Tina2

Was your husband born in the UK ? There are many free community legal information centers you would get correct and up to date advise from just a case of googling them for your state. Here is one for Qld http://communitylegalqld.org.au/find-legal-help/find-centre/browse-directory and NSW http://www.clcnsw.org.au or contact womens legal service again here is one for Qld https://www.wlsq.org.au but lots on the internet and they are free, only basic advise but that should be enough for what you need right now.

The other question is, is the country he is working in his birth country ? If not then not sure if he would have the right to keep the kids with him, but as Sammy said just be careful. Check out the country he is now in and what their laws are in regards to relocation of parent and children all countries are different. I tend to agree with Sammy let him come back to Aus for Christmas, and dont let the kids anywhere near a middle eastern country

Varsity Lakes both Primary and High are excellant , just be aware it is a very large school close to 3000 students in total but broken into sections

Pimpama State High is a fairly new school but have heard the Principle is strict. At this stage all I can say is time will tell. What ever you do stay well away from Coomera State College.

well you could always spend some time enjoying the new 40 hectares of sports facilities http://www.tr.qld.gov.au/our-region/major-projects/environment-community/10397-highfields-sports-park better than lying on a beach getting skin cancer in your 40c plus heat in the most isolated state in Aus. Laugh all you like, but I would prefer Toowoomba to Perth any day with your major bush fires, never ending heat waves, not to mention the risk of cyclones and even earth quakes. 163,000 people call Toowoomba home now, and it is growing every day, and is the second largest inland city in Aus next to Canberra. http://specialreports.theaustralian.com.au/523460/2/ ( Cathay Pacific is now flying freight to Honk Kong from Well Camp)

No wonder I dont bother posting here very often, these days

Well thats your opinion Paul, but the number of housing estates opening up and selling fairly quickly must mean others must think its not so bad. My thought was that for those who want to get to Aus and need a job to do so it is a "Starting Point" not a life sentence. Living here will then give them the chance to look around and find a different place to live if that is what they choose to do.

Morning all, yes I know people still think Toowoomba is some small hick town, but I thought for the hand full of people who may be willing to look outside of a capital city, I would continue to post Job oppertunities that continue to come up in Toowoomba and show it is still moving forward. This data center will be 9km from many areas of housing and smaller shopping centers, (Wilsonton, already upgrading there shopping center and Glen Vale now have an application before council for a large shopping center . The well camp airport just down the road from this new developement now has direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne as well as Cairns and other regional areas (70 flights a week in and out ) , with more routes to be added before the end of the year. The RSPCA is set to build a new million dollar center at the business park located at Well Camp airport, along with boarding facilities so people can drop off there pets before flying out. The new 500 million dollar shopping center in Toowoomba is still set to open at the end of the year, and the new Toowoomba bypass has begun constrution. UPDATE: FKG Group is bringing the "ideas boom" to Toowoomba, announcing today plans to establish a technology park, home to one of Australia's first regional data centres, the Pulse Data Centre. The leading construction and engineering group has lodged an application with Toowoomba Regional Council for approval of the new 29-hectare technology park at Witmack Road. FKG Group's move to establish one of the largest technology parks outside the capital cities is a significant boost to regional Australia, potentially revolutionising the technology driven industry and supporting the innovation agenda of both the State and Federal government to generate new jobs and regional economic growth. The Toowoomba Technology Park incorporates the latest technological advances, with its highly efficient design utilising the excellent local environmental conditions. With high power capacity and a large available footprint, the Park will offer multiple tier levels and tailored security requirements for clients. The location of FKG Group's proposed technology park. "The application lodged includes a large co-location data centre, wholesale data centre capability, research incubator, disaster recovery space, start up offices and service facilities, with room for further expansion within the Park," said Dallas Hunter, group manager - property developments for the FKG Group. "Importantly for Toowoomba, this new technology industry hub is expected to generate significant employment opportunities in information, media, telecommunications and agricultural technology, resulting in an estimated 5000 new jobs as we tap into growing demand from Australia and Asia." Since receiving preliminary approval in December 2015, the FKG Group has been finalising and detailing the design of the Park and negotiating with potential clients and interested tenants. FKG's proposed technology park. The centre piece of the Park, and one of the first of its kind in Australia, the Pulse Data Centre will feature a highly resilient, Tier 3 design with incremental capacity up to 50 megawatts, providing prime data centre capacity and also business continuity protection to both corporate and government clients in a secure location 507 metres above sea level. "We have been delighted by the high level of local, national and international enquiries for this important new initiative in Australia's second-largest inland city," said Pulse Data Centre General Manager, Peter Blunt. "Pulse Data Centre will rival leading data centres in Australia's capital cities for connectivity, resilience and security. Technology will supercharge many industries and this data centre will play an important role in ensuring the benefits of the innovation boom extend from city to country," said Mr Blunt, who has more than 10 years' experience in the operation and construction of such centres. Subject to regulatory approvals, construction of the new centre is expected to commence in August 2016, with completion, testing and commissioning to be finalised by early next year. 9.50AM: Plans have been lodged with Toowoomba Regional Council for one of Australia's largest technology parks to be built in Toowoomba. FKG announced last year it wanted to build a 29ha regional data centre within the FKG Witmark Industry Park on Witmack Rd. A development application has now been lodged with council. It will cost about $100m to build and create 5000 jobs. The $20m first stage of the 12,000sq m centre would comprise 300 data racks with construction expected to start within 12-months of approval. FKG group manager property development Dallas Hunter said it would be an exciting project and a significant economic development driver for the Toowoomba region. "Toowoomba is a perfect location to build a high-tech, secure data facility due its geographic advantages being 100 km from Brisbane, with low yearly temperature variation and extremely good fibre connections being arranged," said Mr Hunter. TOPICS: FKG, TECHNOLOGY, TOOWOOMBA

