PatW

Get together this Saturday - 30 Jan - at the Aurora Boulevard Park, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes, from 2pm til you have to go. BYO food, drinks, etc. You'd be very welcome! Just be prepared for a rotten hot day - about 34C - but because it's quite open at the park a breeze nearly always comes across from the playing fields alongside. And we aim to go for some shade. Be lovely if you can come. Pat

What kind of engineering work? If you're able to come this Saturday to the get-together at Aurora Boulevard Park, North Lakes, there are a couple of people it might be useful for you to talk to. And one of the ladies is a hairdresser, so that could help, too.

Hello Claire & Chris Congrats on getting your rental. Do you have furniture/household stuff or are you waiting for your container to come? If you need things, PM me and we'll see what we can do to get you through. Glad to hear you've already made contact with someone else and yes the next get-together will be this Saturday, 30th Jan, from 2pm til you have to go, at the Aurora Boulevard Park, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes (the big one at the roundabout). BYO food, drinks, etc. and be prepared for a hot day (about 34C), possibly showery, although we aim to get a table/chairs/bbq set up that has cover (called a 'shelter shed'). See you then.

Just arrived from overseas or been here a while? ... and miss the family left behind ... would love to have a chat, a natter, a yarn and share a bbq ... would love to talk with others that have been through the same ... and start to make new friends? Then come and join us and others at the Aurora Boulevard Park, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes from 2pm Saturday 30 January 2016, until you have to go. BYO food, drinks, etc. (There are free electric bbqs available.) We would love to see you there and will make you most welcome! (About 16 families - with and without children - usually come, from all parts of UK so there should be an accent/region you recognise!) Organised by me and OH who made the move some years ago and know that making new friendships and networks are important in the first year or 3. PM me if you have queries.

Hello Alannah and David How are you settling in? Next get-together will be Saturday 19 December at Sutton's Beach (just south of Redcliffe) from 6.30am (if you want a bbq breakfast on the beach) until you have to go, although we usually do them from 2pm. BYO food, drinks, etc. Just come and chat. Then back to the Aurora Boulevard Park, North Lakes, on Saturday 30 January, from 2pm. Again BYO food, drinks, etc. Be pleased to see you. Pat

Yes, please.

Hello Dizzy & family Welcome to Queensland! Have fun with travelling over the next 3 weeks to find out where you want to be based. I guess it'll also depend on where work will be - you don't want to be travelling an hour or more each way each day - it's more fun to be home for longer rather than sitting in a traffic jam, not to mention the expense on your vehicle/s and wear & tear on you. Happy to meet with you for a cuppa and a natter when you're ready and the December get-together will be a good chance to meet others who have been through the same in the past couple of years. It'll be from 6.30am ('cos we have to be there that early to grab a spot so you can come along for breakfast if you want) at Sutton's Beach (just south of Redcliffe) til you have to go (but most go once it's dark, which will be 7pm this time of year). BYO food, drinks, chairs, hats, sunscreen, togs/swimmers/bathers (or any other name that applies!) on Saturday 19th December. There are free electric bbqs if you want to cook. Also a take-away & ice cream shop a few yards away. Look forward to meeting you.

Hello Nicola, Chris and Reuben Now long to go now! Once you're close to arriving, PM me and we'll arrange to have a cuppa & a natter about what's next. As Peachy said earlier in this thread, you'll have to arrange tax file numbers (TFNs) via the ATO (Australian Taxation Office), Medicare registration (Oz version of the NHS), Centrelink and driving licences (within the first 3 months), mobile/s provider and I guess a vehicle/s. Will you arrange a holiday rental for the first few weeks? Any idea of what area? Where will either of you be working & at what? Lots to chat about! We'll be having a get-together in March at Aurora Boulevard Park, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes and a date will be decided once we've had the January one. Feel free to ask questions even before you get here.

It is right, Marisa. I sent the form to a friend in England who phoned the State Pension dept and told me: "We call it here a pension, apparently social security is another work for it. It is a law here that every firm has to have a pension scheme and whatever the person pays in to it the employer has to match it...". And it worked because we've received some money.

We emigrated out with PRs over 30 years ago. We wondered whether we'd be eligible for UK State Pensions because we didn't have many years in the UK employment system, but we thought we'd give it a go and this is what we've found. THE APPLICATION FORM (as at 2015) UK pension ipc-br1-dec-13.pdf. Part 7 'Living and Working outside of the United Kingdom' (page 16) asks: 'Did you pay into the social security scheme of that country"; 'What was your social security reference number' and 'Name and address of Social Security Authority'. THE ANSWERS: your superannuation fund name, address & super member number. YOU CAN apply within a month of being at the applicable age (but not before). The UK State Pension Dept will only back-date payments 12 months from the date of receipt of your application. If you've left it for longer, any payments beyond 12 months will be lost. IF YOU haven't continued paying National Insurance contributions while you've been away from UK, any UK State Pension will be reduced. THERE'S AN EMAIL ADDRESS: tvp.internationalqueries@dwp.gsi.gov.uk but then you'll get an automated reply saying 'we'll reply within 10 working days. So make sure your email is succinct. Hope this helps. UK pension ipc-br1-dec-13.pdf UK pension ipc-br1-dec-13.pdf

Hello Elaine, Paul & Mirrin We arrived in November, too (but a few years back). It's exciting, scary, amazing & tearful. After all, you'll be changing everything you know & literally starting again. But it's not all bad news! Just be prepared to be kind to yourselves as you adjust & learn where things are, how things are done and where to find things (it ain't UK). We're at Murrumba Downs, just over the Highway from North Lakes, so PM me when you get here and we'll arrange to have a cuppa & a chat & we'll help where we can. OH & I arrange 3-monthly get-togethers for recently arrived migrants and there'll be one in December, probably at a beach nearby with lots of shade! We'll also have one in January, to help people over the first Christmas or three away from families & the usual networks & that'll be back at Aurora Park, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes (the usual spot). Agree with Peachy: accept all invites & you don't have to buy an expensive Toyota Landcruiser/Nissan Patrol 4x4 to get around (the roads are sealed!) because the bigger the cylinders, the higher the registration (and maintenance). (Fraser Island is all sand - no roads - so the only vehicle one can use is a 'beefy' 4x4 that will handle driving on sand.) Do you have a rental arranged in North Lakes or will you be looking once you get here? Good luck in the count-down.

