Sidney Causebrook
| Town/City | Batemans Bay |
|---|---|
| First name | Sidney |
| Last name | Causebrook |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 12/12/2009 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1954 |
| Submitted by | Doreen Mezzomo nee Causebrook |
Story
Dad joined the British army when he was 20 and was a member of the Royal Hussars. When he returned home at the end of the Second World War, he became very restless and decided he wanted to leave England. Mum vetoed Canada and South Africa but said yes to Australia, so Dad, Mum, my two sisters and I departed England on February 26th 1954 aboard the SS Otranto.
We travelled via the Suez Canal. It had not long reopened and along the banks were lines of British soldiers calling out “You’re going the wrong way”! As a child in England I had poor health, but once we left Englands shores my health improved dramatically. I enjoyed the voyage immensely; playing games, swimming, eating the delicious food and chasing after my baby sister while Mum and Dad enjoyed a “second honeymoon”! I still have the menus from the ships didning room.
We arrived in Sydney on April 6th 1954 and lived at Dundas Migrant Hostel for about a year while Dad worked for Howard Rotary Hoe as a mechanic. We then moved to Hillston, a small country town in Western NSW. Dad had a new job there with a house included, which meant we could finally leave the Hostel and get back to normal life. We arrived in Hillston on a Butler DC3 aircraft and landed on a runway of dust in 40 degree heat in the midst of a locust plague.
I regained my health quickly in the Aussie climate. I was 12 years old and growing up in a small country town were some of the best years of my life. Mum said by living in Australia she achieved more and did more than she would ever have had the opportunity to do in England’.
My father eventually turned his hand to farming and worked the land. Alongside other Aussies he fought bush fires, sand bagged in the floods and experienced the heat, drought, dust and locust plagues that are part of Country life.
In my opinion living in the country bonds you to this land. It takes hold of your soul and you soon belong.
As for us girls, we all married Aussie men and between us we have 7 children and 8 grandchildren so far, and when our great-Grandchildren arrive I feel that our family has made an impressive contribution to Australia’s population.