Geoff Norman
| Town/City | Perth |
|---|---|
| First name | Geoff |
| Last name | Norman |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 25/04/51 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1969 |
| Submitted by | Geoffrey Norman |
Story
As a young boy I had always wanted to get away from a bad family situation and I was accepted to travel to Australia with the Big Brother Movement in 1967. I was, however, not allowed to leave until I was 18 as I was a Ward Of Court. Four days after my 18th birthday I was on the flight out from Heathrow heading for Sydney.
I remember the journey being quite surreal. Here I was, on my own, first time in an aeroplane and travelling half way around the world. The trip just seemed to be endless skies and half a dozen landings and take-offs. I didn’t know anybody so hardly said a word the whole trip.
First impression was of sheer relief. It was overcast but I felt a distinct liking for what I saw and I just “knew” whatever happened was far better than what I had left behind. I didn’t feel the least scared.
I couldn’t get a job in Sydney so within the week I had joined 8 others on the train across the country to Perth. I saw so many outback places on the way, it was simply eye-opening. The Big Brother Movement arranged through Rotary to send us to Geraldton, a 430 km bus trip north. That became home for the next 30 years.
I met Joy who had arrived the year before with her family. We married in 1974 and had 5 children: Patrice, Aaron, Matthew (died at birth), Luke and Michael. Soccer, bbq’s and family life seemed to dominate our lives. Geraldton was a windy and sometimes felt isolated, but it was also a good country town to raise a family. It always felt like home and it was the perfect place to live at that time.
Eventually, Joy and I moved to Perth (via Adelaide) and we now live in Wilson, close to the river. Our family have all married, the boys all have fantastic jobs and opportunities and our daughter is a great mother to her 5 children.
Six grandchildren to date and not one regret of ever having made the move from England. We love it here, have both been naturalised Australians for many years and have been proud to have contributed, in some small way, to the development of this country of ours.