starlight7 Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I know our reasons as a family and wondered if they are pretty much the same for others. It was a long time ago for us and times have changed of course- so I was wondering if the reasons for coming here are different now. For us they included escaping the dreadful political situation in the UK under Ted Heath better climate higher standard of living More space adventure A fluid classless society for the kids to grow up in with more opportunities ( we had 2 babies when we came) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 DH is Aussie He was offered a PhD sholarship Housing included It seemed like a good idea at the time Struggling to find half a dozen reasons though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon the Hat Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 We aren't there yet but: 1) Wife is Aussie and wants to go home (for about 15 years) 2) Kids love it when we visit 3) I want to be closer to the water and take up sailing / scuba diving / kyaking / windsurfing again. And maybe rowing. 4) Weather = outdoors = adventure! 6) I like nice breakfasts 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I'm like Quoll, struggling to think up six reasons. We had been in Africa (my oh had a teaching contract) for three years, and returned to find a Scotland in the midst of the miners' strike. It was the most depressing place imaginable. The oh ended up in a horrible school and I couldn't find a permanent job at all. Our only goal, really, was to get out of that awful environment. My oh was applying for teaching contracts in places like the Gilbert & Ellis Islands and Singapore, and if one of those had come up first, we'd probably have ended up there. At the time, applying to migrate to Australia was no more difficult than applying for any of those contract jobs, and didn't cost a lot. We were a typical young couple of the time, with a flat full of second-hand furniture and a TV that showed more snow than picture. So it was dead easy to decide what to take and what to leave, and we didn't give a thought to how long we might or might not stay in Oz. I loved it from day one. Word of warning to Jon the Hat: weather = outdoors = skin cancer. You'll be fine if you've spent your young years in the UK but take care of your kids. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I don't think we have 6 reasons but ... Wanted to live/work in another country before we were too old More relaxed lifestyle Work/life balance Climate 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, ali said: More relaxed lifestyle Work/life balance I notice these two are quite often given as reasons, and I'm not at all sure they're true. Certainly in Sydney, the liifestyle isn't at all relaxed (the culture is work hard/play hard) and the work/life balance is dreadful thanks to the long commutes most people have to make. I think Canberra and Melbourne have a better work culture, though Melbourne suffers from the long commutes as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber Snowball Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 1) To get out of the cycle of poverty - I was a member of the working poor going nowhere fast, school catchments meant moving in the UK would be hard due to cost of housing in desirable areas 2) Fancied a change and became a nurse to allow that to happen 3) Agenda for change had just come in in the NHS and had downgraded my role 4) Going somewhere less crowded 5) It looked nice on the telly/internet (such as it was) 6) Because I could 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 4 hours ago, Jon the Hat said: We aren't there yet but: 1) Wife is Aussie and wants to go home (for about 15 years) 2) Kids love it when we visit 3) I want to be closer to the water and take up sailing / scuba diving / kyaking / windsurfing again. And maybe rowing. 4) Weather = outdoors = adventure! 6) I like nice breakfasts Don't mention the bacon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Marisawright said: I notice these two are quite often given as reasons, and I'm not at all sure they're true. Certainly in Sydney, the liifestyle isn't at all relaxed (the culture is work hard/play hard) and the work/life balance is dreadful thanks to the long commutes most people have to make. I think Canberra and Melbourne have a better work culture, though Melbourne suffers from the long commutes as well. My father was always working long hours in Australia. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 I was only three when we came, but we came for my mom's health. I think my father appreciated the weather much more. Six? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliQ Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 1 = Better career opportunities and working conditions. I had a fabulous career as a nurse for 28 years in Perth, WA. 2= Climate 3 = Ability to live near the sea 4 = Can always find a place for breakfast open from 06.30 in a morning 5 = Wanted a change in our lives and a new challenge. 6 = And, we just want wanted to go to Australia. However, we’re currently in the UK, not sure for how long though !!! . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulya Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Parents decided it was time to leave the dump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 9 hours ago, Marisawright said: I notice these two are quite often given as reasons, and I'm not at all sure they're true. Certainly in Sydney, the liifestyle isn't at all relaxed (the culture is work hard/play hard) and the work/life balance is dreadful thanks to the long commutes most people have to make. I think Canberra and Melbourne have a better work culture, though Melbourne suffers from the long commutes as well. I can only speak for myself in that I found both these things moving to Aus. Haven't lived in other states but it's certainly been doable for us in WA. I drive only 25 mins to work which was one of the things that I intentionally looked for. I work 80 hours a fortnight as opposed to 76, but get one day off a month for the extra. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 36 minutes ago, ali said: I can only speak for myself in that I found both these things moving to Aus. Haven't lived in other states but it's certainly been doable for us in WA. I drive only 25 mins to work which was one of the things that I intentionally looked for. I work 80 hours a fortnight as opposed to 76, but get one day off a month for the extra. That's what I mean. It sounds like it's doable in Perth but that is not the whole of Australia. It comes back to the same thing we're always talking about: it all depends which city in Australia you're comparing to which city in the UK. Someone who's tired of the rat race in London could probably find the same "more relaxed lifestyle" and "better work/life balance" by moving to Edinburgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 10 minutes ago, Marisawright said: That's what I mean. It sounds like it's doable in Perth but that is not the whole of Australia. It comes back to the same thing we're always talking about: it all depends which city in Australia you're comparing to which city in the UK. Someone who's tired of the rat race in London could probably find the same "more relaxed lifestyle" and "better work/life balance" by moving to Edinburgh. I think it depends too on individuals, it was something we wanted and as a couple/family we've been able to achieve that. Living in another part of the UK didn't appeal to us, I don't think we'd have achieved the same work/life balance we did here 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 1 hour ago, ali said: I think it depends too on individuals, it was something we wanted and as a couple/family we've been able to achieve that. Living in another part of the UK didn't appeal to us, I don't think we'd have achieved the same work/life balance we did here What you're saying is that there were additional reasons for choosing Australia. so even if those things hadn't materialised, there were other aspects that would've made it worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulya Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 8 hours ago, newjez said: Don't mention the bacon! What?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Marisawright said: What you're saying is that there were additional reasons for choosing Australia. so even if those things hadn't materialised, there were other aspects that would've made it worthwhile. Yes definitely, I do remember that after a while, I felt as if i'd found something that I hadn't known I was missing - nothing materialistic or tangible just a feeling on contentment at a level i'd not had before. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alltogethernow Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 1) Climate 2) Opportunity 3) New beginnings 4) Let's see what happens 5) Dual Citizenship (Irish / Australian) 6) Adventure No regrets 18 months on! ATN 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobj Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Six? When my dear old Dad came from pow camp in japan, he regaled me with stories of the Australian Diggers and their attitude. It determined my future...I was only six*... Cheers, Bobj. Well, five and a half. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toots Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 16 hours ago, Quoll said: DH is Aussie He was offered a PhD sholarship Housing included It seemed like a good idea at the time Struggling to find half a dozen reasons though. Same as Quoll. I married an Aussie. We lived happily together in the UK for about 5 years then decided to come to Australia just for a change really. We have been living happily together here for nearly 38 years. No specific reasons stand out though. If OH had said way back then "let's give Canada a shot" I would have been just as happy to go there. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calNgary Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 For us the top 4 reasons would be - an opportunity to try living in another country and having a new adventure - Better climate, more consistent sunshine - A more relaxed and enjoyable lifestyle (we enjoy the beach and water sports so not great in Northern UK weather most of the year) - A more sheltered upbringing for our children Thankfully we ticked all the boxes and 13 years on are still enjoying life here Cal x 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulya Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 2 hours ago, Bobj said: Six? When my dear old Dad came from pow camp in japan, he regaled me with stories of the Australian Diggers and their attitude. It determined my future...I was only six*... Cheers, Bobj. Well, five and a half. Pretty much what Rommel said about the Diggers. “If I had to take Hell, I would use the Australians to take it”. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 5 hours ago, Bulya said: What?? I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.pomsinoz.com/topic/74942-bacon-sausages-and-chocolate/%3Fpage%3D6&ved=2ahUKEwj78Oiw9sLjAhUBilwKHbFiDeoQFjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0TUl6X7RieJtSPsMxbNs4Z&cshid=1563606193958 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulya Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 37 minutes ago, newjez said: I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.pomsinoz.com/topic/74942-bacon-sausages-and-chocolate/%3Fpage%3D6&ved=2ahUKEwj78Oiw9sLjAhUBilwKHbFiDeoQFjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0TUl6X7RieJtSPsMxbNs4Z&cshid=1563606193958 Ah the old “we’re poms, we only buy what the local supermarket sells”. They never learn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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