I worked for Otis Elevators on the refurbishment of the Northern Line and our team had a lot of Ozies and they was full of praise of Australia. So one day I rung my wife up and said I have been to Australia House and we can get assisted passage to West Oz (10 pound poms) She agreed to go, we was buying a nice home in Wellmeadow Rd Hither Green, couple of cars and good jobs and of course family we had 2 boys 2/3 years old. We went through the process with fights with my parents over leaving the UK, but I remember that they wanted to come to Oz in the early 50s so it was their in my brain. We left the UK in February 1968 by boat (Castel Felice Sitmar Line) and arrived in Fremantle late March, we came the long way round due to Suez being closed. On arrival it was bucketing down with rain not ever seen anything like it and the migrant hostel at Point Water was Tin Huts and every one had their meals in a big Hall. Talk about walking back in time, after London This was like an Old Western town, all that was needed was tie up rails for your horses. First job was to buy a car and move out, I was working after a couple of days. But did not look back after a couple of months and love the place. The things I miss of course, the History, (only 200 years here) and country side, can get English food and sweets with shops selling just that (Birds Custard, even the Grand Kids ask for Birds Custard) would have travelled a lot more, lots to see in that side of the world history wise. I still find the English TV programs the Best, we have a lot of USA rubbish, and the Oz Shows, well more rubbish, apart from a few( Not a TV Fan) My Brother and sisters have made visits. One lives in Sidcup, another in Gravesend ( Ex Churchdown Girl) and baby sis in Spain. I suppose in would be perfect to live in both Countries, as some do. My wife Janet, all her family now live here, 4 sisters 1 brother Mum & Dad, cousins and aunts and uncles They are from Bristol, must be a harder place to live than London.