Michael Hills

Story

I came to Australia because, having been here a few times as an officer in the Merchant Navy, I knew it to be a land of opportunity. I didn’t want to give up the sea and had no idea what I would do ashore as I was qualified only as a Navigator of ships, but I wanted a proper home and a family and, in those days, with the long absences involved, staying at sea was no option.

I managed to procure a one-way berth on my own ship, the “South Africa Star”, so the voyage out was no novelty but, as always, enjoyable although to a certain extent nostalgic as it was the last one.

There were, however, no doubts in my mind about choosing this Country with its choice of climate, quality of food and truly democratic way of life – added to that its location, well away from the trouble spots of Europe and the Middle East, was a real plus after growing up in the midst of a war.

Having gone to sea at the age of 16, and never having interest in anything else, I was hard put to decide what to do ashore that was within my capabilities, but I needn’t have worried – in those days you could talk your way into practically anything and, provided you were willing to work, stay there. So it was that I did many different jobs at first, staying away from shipping lest I be tempted to return.

After a couple of years I met my wife, an Irish girl from the little village of Ballyduff in Southern Ireland, and in due course had a family of 3 boys and a girl who have all done well in their various careers.

The impression I had gained in my previous visits to the ports of Australia – that it was a vibrant go-ahead land of cheerful, helpful people has, with very few exceptions, been borne out by my experiences living and working here, and I certainly wouldn’t want to live anywhere else

< Back to the Stories