Regency Downs, Plain Lands, and Gatton are other areas to check for floods. Further north Murphy's Creek is another flood area. There are lovely homes close to those areas that are no in the flood zone its just a case of checking.

Make sure you check the flood maps for Gatton and Laidley. Remember also the Toowoomba by pass has been approved so that will take a fair few truck off the current road system.

as I said before many "family law" firms will give brief free advise, dont know what state you are in but as for your inquiry give these people a call http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/family-law if you google you will find one for each state. Another good source of help is http://www.nsw.relationships.com.au Also this has info that should answer your question. http://www.ncsmc.org.au/wsas/legal_system/faq.htm#Can I stop the childrens father taking them overseas it applies to both mother and father.

100% agree the court reporter in our case recommended 50/50 access despite all the evidence pointing to serious emotional abuse of the children and serious lack of medical care of the children while on access, court reporter met the kids and parents once for 1/2 hour and based on that pushed the recommendation as this is now the "norm". Kids can only now be described as an emotional mess and not a thing can be done unless we can find several hundred thousend to go back to court and even then I doubt it would improve the situation. Kids have gone from A+ students to D grade students. Other issue is once you are allocated a Judge you are stuck with that judge till the kids turn 18, so if you get one who appears bias towards one parent well again nothing you can do.

Look on the internet there are lots of Law firms that give a free short consultation. Or contact "Relationships Australia", she cant take the kids out of Aus with out your approval if she does not intend to return. If it gets unpleasent a lawyer can put a hold on the childrens passports so they cant leave. I do encourage you to try to resolve this between your wife and yourself, getting involved in the AUstralian Family Court system is not only extreamly expencive but emotionally destroying for everyone involved.

Being tired at the end of the journey is far better than not m aking the journey. I could never consider not taking my dog with me where ever I go. I think people for the UK have a very strong bond with there pets and animals in general which is really nice.

Sorry Pat for any confusion, we only used Jet Pets in Aus, havnt moved any pets UK to Aus. Jet pets seemed really good, so I have no idea what happened. I know there was quite a delay between dropping off and going on board and the same at Brisbane quite a delay from getting off the plane and being taken to the freight section. May have been all the noise I have no idea, but he ended up at the vet he was so stressed and he is normally a very calm dog .

True very storm and then they can charge a fortune. We used Jet pets from Melbourne to Brisbane and our poor dog was totally traumatised and he is a very clame dog so dont know what went wrong.

Those looking to take pets back from Aus to UK will find this a help. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs Need to dig through for info, I did find that Aus is a listed country so no Quarantine required. Rabies needs to be done at least 21 days prior to departure and day one of the shot is day 0 so at the earliest you need to look at day 22 to travel. Tape worm must be done by a vet 20 to 120 hours before departure and entered into the pet passport.

