Paul Weber

Story

Timeless Memories! – After saying goodbye to my parents, my brother and my 2 sisters, back in Switzerland.

In September 1965 the ship ‘Aurelia’ pulled away from a pier in Rotterdam, Holland, bound for Tilbury, in Essex, England. From there we headed into the North Atlantic, passing the Azores islands to Curacao ; an island which is part of the Netherlands Antilles, where we stopped for one day. Our next destination was Panama City. After

leaving Panama City we were bound for Tahiti, Auckland, Sydney, and on to disembark in Melbourne.

When we pulled alongside the wharf to disembark in Melbourne my heart felt heavy and torn, the sudden realisation of the friendships made and about to be lost – as everyone hugged before splitting up to take up their new journey in this strange and foreign land.

However, there was excitement and newness in the air, everything was different. The houses, the streets, the twittering of the birds, the flora, walking on the wrong side of the road, the food, the climate; what about the weird tropical fruit? I remember buying a paw-paw; I recalled writing to mum and dad, explaining, after slicing open the fruit, the thing smelt like ten thousand dirty feet – and how could anyone forget the first spring? Being pecked at the back of the head by a magpieÉIt felt indeed like, ‘the land of the never-never!’

Throughout my stay in Australia I have been associated with the building industry, first as a labourer, however, once my language skills improved I became a Bricklaying Contractor, constructing large commercial projects in Sydney until I obtained my Builders License in 1977; the licence was re-issued to me in 1981.

I married in 1974 and I was married for 30 years with 3 children – Luke, the eldest, completed a degree at QUT, graduating in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Avian works in Real Estate and attained a commerce and business degree at UQ in Brisbane. Our daughter Nicole attained a science degree and then decided to further her studies and do a Masters degree in Pharmacy. She has just competed her studies in July 2009.

Australia, a land full of opportunities, gave me the freedom and possibilities to undertake whatever I want to do. After retiring at the age of 44 my priority was first and foremost my family, followed by my hobbies, travelling, bushwalking, pottery, windsurfing.

In January 2009 I have just published my book, ‘Looking through My Naked Eye’. Today I enjoy good health, spending time with my family and whenever the wind blows I\’m out in the waves kite surfing. I\’m thankful to many and would like to express my deepest gratitude to you all. But I\’m especially thankful to my family who have worked so hard and participated in helping me to build an off-shoot of the Weber family, who lived in a tiny hamlet of a small farming community in Bosenwil, the family archive is in Ochlenberg, BE, in Switzerland. It\’s a legacy, that today I look upon with pride – thanks guys!

Those who are dedicated in little are also unwavering in much!

Paul Weber 31 August 2009

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