ramot

That was always our understanding, I appreciate you were responding to the OP, but was slightly concerned that we were wrong, when there were no exceptions mentioned.

I didn’t actually say anything about changing schools not affecting children negatively . My daughter age 13 was in boarding school in Uk and we were in Brunei, trust me it wasn’t easy for either of us, I just said they have all turned out alright, and the reality is if your work involves moving around the country or world, of course it’s not ideal, but children have to adapt. Hope your daughter is ok.

Ken, does your good advice apply from when you gained PR? In our case we have only had PR for 3 years, and only paid Australian tax recently, and CGT from 2015 shared between us. Thanks

It’s personal choice, we were retired when we moved here, so had different needs to you. Visit when you can, and stay for a few days if possible. We bought in Mountain Creek, and it suits us as nowhere is too far, but house prices are rising fast, especially if in a good school catchment area. The shopping square is small, but almost every shop is there, plus Dr, Dentist, Physiotherapist etc. you get to know people in them, and tend to see people you know. Some people love Buderim, I hardly go there, it can get very congested. Sippy Downs has plenty of shops, but I don’t know about the community spirit. I think if you have school age children anywhere that’s the best way to get involved and meet people.

We are also selling a London flat. Please only take advice from someone like Alan Collett, who specialises in UK/Australian tax.

Just I hope a bit of reassurance that children adapt. I went to 5 different primary schools and in different countries before I was ten, and hope no one contradicts me , turned out alright? Married someone in the RAF and all 3 of our children coped with moving both Primary and in my daughter’s case senior schools. I agree with Marisa it is harder for teenagers, it’s not ideal, but if you have no option, then they have to cope, and their education can be sorted out. Our children and our expatriate friends children have all turned out alright.

What!!! You’re telling me that I’ve got to sound Australian now

I do

I’m a car-stle, but I’m happy to say ‘Ey up me duck’ from years In Nottingham! In fact we say ey up vera instead of aloe ‘hello’ vera. Our children picked up the local pronunciation every time we moved, so no one knows where they come from as they probably mix everything up when they speak. Makes me laugh when you hear how broadcasters used to speak, no regional accents were allowed. Sorry went off track. I am proud to be an Australian, but I will never feel as Australian as someone who was born here, as it isn’t my heritage.

Prefer Buderim, Mountain Creek, Sippy Downs, Brightwater is a newer suburb. I haven’t any school children, by hearsay both Mountain Creek & Sippy Downs schools have a good name both Primary & Senior schools, Buderim Primary school only. University at Sippy Downs. Hopefully someone with children will reply, but there are plenty of sports facilities here, limited bus service? Mooloolaba is between 8-15 minutes away. .Buderim has a high st, shops and cafes, Mountain Creek has a small shopping square with all the shops you need plus a cafe, and Palmwoods which is a bit further out has a a small centre but worth a look ? but further from the sea and I don’t know what schools are there. there is a sense of community locally here but I’m not sure you will find it like a UK village. Dr’s everywhere. Hospital at Kawana. Children seem to find enough to enjoy themselves here. You really need to visit to get a feel of the different suburbs. Buderim housing is I think the most expensive, Mountain Creek mostly more expensive than Sippy Downs, think Brightwater is more expensive? House prices are rising fast, and don’t stay on the market long at the moment. Hope some of that helps.

Sorry had to laugh, of course the traffic is busy at times, especially in holiday spots, that’s no different to any popular holiday destination, and if there is an accident on the Bruce Highway, but seriously where has he lived? if that’s the worst he has experienced. We drove to the Apollonien Hotel Boreen Point, great country pub, yesterday from Buderim area on The Sunshine Coast motorway via Noosa Civic, then back via Pomona and the Bruce Highway, No problem with traffic anywhere.

I agree with you Cal, Caloundra is a bigger place, with a good high st, covering most shops and a variety of cafes. There is a cinema, library, and a very good entertainment centre, we have seen such a variety of many excellent shows there, from the 10 tenors, country music, musicals and going to the International Ballet Gala next week, featuring ballet dancers from all over the world, including the Principle ballet dancer from the Royal Ballet, so privileged as it’s only on in Brisbane and Caloundra.

I was actually only trying to make the point, that sadly when you sell your household items, even good quality, that you think might be worth money, it comes as a shock to find they are almost worthless. I didn’t intend it to become a thread about Ercol.

M R you would use Landsborough. Station from the Mooloolaba area. Noosa might use Nambour station? I really don’t know if that’s the nearest.

I’m talking 10 plus years ago and trust me brown furniture wasn’t selling in England, IKEA flat packs were though. Ercol was very good quality solid wood furniture, but the size of our dining set was also against it, too big for many modern houses

I can’t really answer your questions sorry, as I hardly ever go to Noosa, I don’t know much about public transport there, but Noosa isn’t very big, it adjoins Noosaville plus Noosa Civic, So there might be buses? It’s about 2 hours from Brisbane, but if it’s like the Sunshine Coast which is about 1.15 hr from Brisbane, there is no bus service from here to Brisbane. Our only option is a train from Landsborough to Brisbane and buses do connect with the trains from Mooloolaba. The only road to Brisbane can be a nightmare if there is an accident, but only takes 75 minutes on a clear run. We have loads of Drs and specialists here, bulk billed and 7 day Drs, but again I can only speak for the local Mooloolaba and Maroochydore & Buderim surrounding area. We took a chance to move to this area, we live 5 mins from the coast, wanted a village type area to feel part of a community. There is more life in Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Caloundra because they are tourist areas, and there is a bus service between them. Hope some of that helps, but I wonder if the area might be a bit too quiet after Surry Hills or the Gold Coast.

