Christine Dimmery

Story

Harold, Dorothy and Christine Dimmery left Caerau in South Wales in July 1964. Harold suffered from Asthma and the snow and cold weather were making it worse. He was born in May 1921 and after leaving school early to work to make money for his parents he became an apprentice butcher. That lasted a few years before war broke out and he joined the RAF. He was stationed in Wales, Scotland before going to France and Germany. When he returned after the war he met Dorothy Ridge and they married on 26th December 1951 in Caerau. 5 years later their only child Christine was born.

When the papers were approved for us to emigrate to Australia on the 10 pound pom scheme we left Southhampton in England in July 1964. We were on the maiden voyage of the Fairstar as a migrant ship. The journey lasted 6 weeks and while on board I had to attend school; something that was great at the time. We stopped in Port Said before going through the Suez Canel into the Red sea. I remember being up on board watching the Pyramids and at Aden, I remember traders in their boats next to our ship selling camels and leather bags. Some came on board and I had my picture taken with an Arab Trader.

Our first landing port in Australia was Fremantle and we all rushed off the ship onto the docks and devoured fresh milk and fresh fruit, something we hadn’t had since leaving the Suez. We finally left the boat in Sydney and were hoarded through immigration into big sheds, lining up with passports and papers. Once we had been cleared there was a speech by the then Immigration Minister welcoming us to Australia. We were picked up by relatives and driven to Wollongong in NSW where we were to live for many years. We drove through bush land and were amazed. Everything was so big, expansive and flat. Coming from the hills of South Wales we couldn’t believe it.

Now 45 years later we still are amazed by the expanse of Australia and wouldn’t live anywhere else.

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