Susan Livesley

Story

We lmigrated from Dronfield, England to start a better life with more opportunites for our family being my brother Michael aged 14, my parents Norah & Thomas Hodgeson Mason and myself, then 11.

We travelled by ship ‘The Orien” which took us 3 weeks, it was fantastic onboard, the meals were amazing 1st Class (3 courses). There was lots of activites to keep you occupied, I learnt to swim onboard as there were a couple of swimming pools, we met some lovely people. It got pretty rough at one point you could look out one side and see water and look out the other side and see only sky, most passengers were sick, there were ropes all over the ship to hang on to, so as not to fall. I can only remember stopping at Aden and Columbo it was a real eye opener, there were beggers everywhere, people with their limbs missing, sitting with a tin. Boats would pull up side with people selling their wares. When we went through the Suez Canal we got a Certificate with King Neptune on it for crossing of the equator.

We arrived in Fremantle and I said: “Australia is very small”, what an understatement. We lived in WA for 9 months during which time we had lots of moves. My father was a barber by trade and had his own barbers shop in England, but in order to get work in Australia as a barber he would have to go back to school to get a Australian certificate, consequently he didn’t every become one in Australia, he tried all sorts of work as did my mother. We then moved to Melbourne and here we have stayed. The first 2 years were very hard on my parents, not having friends or family but they became involved in the British Legion and made some long lasting friends.

I went back to England when I turned 50 for the first time and loved it, but at the end of the day Australia was the place for me, I don’t think I have ever regretted my parents making the move. My brother went back to England to live when he was 21 so I have been like an only child.

My father passed away several years ago and my mother is nearly 87. I think Australia is the best place, the freedom and vastness I love, there aren’t many places I haven’t been and I love every bit of it. We missed the green hill initially but now when I drive through the countryside it refreshes and rejuvenates me and I wouldn’t be anywhere else.

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