Andrew and Carolyn Thornley
| Town/City | Sydney |
|---|---|
| First name | Andrew and Carolyn |
| Last name | Thornley |
| Country of Origin | New Zealand |
| Date of Birth | 1947 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1976 |
| Submitted by | Andrew Thornley |
Story
We loved our native country New Zealand and still do after more than 30 years in Australia. However, in 1975, the generosity of the Labour Government in Canberra saw us take up the offer of post-graduate University study.
We came to Australia by plane with a very young family – for the children their first flight. What an adventure it was
We were welcomed in Canberra by the Basnett family – Murray, Beth, David and Gillian. Our early impressions were of the heat and dryness of the land. But there was a vigour about the people which gave us a sense of great anticipation that this was going to be a place that we could eventually call home. Mighty changes had just taken place in Australian society between 1972 and 1975 and we along with millions of other Australians were the beneficiaries of that more open, inclusive and generous community spirit.