Robert Galt
| First name | Robert |
|---|---|
| Last name | Galt |
| Country of Origin | Scotland |
| Date of Birth | 28/12/47 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1961 |
| Submitted by | Robert Galt |
Story
Living in an orphange from 8 months old till 13 years was enough reason to leave Scotland when given the opprtunity. After getting permission from my Genetic Mother who did visit me monthly at the home.
We sailed with 4 other orphan boys and a Nursing Sister to look after us whilst on the SS Orion, that was a good 6 weeks journey which was where I learned to swim on the ship coming out to Australia. On arrival in Melbourne we were met by the housekeeper for a boys home called Dhurringile in Central Victoria run by the Presbyterian Church.
Our drive to Dhurringile was to us a long drive as my impression was this place is HUGE compared to Scotland. I stayed there going to Shepparton Technical School for 2, 1/2 years then joined the RAN. Each year the boys were billeted out for the School Holidays and I would have to have been one of the luckiest boys there as the family that took me in are still my family after 40 years. They have given me a home to go to any time and I call them Mum and Sister as Dad died in 1993 from a heart attack and my little brother David was killed by a speeding truck near his school at Shepparton East in 1971. I joined the RAN in 1964 and enlisted for 12 years. I had reached the dizzy heights of Petty Officer Electrical Power before my discharge in 1976. I have been married since 1975, have 3 sons, who have all got on well, 2 are qualified chefs and the eldest is an Honours Graduate in Bio-Chemistry working in the UK for a large Drug Publishing Company. He is the Director of the Healthcare division. On leaving the RAN I worked for my Brother in Law who owns a large Wholesale Food Distribution Business for 25 years. After doing all facets of the business from truck deliveries to Purchasing Officer to Sales Manager I left to take up my own business. My 2nd Son arrived home from England after completing a 12 month contract at the SAVOY Hotel, I took some time off and we had a good time doing nothing but playing golf and getting on together, after a while I realised we had to have some income so we applied to take on the catering cantract of the local golf club, which we won. He stayed for 12 months but I carried on for another 6, 1/2 years until late 2007 when I had to retire due to ill-health, 2 back operations and I still have trouble getting around. So now I have virtually retired though would dearly like to get back to work doing something. End of story.