Karl Smith
| Town/City | Mareeba |
|---|---|
| First name | Karl |
| Last name | Smith |
| Country of Origin | Zimbabwe |
| Date of Birth | 17/02/09 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 2002 |
| Submitted by | Karl Smith |
Story
My dad worked in the agricultural world and the farm invasions of 2000 destroyed the business that he was involved in. With the political situation out of control they left Zimbabwe to find a better place for us. I wanted to be an animator and they had heard that the colleges in Brisbane were very good.
My dad went first to try and find work and a place to live. We knew no one in Brisbane because all our friends were in Perth. Some friends of a friend took him in and when my mom and I arrived six weeks later, he had a job and a house for us to live in. We are very grateful for the people of Redcliffe who showed us such friendship in those early, difficult years.
I finished school and went to TAFE. It was hard to get used to the ways of students in Australia, but again I found many new friends and I soon began to settle in Australia. My parents now live in Mareeba, a small town in North Queensland that reminds them of Africa. I am now going to travel for a number of years, something we could only have dreamed off many years ago.
I am a Zimalian (an Australian citizen from Zimbabwe) and I am proud of my mixed heritage. I want to thank Australia for giving us a home when the country I was born in denied us one. May we be a blessed nation one and all!