Charles & Joan Barrie
| Town/City | Paracombe SA |
|---|---|
| First name | Charles & Joan |
| Last name | Barrie |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
| Date of Birth | 2/10/1923 & 22/9/1926 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | Jun-63 |
| Submitted by | Jacqueline Aikens (nee Barrie) |
Story
In December 1962 we were living in Brockville Ontario Canada. Dad was at work, he was a Provincial Policeman. Mum, Michael & I were at home when the oil heater in the basment of the house blew up. The house burnt to the ground and we lost everything. My mother’s mother had immigrated to Australia from England in the 50’s and she wrote to Tommy Hanlon who had the television program “It Could Be You”. Our family was sponsored to Australia through that TV program.
I remember it was a bright summers day when we left on this big journey it took a train to Toronto and 5 airplanes to reach Australia. My first recollection at age 5 was stepping off the plane in Melbourne to rain and flashbulbs there was much publicity and we were whisked to the TV studios to meet my grandmother. My father followed 2 weeks later, arriving in Australia with just $200 Canadian in his pocket. We settled in Kalamunda Western Australia. We were used to central heating so we thought it the coldest place on earth. Dad wanted to work with the Police Force here but sadly at age 40 he was too old to join. So he went to work in a factory and caught 2 buses there and back each day ensuring he was in time for the last bus at 11pm. Mum also went to work (not common in those days with children) as a book keeper. We moved to Adelaide in December 1969 where my parents opened their 1st Deli. We all worked the family buisness that helped put the kids through school and Jacqueline through General Nursing.
In 1984 Curtis Aikens was travelling from Canada with his brother and a friend. He met Jacqueline in Adelaide in February of that year he returned to Canada in the May. Jacqueline returned to Canada in the December of 1984. Not liking the bitter winters of Saskatchewan she returned to Australia in september 1987. Curtis immigrated in January 1988 and they were married in February 1988. Curtis at the time of this writing is a Business Analyst and Jacqueline a Registered Nurse and Midwife.
[Impressions on Arrival]