Jockeylad

We have now been here for around 5 weeks, visiting both Mandurah and Bunbury and must say Bunbury hands down... but that's just our choice/opinion. Hence we have moved to Bunbury and love it. The people are friendly, chilled and are always willing to help. We found the Aussies' kindness, approachability and chattiness quite strange at first, as if we were on the Trueman Show, but soon realised this is just the way they are. What a breath of fresh air compared to the UK. Total strangers will strike up conversations with you all the time. The staff in the Bunbury branch of the NAB (bank) actually spend time talking to their customers and get to know you personally. I have been banking with Lloyds bank in the UK since I was 8 years old and not one of them ever struck up a conversation, which is quite sad really and makes you realise what has been lost over the years in the UK. There is plenty to see and do at the weekends and you are much closer to towns like Albany, Busselton and Dunsborough, not to mention all the wineries/breweries:goofy:. The beaches in and around Bunbury are also very nice. A train service will take you up to Perth for shopping/visiting etc, but I would say that it's too far for commuting on a daily basis, although there are those that work in Perth all week and travel back down at the weekend. Many FIFO workers also live in and around Bunbury. IMO house prices are comparable with Mandurah, in that they can be expensive depending on location... as anywhere. I've heard it said that Bunbury is less affordable than Mandurah, but I'm not so sure that this is true. If it is more expensive, then it may be because of the demand for housing and Bunbury being one of, if not THE fastest growing areas of WA. We have been up to Perth a few times and as far as Quinns Rocks/Hillary's Harbour etc... but feel that we have chosen wisely and feel very much at home in Bunbury. I am a Mechanical Engineer, so finding the right employment opportunities down here is a must... but they are there if you do your homework. Anyone who needs to find 'Regional Work' as part of their visa conditions (Nurses/Teachers etc) will find Bunbury a great place to settle and believe me, you won't want to leave... it is that good. Coming to WA has definitely been one of our best decisions in life. We have two daughters (7 & 14) and they have settled very quickly at school (Bunbury Primary and Bunbury Senior High) - check out the views from Bunbury Senior High school on Google maps... probably the best school location in the world!!! TBH, you won't go far wrong either way as Mandurah/Dawesville are also a great places to live/visit. In the end you'll have to visit and weigh up your personal pro's/cons and chose accordingly. Decisions, decisions... hope this has helped:confused:.

Hi Alan My wife and I are also renting our UK property out and if I understand you correctly then; 1. We can split the rental income between us, thus reducing the probability of it surpassing our UK tax allowance. 2. Apart from filling out the agents FICO form, we must also register on the non resident landlord scheme. 3. We must register for UK tax self assessment (possibly triggered automatically?). 4. We must also declare the income on our Australian tax return. 5. Once the UK HM Revenue are satisfied that no tax is payable and after at least 1 tax return, we can apply to have our self assessment file closed. Again great info and I'm hoping I've understood it all correctly :notworthy:. You mention that you send a standard letter to HM revenue, on behalf of your clients, to have them removed from the self assessment list. Is this letter freely available :unsure:?

Addison05 My family and I are moving to Bunbury in about 6-7weeks time. How long did it take you to find and sort a rental... will I need to sort a holiday let/hotel for a week or two? I have two daughters 14 and 7, what are the schools like near Millbridge/Treendale/Eaton way? We're all now looking forward to finally getting there!

Praz567, it happened by default really. I work at a power station in the UK and had applied for a job, via the seek.com.au site, at Bluewaters power station near Collie (inland from Bunbury). I found out that there was a guy who used to work at my power station, who now lives Leschenault just north of Bunbury. I got his contact details and got in touch to ask him for info about the area, schools etc. After a few emails back and forth, he asked if I was interested in a job at his place... and the rest went from there. I applied for lots of jobs via the 'seek' site, explained that I was in the UK and that if not successful at this time due to my location, could I contact them on arrival in Perth. I had countless replies that were all positive and said that they would be interested in meeting me on arrival. It is difficult to obtain a job prior to getting there as employers frequently told me that they are not all that keen on Skype interviews, but would be willing to see me on arrival. So if I were you, I would apply for jobs on seek that interest you or write to them directly, kind of like an application covering letter, explaining who you are, when you will be arriving etc. I am a firm believer that decent companies respect this approach and anyway you have nothing to lose and only something to gain! By doing this, you can compile a list of employers you can contact with on arrival. Good luck!

Heading to Bunbury, job sorted at the SSWA desalination plant at Binningup. IMO, get a job, find an acceptable place to settle and if your not happy.... look for another job and move... simple. Always better to seek work when you're in work!

Totally agree with patsmb, probably identity fraudsters at work and you should be very careful and definitely talk to the police, your bank and change all passwords etc etc. They were probably getting angry as you'd moved out before they could make a steal on your identity. It also makes me wonder why they wanted a forwarding address... possibly to carry on the con in the future using the new address??? Don't want to sound pessimistic or anything, but if they had access to your name, DoB, address, copies of utility bills etc, they could, with a false identity, apply for loans in your name or open a bank account! Hell, they could have removed your passport, copied the detail and then put it back, only to have a fake passport produced using your details:shocked:. On the other hand, she/they could just be a pair of class A nutters... there are people like that out there:wacko:! The choice is yours whether you let bygones be bygones. I know what I would do:policeman:! By the way... Owe Bist thee Chall77 ?

