Ferntree Gully or Glen Waverley?

[The Barnetts]

Hi Helen
We arrived with our three children in August 2007. We had never been before and do not know anyone. We managed to settle in Wheelers Hill, about 10 (ish) mins from Glen Waverley. We wanted to move to Glen Waverley but ended up in Wheelers Hill because we found the rental market hard and took what we could. However, Glen Waverley has great choice of shops and convenient too. Our children 17,16 and 11 love the area and have settled immediately. (One of our sons wants to join the police force too - the academy is down the road!) We love it here, the area is lovely and Glen Waverley would of been our choice. Good luck.
Wendy

[racht]

Hello to The Barnetts

Interesting you say Wheelers Hill....I saw a few really nice houses there. What's it like? Do your kids go to school there?

Thanks Rachael

[The Barnetts]

Wheelers Hill has some lovely houses although we are renting at the moment. Our children go to school Wheelers Hill. Our eldest two boys love the school and our daughter likes hers (although I am not sure about it). It seems ok but we had to find a house first because of the rental market and we did not have the time to find schools first as we were in a motel for three weeks (in Frankston!). However, we are happy with the area for now and spend most weekends looking at properties to buy when we end lease August.

[racht]

So are you looking to buy in Wheelers Hill then? I note you've rented for 12 months. Was that your decision or is that a standard minimum lease round there? We were thinking of doing a similar thing to you. I've noticed that everyone raves about Glen Waverley schools and presume they have a catchment system like here (do you know if that's the case). Ours kids are younger than yours so we do have a bit more time to sort schools but still need to think about it. Does your daughter go to a different school to the boys due to age? Why are you not sure about it? Do you think it is that school in particular or schools there in general? Sorry for all the questions...just trying to get as much info as possible! Also....sorry I realise I'm a pain, but when you have looked at houses, what are the gardens like? All the new builds appear to have none.

Thanks for your help.

Rach

[The Barnetts]

Hi Rach
Ok, Wheelers Hill for us is going to be quite expensive - we had such little time to find somewhere to rent and get sorted. It was catch 22 - no jobs, no school etc. Yes they have a catchment area so when we got this house we just put the kids in schools. Not something I would do in the UK but since being here, the lifestyle is so much better for us, it was all about getting our feet in the door. Our boys love it here and the school and their friends they have made. So as long as they are settled, its ok. our daughter goes to a different school and will go to theirs next January (when the school terms start). I had to think of what was convenient as it is near her brothers school so they can walk her to/from school as I am working near the centre of Melbourne (Kew). It is still new to us and we are still learning along the way. People say it is hard for the first year. I think it is but we spend our time at the beach from 4pm till 7pm in the evenings and we are getting there! We decided 12 months lease to give purselves time to find a house to buy in an area we like but as the boys are settled, we have to find somewhere near their schools and friends. But since they were taken to the other side of the world with us and they have settled so well, moving to an area suited to their needs is a small price to pay! My daughters school has two year levels in a class so that is why I am not sure about it although there are only 250 pupils in the school. So teaching is in small classes - not like the UK school she went to (30 pupils in a class with 5 classes in her year).

the new builds dont have much of a garden where we have seen, but the houses seem to have enough to sit in the sun, BBQ nd entertain.

A question for you - when are you thinking of coming out? What are you going to do for work? At what stage are you?

Hope this helps?

[racht]

Thanks for that.

We are hoping to be out by the end of the year. I dont work (stay at home mum). I want to go back to work once they are at school though (I am a lawyer - but want a change). We are close to submitting skills ass for my hubby (he's in IT).

It's great to speak to people who are already out there. I guess the first year is bound to be difficult not only missing people but adapting to so many new things that are going on...plus all the stresses of finding jobs, somewhere to live and schools etc. I can only get easier for you from now on!

Once again, thanks.

[The Barnetts]

Hi Rach
We were lucky that although we had neve been here before or did not know anyone, once we had the house and schools etc, we both got jobs. My skills in the Uk were quite specialised and I worried about getting work here although I would of done anything. In the UK I was an interpreter for the Deaf so coming here, I have had to undergo some training - my choice as it is slightly different sign language, but landed a job not that different to what I did in UK. I work in a prestigious private girls school in Kew overlooking Melbourne and get the holidays at home with the kids. My husband is Gas /plumbing. I do socialise at work and get together with them but my husband and I want to meet people outside of workplace and find friends to have a drink/chat. Its hard when you leave friends and family but we wont give up because we know we have done the best for ourselves and children.

[racht]

You did really well both getting jobs quickly. I think they organise meet-ups on this site, you'll have to keep your eyes peeleed. You can count on us once were out there - we'll meet up, if we ever get there...seems like a long way away!