Hello Alannah & David Welcome! And congratulations on the soon-to-be bub. There are a number of recently arrived migrants in both North Lakes and Mango Hill. Bob & I do the 3-monthly get-togethers at North Lakes and the next will be Saturday 10th October at the Parkside Park/bbq area, Aurora Boulevard (at the roundabout), North Lakes. From 2pm til you have to go. BYO food, drinks, chairs, etc. PM me if you have specifics. Details should be in the Calendar section by tomorrow (I've just listed it but it needs Mod approval first). Pat

Hello Lee Can't you pack some essentials to tide you over and pay the extra cost until your main tool set arrives? Other than that, buy local once you get here: TradeTools & ToolsDirect are all over the place. Where do you intend living? On your own or bringing family? OH & I arrange 3 monthly get-togethers for recent arrivals. Next will be Saturday 10 October at a park in North Lakes (north of the city) but there'll be one in December (probably at a beach) & another in January (North Lakes' park) to help people over the Christmas/New Year difficult time. If you're interested, contact me.

Hello Kerry See my reply to Paul re handyman business. If you have other questions, please ask. Bob can help on the repair shop side, as he was a panel beater for quite a number of years.

Hello Paul Can't help with the caravan site/school maintenance stuff, but husband has been a self-employed handyman for the past 5 years and loves it. In Queensland you can charge a maximum of $3,300 (including 10% GST) per job. You can't do new installation electrical or plumbing work (need to be a licensed electrician/plumber), but you can change light bulbs, toilet seals, etc. I do his accounts. You need an ABN (Australian Business Number - available on line) and public liability insurance of at least $5m. We did a free listing on True Local (online listing of various trades/services, owned by Quest Newspapers) and letter box dropped A5 flyers in the local area. Plus it was word of mouth. You don't have to register for GST immediately. You do have to be registered for (& charge) GST once your total invoicing (parts & labour) gets to $75,000. If you have any further questions, please pm me.

Next get-together will be Saturday 10 October, same place, same time, same BYO. You'd be very welcome!

Hello Generalis Next planned for Saturday 10 October at Parkside Park/bbq area, Aurora Boulevard, North Lakes, from 2pm til you have to go. BYO food, drinks, etc. Be good to see you there.

Hello KatyMac Next get-together will be Saturday 10 October, Parkside Park/bbq area, Aurora Boulevard (at the roundabout), North Lakes. From 2pm til you have to go. BYO food, drinks, etc. PM me if you have questions. Pat

Hello Aaron and Rox Welcome for October! OH & I arrange 3 monthly get-togethers for people at a park in North Lakes (about 40 mins drive from Ferny Hills/Arana Hills) and the next will be Sat 10 October. Don't worry if you haven't arrived then, because we also do them in Nov & Dec (cos Christmas/New Year can be difficult in the first few years). Let us know when you're here and will be pleased to have a cuppa & share info, if you want. Pat

Woohoo! You're on your way! Scary and exciting. Suggest you hire a car for the first couple of weeks, so you can get around quickly & (relatively!) easily. Can be arranged to collect from the airport. As to Medicare & Centrelink, you can do it online: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/online-services/register Ditto getting a TFN (Tax File Number): https://iar.ato.gov.au/IARWeb/default.aspx?pid=4&sid=1&outcome=1. Do ask if we can help with anything else. Happy to help. (Been there, done that!) OH & I arrange 3 monthly get-togethers in a park in North Lakes (about 30 minutes' drive north of Brisbane city). The next will be Saturday 10 October but don't worry, we also have them in December and January ('cos Christmas/New Year is obviously difficult in the first few years), so let me know when you're in the country & know where you are and we can get together for a cuppa & info, if you wish.

Great news, Maria - house sold so you can be on your way! Yes, it is difficult finally leaving the family, but thank goodness for Skype, etc to stay in touch. Did you get something arranged for the first couple of weeks of being in Brisbane, until you find a house to rent? Do get in contact once you land so we can have a cuppa/lunch/natter so we can meet face to face.

Welcome to Queensland Amanda! What part of Brisbane have you moved in to? Have you moved on from the holiday let? How's the job & school hunting, etc. etc. etc. going?! Pat

Which car hire company did you use and what part of Brisbane are you in, please? We're planning to go for, probably, only 2-3 days at most. Have been searching my Family Tree Maker files and found 2 men mentioned at Thiepval and another at Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, nr Calais. His was a sorry story: shipped out to Canada after their mother died, joined the Canadian Infantry (made out he was a year older), wrote his sister that he was being shipped to France and was very excited that he would see her, but went straight on to France and was killed in action (head wounds; fractured skull). 18yo.

What's an LHD car, please?

Well done. Very honest & articulate about pros & cons. Not easy to move country so far from England (can't just 'pop back'). I do wish you the best for wherever you live. Pat