Brian Digby

Story

I left to be with my wife who had family in Australia and wanted to be with them. At he time we had 2 sons, Howard and Earl, aged 5 and 2.

We travelled by air from Mumbai to Singapore. Then after a few days we boarded the HMS Australasia, a passenger ship, and experienced my dream of being on a cruise ship. It was a memorable trip in more ways than one. At the dance we met and befriended a Dinky Dye Aussie couple, Stan and Pauline Hardisty They are still our friends after 37 years and more importantly, Godparents to our daughter, Anne-Marie, born here in 1972.

My first impression was the casual nature of the Aussie. Their speech, friendly manner and easy-going style in everything including dress style hit home for me.

Over the next 37 years of our residence we embraced the Aussie lifestyle in every facet. The first 18 months were the toughest of my life. Having landed with the Indian government $8 per head we were hard-put to find the means to live.

My first month was spent in a futile job search. I then resorted to selling Life Insurance. This was augmented by my wife, Colleen\’s earnings as an office secretary. When Colleen was in her 8th month of pregnancy and had to stop working, I took a job as a hotel dishwasher, kitchen cleaner Ð a sure-fire but meagre earning job. This was quite a come-down from the Master mariner status I had enjoyed! But it was fun in many ways. I made friends in the hotel scene. One of them, a young, aspiring future chef who was, at the time, an apprentice ended up 25 years later in my town as just that Ð a chef! But I was instrumental in helping him, in 1972, with his trigonometry study. This was achieved at 10.00pm in the kitchen office of the above-mentioned hotel! When we met up again after 25 years, it seemed he couldn\’t thank me enough.

Eventually I managed to get a position in the Port Hedland port infrastructure in the far North West of Western Australia – more in my line of work. Before long I was piloting some of the largest ships in the country in one of the most treacherous channels in the world. I did this until 2002. It was the most challenging and enjoyable time of my 44 year career.

On the social side we became involved in numerous community activities. To name a few:- School parents and Friends, Scout Association, Parish involvement, Church music, Music Festival, Seafarers\’ Centre, Choral groups, Detention Centre visitation and music education. Colleen was awarded Citizen of the year in 1986 and yours truly followed suit in 1992. Then in 2002 she was awarded the prestigious Order of Australia medal.

On our departure from that colourful town we were feted and dined repeatedly in royal style. We drove out of town at 5.00 pm on a fateful Sunday. The street was lined with well-wishers. Colleen cried all the way for the 240 km drive to the next town.

Now we are happily retired and loving every bit of it. Life goes onÉ!

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