Oscar wilman, Mirtha Elizabeth Lemos

Story

Reason for leaving homeland:

The Uruguayan consulate was advising of trips to a far away land called Australia, and that Australia was prepared to pay for immigrants to work , they called it the golden land of opportunity.

It was at the last moment of changing the trip as Our family were to go to the United States. The Australian Government paid my parents $50.00 each for coming to Australia.

About the Journey:

It was a very scarry trip as we had never travelled by plane. It is my Father, Oscar Wilman Lemos, my Mother, Mirtha Elizabeth Lemos, myself the Eldest, Monica Elizabeth Lemos, my Brother, Ricardo Daniel Lemos, and youngest Sister, Claudia Janet Lemos.

We parted from Uruguay on the 17th August 1973 and caught the plane (Lan Chile) to Chile where there was a Military Queue. There was no milk, bread and food and you could not wander around as you might get shot by the military police. We, the family, were awaiting the airlines to be allowed to travel to this far away land called Australia.

After two days being stuck in a hotel with no food, and not knowing what was going on, my father decided to take a risk to travel to the airport and catch the first flight out of this country, We then flew scared to Noumea where it was sensational compared to Chile.

It was also very scary – we had been dropped of at the airport catching a very old bus filled with people who had no idea also where we were going. We were driving far from the airport.

On the way to the hotel in Noumea, we had to drive on a very narrow road and if you looked to the side of bus I could see big craters so big if we fell we would die.

Once we arrived it was like a picture card, beaches surrounded the hotel huts and very dark men dressed in white uniforms wearing skirts, very friendly and smiling speaking a diffrent language. Thank goodness my dad could speak their language which was French – we stayed here two days.

Once again we were driven by the Hotel back to the airport, catching a plane called UTA to Australia.

On the aeroplane there was a young man who could speak a little Spanish as we are Latins and could understand him. He asked us can you speak English and I nodded a little. My name is Monica. I knew a few words like, my name, toilet, yes thank you, how do you do – that was all.

This young man asked all of us how old we were – it was such a hard time trying to tell him that I was turning 9 on the 23rd August as we arrived on the 22nd August 1973 to Australia. He understood me and gave me a 20 cent coin for my birthday I was so happy and grateful for this gesture. My parents also thanked him. We knew this great man came from Australia and great things would follow us in this new country .

Impressions on Arrival:

We were so overwhelmed as the air hostess said you have finally arrived in Australia. We all looked at each other and had tears.

We arrived on the 22nd of August 1973 at 11.00 am Sydney Aiport on the Plane UTA.

We all grabbed each others hands while my dad went to grab our luggage. My Mum was so happy and my sibblings were looking around not understanding anything that was being spoken but people looked friendly and smiled at us. My father contacted his brother that had been living here in Australia for 3 years.

We were driven to Matraville in Sydney. We were introduced to family friends of my Uncle. My Cousin then walked us next door to his home, where there was a park full of funny rides made out of hard steel , a roundabout, swings, and a slide where I sat.

I looked around and it was so hot and humid and I could hear someone calling out (maaaa) so loud. and after a few times I asked my cousin who is that calling out, he laughed and told me it was a bird, I looked puzzled, but then this bird flew close by it was the most beautiful bird I had seen, so black and medium size and the bluest eyes – it was a crow

After going inside the house, and eating I could hear a blowing of a whistle, to me that meant that police were close by and I screamed out to my dad, and family. My parents and I thought that my cousins place was being invaded by police they all laughed. It was the paper boy blowing his whistle as he is passing by selling new papers.

These strange things showed how different it was. My uncle drove us to the beach, it was so fantastic clear, kids on this funny boards and girls in bikinis.

People were happy. My cousin gave me a sandwich that had this dark spread on it and butter I was a bit peckkish so I bit into it and once in my mouth, a strong taste I had never tasted before. I swallowed it so that I would not disrespect him but I didn’t like that – it was Vegimite. I love it now, Vegimite the best thing ever.

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