James, Joan,Marjorie,Gloria & Rosemary KEMP

Story

I’m not sure why we left England but I think my father realised that work was short and there could be better opportunities if he emigrated with his family

We boarded ” P.&O Orient line Otranto” with all worldly possessions at Tilbury Dock. The ship sailed very short of ballast, so after a very bad Bay of Biscay crossing, the ship called into Ceylon to ballast up. Then we left for the rest of the journey, all three girls came down with measles, and were hospitalised at the back of the ship over the engines. The journey not too bad for those years. We sailed into Fremantle, then left for Melbourne. We disembarked at Melbourne and were listed in the papers as “Kemp triplets arrive in Australia.”

We were not impressed on ur arrival. We were loaded onto the train with possessions, etc; wife not too good, and then we undertook a nightmare of a train journey to “Bonegilla” it was pelting down with rain, kids were hungry and every one was cold.

They wanted to put the wife into Hospital with suspected dyptheria and this was done. The kids and self were put into one of the huts. We didn’t stay at Bonegilla long when we received orders to move. This they wanted us to do without my wife, and I wouldn’t budge. I said “no way” and finally she was allowed to come with us. Again we were loaded onto a train like cattle, and this time the journey went to Adelaide, SA. From the station we went into the Rosewater Hostel – converted woolsheds at Rosewater. After a few skirmishes, and a few setbacks I finally gain some employment. I lasted a fortnight because I didn’t like the way he repaired peoples’ cars. I then joined the “Electricity Trust of South Australia” “ETSA” and never left. I purchased two blocks of land in Alfred Street, Largs Bay, and then bought a large caravan, fitted out the inside, and moved it to the block where my Family took up residence. The girls went to Largs Bay Primary School, and the wife joined Phillips Electrical Industries at Hendon. Then we got plans for an L shaped House and gradually the five of us built our family home. Brick by Brick. Times were hard; not much money but we managed to travel to various places on the Murray, even took the girls to their Eistedfodds for ballet at Ballarat in Victoria.

We went fishing and camping and to Port Norlunga and have never really looked back. It was a good decision to move, and one I don’t regret. I lost my wife of 65 years only last year, but my girls still look out for me. They are all married, one to an Englishman, one a Welshman , and one an Australian.

Our Story is one that would make good reading on a summers’ evening while relaxing, as there are many stories with in this main one. Australia has been good to our family.

And as my twilight years close, I’m certain we saw the best of Australia during our lifetime.

< Back to the Stories