George and Christina Entwistle

Story

December 30th 1967 George and I (Christina Merrick) were married in Ormiston, East Lothian, Scotland.

We lived in Edinburgh. I was nursing in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, George had a mobile shop. In March 1968 my brother Reg and his fiancŽ Eleanor discussed their plans to try Australia and asked if we were interested. We became very enthusiastic and decided this was worthy of a try. In May 1968, we applied to come to Australia. In late August we were accepted. My brother and his fiancŽ were not. With acceptance came a warning. ‘Do not finalize your affairs as permission for passage can take up to two years.’ However four days later we received a telegram saying. ‘We have a berth for you, travelling by sea. Leaving in three weeks!! Do you wish to accept?’

So in three weeks we made a lot of decisions, packed our goods and said farewell to family and friends. Edinburgh Royal Infirmary had an arrangement with Prince Henry\’s in Melbourne and offered me a job subject to interview on arrival.

We left from Waverly station Edinburgh for the journey to London and South Hampton to board M.V.Aurelia.

It was a dreadful journey. Bad food, bad weather, earthquake of the coast of W.A. and the effects were felt in the Indian Ocean as we were trying to cross. Seasickness affected 95% of the passengers and crew. Our arrival date was 19th Oct. & we docked on the 21st. The journey had taken five weeks and two days.

We settled in to a furnished flat in St. Kilda and began to work. I worked in Prince Henry\’s and George in the Phoenix Hotel as a bar man.The friendliness of the Australians and the beauty of this country were like living in a dream. We both worked hard but could easily see both personal and financial rewards for our efforts.

Shortly after arriving George applied for and entered the Victoria Police Force.

Two of our best achievements, our son Andrew in December 1969 and daughter Louise in February 1972, were to make us even happier to be in Australia.

Being country people we both longed to move to the country. After four years George was posted to Korumburra in South Gippsland. Since that time we have lived all over country Victoria.

After finishing an excellent state education both children were able to ‘make choices’ and follow their chosen paths.

Andrew to Latrobe University, then into busines. After several years in management he and his wife Jodi and son have chosen to buy and run a business in the country.

Louise chose the Federal Public Service working for the Defence department and has worked all over Australia. She has worked for RAAF, Army, Navy and Emergency Management Australia and now works for the RAAF in Sale.

Her husband, Stephen (a RAAF Intelligence officer) works on the same base. With their two little girls they are another ‘happy family\’

Life in Australia has been full of the normal ups and downs, joys, triumphs, fires, floods, and all things associated with being a country police family. In most places George was the local ‘Cop’ and I worked at the local hospital.

George was also instrumental in establishing Neighbourhood Watch in various areas and I spent 20 years with Red Cross, receiving the long service medal in 2004. Without fail and in every instance when there have been lows, the Australian\’s ability to rise above the circumstances and get on with the next thing has never failed to inspire us and fill us with admiration.

While a serving member George was awarded the Victoria Police Star. This medal is presented to members who have been seriously injured in the line of duty. He was also, on a different occasion, given the Valour Award for bravery. He single-handedly disarmed a gunman who had threatened to blow his head off! After 34 years of dedicated service he retired from the force and now works as head of security at RAAF, Base in East Sale Victoria. We now live in Sale.

Over several years the other members of our family came out including, eventually, my brother and his family.

With enormous pride we became Australian Citizens in 1993. This in no way removed any of our pride in being Scottish born and bred. It only enhanced our feeling of belonging to this wonderful multicultural country.

Our Australian children have given us three of the best looking, most talented grand children in Australia [we are not biased at all!] Catherine in 2002, Braeden in 2006 & Samantha in 2008.

On Australia Day 2009 Louise and Stephen and the girls presented George and I with our Certificates of Acknowledgement for our place on the History Handrail. We have no words to describe how this made us feel.

We are blessed in so many ways.

Great kids, family, way of life, and living.

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