impressed.

we then went to stay with friends in pakenham upper on the south east side. what a difference, in the middle of nowhere with 5 acres, lovely log cabin style house with chickens and a pool. the only form of heating was a wood burner for the whole house. too rural for us but on exploring we liked berwick, narre warren south and pakenham. we want newer housing with a community feel and loved heritage springs in pakenham and berwick springs in narre warren south.

the boys got to experience aus kick also - aussie rules, and my eldest won a medal for scoring a goal and 2 marks!! not sure they will take it up but who knows. we found a group training session and we asked if the boys could join in and the coach said 'no problem'. we were amazed at the generosity of australians and the no worries attitude, so friendly.

in between all the tourist bits like healesville, great ocean road, beach, zoo, sport - i managed to get a job in dingley village and hubby asked about barber positions in the areas we liked and he was successful too. the only thing is we dont really know when we will get out for good as the house has still not sold. we even managed to grab a coffee with kate - moving to melbourne - who welcomed my brood into her home and was great, i felt like we had known each other for ages. we also found time to have lunch with terry and rachel (the hearnes) and had a brilliant time - thanks guys. sorry we couldn't catch up with you velly but we will next time, not enough time in the day!!

throughout of the whole trip i must say that we had brilliant weather - 18 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. it only rained at night.

food wise i thought that it was pretty much the same price as uk and a bit cheaper than last year - i did a log last year and found that bread, petrol, chicken and meat is cheaper this year. the veg is so much more tastier and of better quality (my opinion). we were feeding 2 families (10 pax) and our food shop was $300 - i spend that in a week feeding just my lot in the uk.

as you can tell we had a fantastic time and the boys have come back to the UK saying g'day and feeling very positive about the move - the sooner the better. I am glad we did the trip for the sake of the boys, they experienced a great life to be had. Had we not done that then there may have been doubt particulary from my 11 year old.

roll on the house sale

Bonnie x

**cuba267** · 02-07-2009, 02:18 PM

Hi bonnie
We got our visa grant today. Heading to melbourne with three young kids under 6. Your post is fantastic and really relevant to us. We've been a bit worried about our move only because of the challenge of moving our 6 year old (already in school) to a school in melbourne - we're anxious to pick the right area and right school coz, once chosen, we don't want to uproot her again to another school. We've been looking online at the areas you've mentioned like berwick etc. What was you're impression of this area to bring up kids? I know everyones taste is different but was there much of a difference between, say, berwick, packenham and narre warren?

**THE DUNSCOMBE FAMILY** · 02-07-2009, 02:36 PM

Hi Doncaster East has a excellant repution both for area and the schools.Doncaster gardens primary school and doncaster secondary or Doncaster east as good.It is how ever built up here, personally for me i find it to busy as im a country girl at heart, but this was were the job brought us, like i say its all a matter of what your looking for .Good luck with selling your house

**ashmalog** · 02-07-2009, 02:53 PM

[QUOTE=cuba267;530409]Hi bonnie
We got our visa grant today. Heading to melbourne with three young kids under 6. Your post is fantastic and really relevant to us. We've been a bit worried about our move only because of the challenge of moving our 6 year old (already in school) to a school in melbourne - we're anxious to pick the right area and right school coz, once chosen, we don't want to uproot her again to another school. We've been looking online at the areas you've mentioned like berwick etc. What was you're impression of this area to bring up kids? I know everyones taste is different but was there much of a difference between, say, berwick, packenham and narre warren?[/QUOTE

congratulations on getting your visa it is an amazing feeling - crack open the bubbly tonight and have a great time.

personaly we loved berwick, it has everything and loads for kids to do, practically a playpark around every corner. it is getting big though and has a population of around 35,000 and so you certainly need to have a car to get around. narre warren has fountaingate shopping centre which is fab and sells practically everything. we prefered narre warren south as it was a bit further out, newer housing and not far from everything - we prefer to be a bit rural but need the closeness of everything, strange i know. the suburbs tend to merge into one so you can be out of one and into another without realising it. all the areas are very clean and have all facilities. Pakenham is building up slowly with lots of new housing estates and again they have loads of facilities, a bit further out but still only 50 mins from the city by car. all have good train routes. it all depends what you want. at the minute we live in a market town with population of 24,000 with some amenities. we came out of the city due to schooling.

we were worried about the kids, i have 3 boys 11, 8 and 3. they found the schools great and had no trouble taking it all in. like i said we are glad we did the trip with them. i am sure your 6 yr old will fit in great into whatever school you choose. berwick has a variety of primary schools and they are all well equipped with resources.
we didnt go to doncaster as we knew we wanted the eastern suburbs.
good luck - the hard work is over now. enjoy the planning.

**Hearne_Family** · 04-07-2009, 05:32 PM

Hey guys,

It was great to catch up, cant wait to do it again when you are out here for good! Keep us updated with progress.

**shaunkaren** · 08-07-2009, 08:09 AM

Great post and glad to see others are making the move with children around our kids age (11 and 10), we feel it is now or never due to the impending doom of teenagers about to emerge! We received our visa's on Friday and are now trying to work out the logistics of moving lock stock and barrel to the other side of the world in the next 6 months or so. We are still keen on Point Cook area so if anyone knows of good schools etc then would really appreciate your opinions (good and bad). It is hard to make a decision from so far away about something so important, also could someone tell me about what age the children enter high school? Friends in Adelaide have a 12 year old who will be going up in January, but I have read different ages apply elsewhere. Anyway good luck with your move.
Karen

Burness2Oz · 08-07-2009, 09:08 AM

Hi Bonnie,

I love long reccie/validation blogs like yours, so informative for us who have not yet been. It sounds like you all had a great time and very lucky to have found jobs, good luck with your new life in Australia.

We are going for a reccie in August and can't wait, never mind the kids counting the sleeps, I am!!!

Take care Hx

**juliemtaylor** · 08-07-2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Burness2Oz

Hi Bonnie,

I love long reccie/validation blogs like yours, so informative for us who have not yet been. It sounds like you all had a great time and very lucky to have found jobs, good luck with your new life in Australia.

We are going for a reccie in August and can't wait, never mind the kids counting the sleeps, I am!!!

Take care Hx

Burness2Oz - where are you off on your reccie? I too love reading the reports - especially the long ones.

Julie x

**tracy123** · 08-07-2009, 11:25 AM

great post

Glad your boys enjoyed themselves and are now looking forward to it, makes your life alot easier

Geoffrey

**ashmalog** · 08-07-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by shaunkaren

Great post and glad to see others are making the move with children around our kids age (11 and 10), we feel it is now or never due to the impending doom of teenagers about to emerge! We received our visa's on Friday and are now trying to work out the logistics of moving lock stock and barrel to the other side of the world in the next 6 months or so. We are still keen on Point Cook area so if anyone knows of good schools etc then would really appreciate your opinions (good and bad). It is hard to make a decision from so far away about something so important, also could someone tell me about what age the children enter high school? Friends in Adelaide have a 12 year old who will be going up in January, but I have read different ages apply elsewhere. Anyway good luck with your move.
Karen

Hi Karen

we went to point cook when we travelled the great ocean road, the west seems a lot more industrial than the east side. point cook is growing so fast, lots of new housing estates so lots of new schools and facilities. i preferred the east side but didn't really spend that much time on the west to make a proper opinion.
my 11 yr old will start in yr 7 in feb so they end up having to repeat 6mths of primary education but they call middle school yrs 5-8. I have a brilliant book that gives me the school results of all high schools in victoria, i got it whilst we were out there. if i can help just tell me the schools you are interested in.

congratulations on the visa - its a great feeling hey.
bonnie