We have lived in Australia for 19 years, we are selling our rental properties, but when we sold the family house, we kept things, stupidly in hindsight, in storage for 10 years, cost stupid money, and hardly got anything much when we finally sold things. A hard lesson learnt. Beautiful Ercol solid elm 8 seaters table, matching side board and corner cabinet. plus 8 antique dining chairs plus matching grandfather and grandmothers button back chairs, sold for about 300,00 pds. No one wanted brown furniture then. Selling from here, they hold no sentimental value at all. Amazes me that we can sign electronically from here.

As far as I know you have to declare world wide income? We certainly declare our UK rental income. I’m no expert.

Luckily I’m not like most of your friends Marisa, and neither are many of my friends. I see nothing wrong in telling your children that you love them will miss them like mad, it’s not necessarily emotional blackmail, but that you respect their decision. they have to live their lives and all leave home eventually, as all parents we have to adjust to the empty nest. It depends a lot I think on your background? if you haven’t really ever moved around a lot, perhaps still live locally to where you grew up, surrounded by family and school friends, then perhaps it’s harder to let go of your children? The children of friends I have from my old village certainly haven’t strayed far, but as most of the people I know like us have moved around the country or the world because of their work, so it comes as no surprise that most, but not all, of our children have carried on by either emigrating, marrying someone from another country or working overseas. My daughter has been the most adventurous of our 3, she has lived in Mexico and Kenya before following us here, and she has health problems that would probably keep most people close to home. Keeping a brave face never crossed my mind, she knew I would worry about her, I’m her mother it comes with the territory, just as she knew I understood that it was her life to live her way. just as I did when I went to work as an air hostess in Zambia in the 1960’s as a single female, and to be honest it was a more unusual thing to do then, and far harder to keep in touch, but what an adventure.

Just to add another positive post from a poster who is a glass 1/2 full person. We had been expats in Brunei for 10 years, and when my husband retired we decided to come to Australia for a bit more adventure as we weren’t ready for the roses round the door cottage life back in England. Our grown up children were all in UK, but it was our time to do what we wanted to do. We are still here 19 years later, and not leaving. Of course there have been a few ups and downs, but that’s life anywhere. 2 of our children joined us here, and I have reconnected with the Africa side of my family who have all moved here. However my oldest son and only grandchildren are in UK, so like many my family is split. We thoroughly enjoy our life here, made great friends, travelled lots around Australia, and anyone who says Australia is all the same everywhere has ventured very far. Ignore some posters, honestly it’s like Groundhog Day reading some posters posts, there’s nothing wrong with giving advice, as no one place suits everyone, but balance is needed.

I might get shot down in flames for saying this, but as a local living on the Sunshine Coast, I hardly ever go to Noosa, it’s always busy, very touristy, and a bit pretentious, parking space is very lacking. Do Enjoy walking in the National Park, Tea tree bay is a nice beach, but again hardly anywhere to park. There are so many other lovely places on the coast to visit or live. The Sunshine Coast is very different to the Gold Coast M R, much quieter, Mooloolaba is more family orientated, and to be honest not much is open after about 9pm, but it’s a lovely area, and I have no intention of moving anywhere else.

Well done MR, we are doing the same thing this year, but not bringing anything over here. My only advice which is from personal experience, don’t pay storage fees for years and years, for things you think you might use one day? be ruthless, sell it or give it away, if you haven’t seen it or needed it you probably shouldn’t have kept it. The reality of what something is actually worth, can come as a shock.

Good luck xM

I don’t know if the same rules apply now? but 10 years ago, my daughter was in Sydney on a WHV and like you her visa would run out before 12 months living together with her partner. They registered their de facto relationship with NSW government, which resolved it, and applied successfully for the partner visa. I don’t know where you are? as I don’t know if this is still accepted or if all states have this system. Worth checking it out, Marisa gives you good advice. Good luck

I’m really sorry that yet again a poster that was asking for advice, has had the thread taken over, by often the same posters, who because they are unhappy in Australia dredge up every miserable/political etc reason why they dislike it here. There is nothing wrong with posters giving constructive advice for or against living in Australia, no country suits everyone, but some posters almost hate of the country is very sad, but perhaps not balanced. Two of my children followed us when we retired here 19 years ago, ( for a bit of an adventure for perhaps only a couple of years, we never left!!!) they moved here in their 30’s ( son 15 years ago and daughter 10 years ago ) and have made a success of their lives, love living here, as do their friends. One lives in Brisbane and the other in Sydney. I’m not going to give advice, but as someone who went to Africa in the mid 1960’s as a single female to work, with at the time with no known family there, there might be a clue in what I would do in your circumstances!! Ruth whatever decision you make, enjoy your life wherever you decide.