G'Day to everyone

[Andrews2oz]

Hi to everyone that was at the PIO meet at the Bobbing Apple near Sittingbourne (and to everyone else in PIO)

Sorry for the delay in this message; been a hectic few weeks since the meeting.
So glad we went to the meeting; so many good, decent, skilled people; if only the government could see the quality of the people leaving the U.K. compared to many of the unskilled people (with families attached) that are entering the U.K. (Don’t even get me started on that one; you think this message is long; this is nothing compared to my opinions on immigration)

First let me introduce me and my family.

I’m Mark, I’m 37 years old and I’m an Electrician.
My wife is called Tracey she is also 37 years old and she is a care worker.
1st Daughter; Katie she is 13 years old
2nd Daughter; Rebecca she is 9 years old.

We live in Sittingbourne and are looking to move to Perth sometime in the future.

A few years ago I was running a site in London. Amongst the labour I supervised; was a couple of Electricians that were from Oz.
During the course of the job (approx 14 months) I became good friends with these guys and picked up on both their; relaxed work ethic and attitude to life.
One of these guys realising how stressful work/life can be in the U.K. thought Australia would suit me and my family. He was going back home in December and invited me and my family to stay with him for as long as we wanted so that we could experience the Aussie lifestyle for ourselves. I must say that up until this time; Australia was the other side of the world, somewhere they filmed Neighbours etc; and I had no intention of visiting for a holiday (let alone anything more permanent).
We decided the opportunity was a “once in a lifetime offer” not to be turned down and therefore we took up my friends offer of putting us up and we visited Perth in February 2006.

And here begins the start of our potential new life!!!
After our return we all agreed that Perth was a great place to live; the schools we visited were excellent, the Weather was great and the whole “Laid back” way of life definitely appealed to us.
However on our return; I found that it would still take me almost a year before Tracey would agree that we should apply (yes; you’ve guessed it….the “mum n daughter” bond was taking hold)

Thankfully our great Government is assisting me here; the way our country is going; education, crime, health and above all immigration, Tracey soon got p*ssed off with the U.K. and allowed the process to begin.

It’s strange that throughout the whole visa process; the skills application, the career history, the Medicals, the police checks etc; we don’t think “why do I have to do this” but you think “why doesn’t the U.K. do the same”. Instead we seem to let any Tom, Dick or Harry in; they could be mass murderers, rapists Paedophiles. Many of them also bring the whole family which automatically puts them in front of our own people in getting a place to live. I know that some would say that’s what we’re doing but with one small difference; we have to sign a declaration stating that we will be self supporting and unable to claim state hand outs for 2 years… a bit different from here eh!!! Whoops I’m off again… sorry I’ll continue...
We have now received our 175 skilled independent Visa (11th March) unfortunately everything else has gone t*ts up:

Australian Interest rates – gone up.
£ to $ Exchange rate – gone down.
U.K. House prices – Stagnant (if lucky; if not gone down)
OZ House prices – Gone up.

Basically the difference in house we could have had when we visited compared to now is vast and then to top it all; my mother in law now needs a Hip operation and Tracey won’t go anywhere until she has had the op and made a full recovery. Ironic isn’t it that I’m now depending on the crappy health service we can’t wait to get away from!!!

I think we will eventually get to live the life in Oz albeit not just yet. My worry is that when the financial side has settled and my mother in law is dancing and skipping; my oldest daughter will then get the “I’m not going anywhere attitude” that so many of them get.

Anyway that’s the Andrews family.

[TheBrammies]

hi andrews family not everything is negative first houses prices in australia is in decline also and the bit about the interest rates going up well stick your money in a bank and rent for now you will get more interest in oz than here but i do totally agree with you about immigration yes this country needs it but only people that are skilled,healthy and not criminals
ps also get out there before your better half changes her mind lol