Susan Ng Sai Keow Parry (nee Ng)

Story

I never thought of going to live in another country until I was about 17 years of age. This was sometime after my mother had passed away. At the time we were living at 487E, Block 38, Circuit Road in Singapore- it\’s a government housing block. Until my mother\’s death, I was never allowed to go out much because my mother was very strict and believed a girl\’s place is at home. Her death was quite a shock to me and my family as she died suddenly one early morning in her sleep at a young age of 44 years old.

After my mother\’s death I started to socialise with my friends and neighbours Rosalind and Pauline more frequently and we used to chat a lot into the nights. We used to dream about travelling in an airplane and going to America and Europe, so much so that every now and then we would catch a bus at night to Paya Lebar International Airport, not too far from our housing estate where we lived just to watch the arrivals and departure of aeroplanes always wishing that it was us who were flying away and envying those that had the opportunity to travel or work overseas.

It was during this time that my friend Rosalind and her friend introduced me to their church. Through church I came to know an Australian couple, Mr and Mrs Hayward, and became very close to them and their daughter, Rhonda. Mr and Mrs Hayward also came to know my family and would sometimes visit me and my family at Circuit Road. Being close to them, they got to know my family situation and my desire to migrate to Australia, so I could earn more and send money home to help my father and my siblings.

It was during this time that Mr and Mrs Hayward submitted their sponsorship papers to the Australian High Comm. on my behalf. Luckily the application was granted just before Mr and Mrs Hayward were posted back to their home in Cairns in the year 1973. I was so happy to know that my dream of living and working overseas had finally come true, although in my heart I was also sad to have to leave my father and family behind. I was also very pleased to know that I will have someone that I know in Australia to help me to settle in the new country.

In order to come to Australia I have to borrow money for my airfare from my friend, Margaret. I remembered it was about S$800 and I told her I would repay her one day but don\’t know how long it will take for me to save such a huge amount of money. Until then I have never travelled much within Singapore itself, let alone having to try and buy air ticket to go to Australia!! On 4th July 1974 I boarded my flight to Sydney, with a connection on to Cairns. The plane was delayed and we were diverted to Melbourne, where I spent my first night. It was winter in Melbourne, and not having any experience of winter weather before, I got a shock when I came out of the airport, it was so cold!

The next day I flew to Sydney and the day after, travelled to Cairns. While the plane was flying into Cairns airport, I had a glimpse of the surroundings through the window; I was very impressed with all the hills and the greenery of Cairns! When I came out into the arrival hall, I was so pleased to see the whole Hayward family waiting for me at the airport.

I was very impressed with the weather and scenery of Cairns, but not the sandflies. I thought I was going crazy, because during one night while I was in bed, I felt being bitten all over but I couldn\’t see what was on me, the bite was so bad that for a moment I wished I was back in Singapore. The next day after talking to the family I found out it was the tiny midgies, called sandflies. Blessed sandflies, up to these days I still suffer a lot when they bite me, the bites just leave me itchy for days!!

A month after my arrival I found a job as a waitress in a restaurant, I enjoyed my work as I got to meet some very friendly and helpful Australians and Italian Australians. Then one evening while I was working, a group of five customers walked in; while looking after these customers, I got to know them and one of the ladies called Rose and I exchanged our phone numbers. After that I was invited to go out with them a few times and that was how I came to know Terry. The rest is history. We were married in Darwin under the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ on the 6th December 1975. Out of this beautiful relationship 3 more beautiful people were brought into this world. They are Lian, Kym and Richard and we love them dearly and made our married life complete.

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