Mike Batten
| First name | Mike |
|---|---|
| Last name | Batten |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 25/05/44 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1982 |
| Submitted by | Mike Batten |
Story
OUR STORY 1982 Carol and Mike Batten, England
In the late 70\’s, during the belligerent period between Egypt and Israel, Mike was seconded to the Arab British Helicopter Company from Westland Helicopters of Yeovil Somerset. On their return to Yeovil, Carol and Mike found life back in England somewhat mundane. To get out of the rut they fell into following the excitements of living in Egypt, they looked for a new English speaking, country where they could bring up their children, daughters Debbie and Tracey and son, Craig. The Americas were seen to be portrayed by the media as a violent place; South Africa still had Apartheid and had an unclear future. The best place of all was Australia, according to a cousin who was back in England paying a flying visit. Australia House was contacted the following day.
Like many other immigrants of the day, Carol and Mike along with their children arrived in Sydney aboard QF001 on 7 January 1982. They were on their way to Canberra where Mike had landed work in the Russell Offices Directorate of Navy Aviation Engineering, following interview by a Navy Office recruiting team in London, almost a year earlier. Carol and Mike found Australia to be a delightful location to rear their children, and apart from a brief period in Melbourne in the mid 80\’s, fondly refer to Canberra as their home. Carol and Mike remain Public Servants with the Commonwealth Government as are their children, who are now married into old Canberra families, and have presented their parents with four grandchildren, Leigh, Mitchell, Curtis and Jake. The entire family still resides in the southerly suburbs of the Capital.