Jon Bardell
| First name | Jon |
|---|---|
| Last name | Bardell |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 24th June 1949 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1972 |
| Submitted by | Chel Bardell |
Story
Jon loved the stories he’d read about Australia. He wanted to be somewhere where there was lots of opportunity. His father had the opportunity to emigrate to Australia when Jon was 14, but this didn’t eventuate. But this inspired Jon from that moment on.
At age 19 he first applied to come to Australia, but at the time there was an economic recession in Australia, and they encouraged him to reapply at a later time. Three years later Jon, and a group of nine male friends decided to all apply and come to Australia. One by one they dropped out, until there was only Michael and Jon left. They went for their final interview at Australia House in London, and the officer said to Jon “What would you say if we said we would accept you, but reject Michael?” Jon replied “I’ll go anyway”. The officer also asked Jon “What will you do if you can’t find work in Dairying?” (Jon’s occupation at the time). Jon replied “It’s such a big place, Australia, that I know I’ll find work somwehere”
After three and a half weeks on the ship, Jon landed in Sydney, and spent a couple of weeks at the Migrant Hostel in Johnston Street, Annandale. He found Australia to be alien in some ways – a very different climate and culture. Having to stay for the obligatory two years, he asked himself after that time, what is it about this place that’s so intriguing? Simple things like the subtlety of the colours in the eucalypts, the fascinating, vibrantly coloured birds, and the unique wildlife were starting to draw him in. He didn’t want to go back to England to live. He found work on the Railways, then as a brickies labourer, before moving to Bathurst, where he settled for 30 years, never milking a cow again.
He married Chel, an Australian, in a ceremony back in England in 1990, and in 2003 they moved to country Tasmania where they now live.