Valerie Lacey
| First name | Valerie |
|---|---|
| Last name | Lacey |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 14/02/38 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1973 |
| Submitted by | Valerie Lacey |
Story
I married an Australian whom I had met while on exchange teaching in Australia in 1969. We met in Wagga Wagga, NSW and corresponded for 3 years before Larry came to England in 1972 where we were married in December of that year. We left England in October 1972 because Larry’s visitors’ permit would expire shortly.
We flew out from Heathrow on October 3rd. 1972 and landed in Melbourne instead of Sydney as planned, due to a strike at Sydney Airport. We were transferred to Canberra earlier than anticipated where my mother-in-law had booked us into a motel not far from where she lived. Our plan had been to stay a few days in Sydney to recover from the journey before I met my in-laws. As it was I met them feeling very unprepared!
I felt very lucky to have an Australian to help me get over all the ‘firsts’ on arriving in this new country. He was able to put me right on the various differences between our countries having lived in England himself. I was lucky to have been to the country so knew what I was coming to though to come as a wife and soon-to-be mother was different from coming as a visitor, with the thought I was going home at the end of 12months.
After more than 30 years in this country I consider this ‘home’ and will go to England for short visits only. My family (3 children and grandchildren) are here and, as they say, home is where the heart is!