Thank you Pat, I wish you every happiness in Adelaide

Hi Pat, we are 3 hours west of Brisbane, only place we could afford to buy a house and being retired as many will know life is extreamly difficult if you have to pay a mortgage or rent, so at least we have our own place. Love Tassie, but OH kids are in Brisbane so he wont leave the state. Its just this gut wrenching feeling that I will end up dying here. As I said it never really bothered me while I was working I was just so busy, but gee in retirement what a difference. I am a country bumpkin sad to say, I know things would be even worse if we moved to the city and to be honest we would not be able to afford to do that ( we didnt ignore the fact we needed to plan for retirement, some things happened which wiped us out financially), and even if we did it does not remove the underlying problem, I miss the UK and all it offers, beautiful walks where you dont have to worry about being bitten by wild life, Oh God the flies, huge cattle flies that bite. I also have medical issues and remember how easy it was to get help in the UK compared to accessing medical help here. I read in one of these post that someone was able to get free MRI or CT scan, well I can tell you where I am if I get sent to the City for a CT it is $90 and MRI hits around $500 with little back from medicare. If you cant afford a private specialist then the public wait is around 3 to 4 years. I love the lake district, lived in Appleby for a little while when I was very young. I know this sounds like a huge whinge and sorry I dont mean it to be that, I just want people to think carefully and put plans in place - just in case they end up feeling like I do. For those who love it that is fantastic I am really glad it has worked for you.

Thanks Jock, we did look at Tassie, lovely place but OH didnt want to leave his son's on the main land. Maybe things would have been better over there than where we are now

I would like here from those who are in Aus and have now retired and how they are finding retirement. When I was working I was so busy during the week and on weekends busy with household things life really just went on and I didnt think to much about the UK and never thought about retirement. Now retired and due to reasons I wont go into we are not comfortable financially. This has meant retiring to an area a good couple of hours from a capital city. Hope was to at least get stuck into gardening, but with little rain and poor soil that has not worked. SO, what to do in retirement in Aus if you are not financially able to travel ? Not much to be honest. Not in to lawn bowls, or fishing, or football. Yes could join clubs like Lions, but find Aussies are hard to get close to, they dont seem to understand the british sense of humour or even our work ethic. Everything is so far away you need to have a car, and even then we are starting to realize there is little to do. The heat in summer is oppresive, Love winter but it only last for about 8 weeks here. Have looked at the cost of going back but with the exchange rate if we sold our house, we would not be able to buy another even close to the standard we have now ( and it is pretty basic) in a rural area, of England . For a long time now I have realized how much I have left behind in the UK, always a castle to visit, a walk around the village and a friendly chat. I cant even put into word the ache I feel knowing I am now stuck here, until I die. For many it works and they love it, all I say is if you are coming over put plans in place so that IF one day you decide it is not for you, then you are able to return.

Dont know a lot about Green Bank except that Mirvac are about to build 3000 houses out there. http://www.marble.com.au/news-and-resources/news/mirvac-greenbank-queensland/ Its not that far from Browns plains which tends to be a more lower socio economic area, but is also not that far from Springfield Lakes which has a lot to offer and there is a ST Peters Campus there so an excellant school. Canterbury Collage also has a very good name to be very honest the Lutheran and C of E schools tend to be better than the catholic schools, both in disapline and facilitis unless you go to the really large catholic schools in Brisbane its self. I guess you could put them into a catholic primary then move them to th city for high school if you prefer the children to be in catholic schools. However I think if you get them into St Peters or Canterbury you wont want to move them as they are both very good schools. Sorry not sure about St Bernadiens. Have a look on Realestate.com. around waterford you might still find a place with a bit more land and its close to canterbury college, then use where is to see the distance from your work and chosen school. Same with Springfield Lakes, its a nice area, lots of shops and large stores like IKEA and COSCO are building out there.

St Peters Indooroopilly ??

Hi, all I can tell you about Gumdale State School is that they do have music program but not sure how exstencive it is but academically its quite a good school. The school at Wakerley is the Agnew school run by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church I suggest you look the Brethern up before considering the school. Also different schools start back at different times. Private schools have now closed for Chrismas but you might catch some of the state schools to ask when you can look around. Most schools do put on a limited number of staff early in the new year as over here Feb is the start of the new school year and many people move at that time and need to sort out schools.So if you send out some emails I am sure staff from both state and private schools will contact you as soon as they are back at work and can arrange a tour for you Remember private schools may have a wait list. If this is the case your best solution is to put the children in the local state school until you can get into your chosen private school (providing the wait list is not to long of course, if it is you may have to look at your second choice. It may help you to use http://www.whereis.com you can key in a suburb and press search and it will give you a map of that area and on the left is a list of things you can key in like shopping centers and they will appear on the map. you can also press directions and key in 2 suburbs or addresses and it will give you the route, time and distance between the 2 suburbs might help to look at places to live and the drive to work.

Have you considered house sitting ? https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/house-and-pet-sitting-assignments/australia/queensland/brisbane/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term={keyword}&utm_campaign=Google-Adwords&gclid=CMGT7MOT38kCFYeCvQod_8wJuA Lots of agencies if you google them. People go away often for several months and look for people to live in there home and care for the house, garden and sometimes pets. No cost to you and free accomadation.