Peter Stockwell

Story

Why migrate from beautiful ENGLAND? In Bristol, suffering from the bitterly cold winter of 1962/63, snow and ice grinding life to a near standstill, we needed warmth. Migration to Australia was particularly appealing.

Born into a much travelled army family, which spent many years in the hot sands of Egypt, having a grandfather who soldiered in South Africa, eventually settling there, and serving seven years in the army myself, perhaps travel was in my blood.

Emigrating was not work related, although better or more varied opportunities for the children may exist. Greater concerns were held for possible future political and industrial unrest in Europe.

So, sadly leaving behind siblings, friends and Sandy the corgi, on the 1st April 1963 we embarked, with hundreds of other like minded folk, at TILBURY on the magnificent liner ‘ORSOVA’. We were ‘TEN POUND POMS’, the total cost 20 pounds – four children free! The food was excellent, the cabin crews from Goa a joy, and the deck crew treated us all like real paying passengers. We enjoyed a most interesting journey, had a few queasy spells in the Bight, our voyage terminating at Port Adelaide on the 30th April.

We entrained for Elder Park Hostel in Adelaide enabling us seek work and housing, which was soon settled as both were plentiful. Within three weeks I started work at the Holden car plant, eldest son Peter, 15, started at the Chrysler car plant, and three younger children, Susan, Alan and Clifford (14, 12 and 10 respectively) at schools. Our new neighbours at Morphetville made us truly welcome, tea and scones waiting for us and we felt instantly at home.

Initially we had our struggles, socially deprived of family, friends, and favourite places left behind. Missing the old things of ‘home’ was common for the first two years, so after the first year the decision was made to see more of Australia. The outback had its appeal and a job was obtained at Port Augusta. Life here was more like the Australia we had expected – relaxed, more outdoor activity – and certainly warmer!

However, the growing children would need better schooling and more work opportunities, so the trailer was loaded up again. Which way? A family, friends from the Orsova, had written us from Brisbane, extolling the virtues of Queensland, the beaches and the climate etc, so we decided to join them. Our second big journey began, ‘The Trip’ we now call it. It took us approximately three months. Firstly south to Torquay in Victoria to meet up with our old neighbours from Bristol, who had followed our example, emigrated, and were now enthusiastic to undertake the drive north.

Early spring we were off; two cars, two trailers filled to capacity, four parents and eight children. Great excitement. We set off to Bendigo, Echuca, Tocumwal, then on to the Newell Highway, with our last overnight stop at Toowoomba, then finally Brisbane. We treasure many happy memories of the sights and sounds that the ten days provided during ‘The Trip’. The roads have changed much since then.

On arrival we found accommodation in a caravan park at Belmont (now gone), and the search for rental housing began. Rental accommodation was a scarce item at that time, every day requiring very early rising, a dash to get the newspaper, frantic scanning of the columns and then making our way post haste to a far flung suburb to beat the inevitable queue. Our efforts paid off as after a week or so, we moved to Ashgrove and shared a traditional ‘Queenslander’. By now funds were at rock bottom, so leaving the wives to make the house into a home and get the youngsters off to schools, the dads and two eldest boys, one from each family set about finding work. We were lucky to all four start work together making telephone boxes. The work was hard, different, but plentiful overtime enabled us to get back on our feet financially until more suitable employmment was found. After a few short years, all the children were at work, housing was purchased and life in the sub-tropics became easier.

To date, the family of six migrants numbers, with grandchildren and great grandchildren, thirty-five, ages ranging from 1 year to 82. Many friends of our Orsova voyage have returned to England. All this family have made ‘memory lane’ visits to ‘ the old country’, some aspects still missed, but essentially we are firmly entrenched in Australia.

– IT IS STILL WARMER HERE! – Rochedale, August 2009

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