Pavlova, I've had a quote from Anglo Pacific and I'm interested to know why your price keeps mysteriously increasing? What exactly are they blaming the increases on? Out of the three quotes I've had for removals they look to be the better, but only slightly. I am still quite interested in self packing, using 1, or possibly two, large move cubes, so your post is kind of reinforcing that thought.

I am also looking at using move cube, but still have not seen a post by anyone who has actually used this method...unless I've missed it. Is there anyone on PIO who has? If so, can you let us know of your experience and whether you would use that method again. Also, how do they work out AQIS fees, is it by volume, or what they have to inspect? What is a rule of thumb guide price for AQIS costs? Thanks in advance.

Actually having been on Wanted Down Under, how realistic, in your opinion, are the programmes compared to the reality? Did you have employment sorted prior to your arrival?

Over in sunny Telford myself. What are EOIs? I'm an Aussie by birth (Adelaide), but my parents returned to England when I was about 3 yrs old. So as far as visas are concerned, I'm quite fortunate in that respect, although my wife does have to get a partner visa. Our two daughters are eligible for citizenship via me. I did go over in 1990/91 for just over a year and spent most time in Melbourne before travelling around SA, VIC, NSW and QLD. We too are now looking at WA, Perth in particular, and I too have a lot of family in and around WA... seems we have a lot in common! Since my wife started this thread a while back, she has agreed to just up sticks and go for it without going for a reccie, even though she's never been. I'm a Mechanical Engineer and work in the power generation industry (power station) and the wife is a School Business Manager, working for the local education authority. Perth just seems to have more to offer me as far as employment is concerned and the climate is a drier heat, so more bearable in summer. We hoping to go over in the summer or early autumn, when are you hoping to go over?

Quite correct owd lad :biggrin:... and someone using the phrase 'mon' just has to be from Shrewsbury, if not then Shropshire? Who was your friend and where did he settle? Are you looking at going yourself?

Hi, I am looking at moving to Queensland next year and was wondering what kind of jobs it is that the majority of Poms are aqiring in places like Rockhampton and Mackay? I am currently a Mechanical Technician in the maintenance department (using SAP) at a coal fired power station in the UK, currently being converted to wood pellet (biomass). Is there much work for my trade in these areas? Where/how did most of you get your jobs in these areas, did you apply online or go through agencies etc?

yes they do look amazing. And im glad you understand about the wedding thing, so now i dont feel like a loner, like dreaming about my wedding. so how many days now for you? Aw do the houses look nice, and i want to live near the beach too, just to walk down the road and there you see the amazing beach. aw so excited. So where abouts in australia was your step dad born?

I just tell my teachers the truth by saying stuff like, "i cant wait to go," or "I want to go but i will miss evryone." It's very much mixed emotions at the moment, and i guess they will get worse as time goes on, im sure i will still want to go. My dad has got his heart set on going back to australia, he loves it over there, due to him being born over there and also living there for a bit. But my mom, no so much, like i told you before she will miss all of our family, my mom is very family oriantated, as you can tell. I am too, but i really want to get out there and experience the lifestyle. Its a feeling i have woth australia, its a good one. You know when something just feels right in your gut instinct, and when you know you will love it and it will be a positive experience, thats the feeling i get when i think about it. I will miss England though, ever since i was little i have wanted to get married in a castle type of thing, and over there, they dont have any , oh well, beach wedding sounds good though, ahaa. I know i have ages till i get married but i just like thinking about having my dream wedding. My dad has got an australian passport, with him being australian, ahah, but me, my mom and my little sister millie, ahve got like a family visa to show that we are with my dad, and the visa paper work is being sent of sometime in september, so exciting. Around January time is when we will be ordering the container to store all of our furniture and stuff in, thats when it stats to get even more exciting. My last 8 months in school now, it sounds wierd saying that. Im sorry for the slow replies recently, I havent really been on laptop, only every now and then, so sorry for that!

I have go 8/9 months now, im counting down too. Its nearly Christmas aswell and it will be my last one here, then after christmas only a few more months. Im wondering how we will feel hen we are about to fly. I know i will cry, and feel home sick for a while, but im sure we will get used to it. My tutor and teachers ask about it too like how im feeling and if i want to go. Oh my gosh, your friend moved back forever, im sure you will keep in touch, that hasnt happend to me before. I have just come back from my holiday to cornwall today, we went in our motor home, with my nan and grandad in their motor home. It was fun. I asked my mom on the way back, is this the last time i will ever go on holiday to cornwall, and she said yes. That kinda kicked me in the stomach if you know the feeling. I still want to go though. I cant wait!:wink: