Fritz & Ruth Angela & Steven Voser

Story

In the summer of 1997 Fritz Voser and his wife, Ruth Angela Voser visited his uncle from Toggenburg in Switzerland . Uncle Hansruedi told Fritz that he would go to Australia to house sit a friend\’s farm in the next year or so.

Spontaneously Fritz replied to his uncle that they will spend their next family holidays in Australia and will visit them on this farm in Coonabarabran. His wife Ruth Angela already looked at him in awe because she disliked flying at all and besides; Switzerland was her favourite place to be.

The day before they left for their Australian holiday Angela tried everything to get off, to not have to take on the 24h journey to the other side of the world. “I don’t want to see Kangaroos and I don’t need Koalas” was her response.

After much persuasion Ruth Angela with her husband Fritz and their son Steven landed in Sydney and travelled in a campervan to the farm in Coonabarabran in New South Wales. The vast land, nature, sunset and the different birds and animals was just magic. And guess what: after only two weeks holiday, Ruth Angela said to her husband Fritz: “Go back to Switzerland, sell everything. I would like to stay in this beautiful country”.

Back in Switzerland the Vosers started to fill in all the required forms and were granted in May 2000 a Business-Visa for four years.

In September of the same year the Vosers arrived in Perth leaving behind their two grown up daughters Tamara and Mariana who decided not to immigrate to Australia at the time.

The first night, the new arrivals stayed on a camp ground. Up to this point the Vosers still did not realise the huge step in their lives. But with the dawn surrounded by strange noises of the new environment, they started to realise what they have done. Their 7 year old son Steven was already asleep as both parents started to hold each others hand and became overwhelmed by emotions.

The first thing what they learned in Australia was, if someone tells you a distance in minutes it means actually by car and not by foot (after a 10 kilometre walk ‘just around the block is the next super market’).

With their 4WD they took on an amazing journey from Perth- Shark Bay-Cape Leeuwin- Albany- Kalgoorlie- Alice Springs- Coober Pedy- Port Augusta- Coonabarabran and finally to Melbourne.

In November 2000 they founded the Company SIC Swiss Import Corporation Pty Ltd and started to import and distribute high quality consumer goods. In October 2003 they received the Business Sponsorship of Victoria and in May 2004 the Vosers were granted permanent residency. Three years later in November 2006 both parents and their son Steven took on, in honour, the Australian citizenship. ‘We are proud to be a part of such a great nation. Thank you.’

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