Originally Posted by JackTheLad

Hi Ian,

Sorry for being a bit nosey here... Where was the adoption order of your two boys made? Adoption orders made under the Hague Convention (UK is Hague ratified) are generally recognized in Australia. However the adoption legistration is different in different state in Australia.

In Queensland, the most conservative state, adoptive parents have to be married and be of opposite sex. If Brisbane is one of the places you're considering to move to, you might need to check if the adoption of your two boys is legally recognized in Queensland and, if not, what the implication is.

http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/ad...cognition.html

I'm working at the Department of Child Safety and can check for you if you like. Otherwise you can phone the Intercountry Adoption Unit directly:

http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/ad...cts/index.html

All the best,
Mrs JTL

Originally Posted by wombat42

l would'nt move to Tasmania. Is'nt it against the law to be gay down there or did they change the law recently.

Originally Posted by JackTheLad

Hi Ian,

Sorry for being a bit nosey here... Where was the adoption order of your two boys made? Adoption orders made under the Hague Convention (UK is Hague ratified) are generally recognized in Australia. However the adoption legistration is different in different state in Australia.

In Queensland, the most conservative state, adoptive parents have to be married and be of opposite sex. If Brisbane is one of the places you're considering to move to, you might need to check if the adoption of your two boys is legally recognized in Queensland and, if not, what the implication is.

http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/ad...cognition.html

I'm working at the Department of Child Safety and can check for you if you like. Otherwise you can phone the Intercountry Adoption Unit directly:

http://www.childsafety.qld.gov.au/ad...cts/index.html

All the best,
Mrs JTL

Originally Posted by wombat42

l would'nt move to Tasmania. Is'nt it against the law to be gay down there or did they change the law recently.

Originally Posted by Ian12

O.K. We are in one Sidney's forrested subburbs on the Northern Beaches. ..............I like the comparative space and the greenery and the beaches but I don't like the lack of neighbourliness. The boys are happy enough in their school, although we have some doubts about whether there will be the same sort of support (special needs) that they got from their school in London, but hey do not complain and when asked which school they prefer, they say this one. So that brings up the question of moving the children again. They do need some stability. I have bean to join a couple of organisations and they are in town. Are we just stuffed or is there somwhere out there that we might feel at home and within a budget of 7 -800K :scared: Thanks for reading this and I would really appreciate any constructive feed back.

Originally Posted by Ian12

O.K. Please bear with me because I am not one who normally opens their heart on a forum. I am not 100% sure where this will go either. My partner is Australian. He never really wanted to come back to Oz - too many unhappy family memories but I was keen. We have been an item 16 years and we have two smashing adopted little boys. I had a very sucessful business in London and we lived around the corner so it took me five minutes to get to work. We lived in Marylebone Village which was lively - lots of cafes, shops and easy walking distance to anywhere in the West End. I had work collegues with whom I was on good terms. There was usally someone around to have a coffee with and a laugh. Our kids school was round the corner and there were regular school "discos" which were more like drinking nights for the parents and teachers while the kids were supervised! Despite being in a same sex relationship we were accepted. My only gripe about the area was that it was difficult to get to know neighbours in central London and when not working, one could at times feel a bit isolated and reserved. I guess I am still basically a friendly lad from England's N.E. despite the posh W1 address. So I had thought for some time that Australia would be more laid back, more friendly, more neigbourly (watched too many episodes of bloody neighbours)and a better place to raise the kids rather than London's West end.

We are in one Sidney's forrested subburbs on the Northern Beaches. We have been renting my sister-in-laws house for the last three months. She lives else where. I introduced myself to most of the neigbours in our small street before Christmas but I have not had an opportunity to even say hello to anyone since. It is a quiet neighbourhood. At least that is what I assume. Except my sister in law, who is perhaps not being terribly helpful feeds us back messages from these unknown and unseen neighbours that they do not like our boys playing in the street and doing this or doing that. I have tried to be patient and suggested that she ask the neigbours to speak to us directly.
It is quite off putting to think that neighbours are having conversations about one's family behind one's back. So that is grip 1 & 2

Grip 3 is that I never really envisaged living in Sydney. We had both hoped that we might have been able to buy a caravan park. (We are both keen caravanners and we thought the kids would also love the life syle). We wanted to be within a forty minute drive or ith Sydney or Melbourn or Brisbane. We did all the brokerage bit but have drawn a blank and to be honest we are feeling pretty cut off now so we are now anxious about moving further away from a city - which at least we are used to. It also looks as if the caravan park idea is a bit of a dead duck. The good areas are just outside of our price range and do not appear very viable.

I am sure that people mean well (Well my sister in law to be precise) when she says we are living inthe wrong area but the last thing I really want to do is move back into a city! I like the comparative space and the greenery and the beaches but I don't like the lack of neighbourliness. The boys are happy enough in their school, although we have some doubts about whether there will be the same sort of support (special needs) that they got from their school in London, but hey do not complain and when asked which school they prefer, they say this one. So that brings up the question of moving the children again. They do need some stability. I have bean to join a couple of organisations and they are in town. Are we just stuffed or is there somwhere out there that we might feel at home and within a budget of 7 -800K :scared: Thanks for reading this and I would really appreciate any constructive feed back.

Originally Posted by Ian12

The boys were adopted in the UK and they are UK born. We were one of the first same ex couples to be approved by the British Courts and as we were one of the first the preparation lasted a bit longer (no complaints as it was helpful) 2 years. Also the final adoption hearing was heard in the High Court just to make sure there would be no challenges. It was a very positive experience. The Judge was complimentary and after telling us that it was in the boys best interests to remain with us and be adopted (they had been placed with us for two years after we were prepared and approved) she gave us all "Congratulation" card asked the boys if they would like to come up to the bench and sit in the judges chair! Still the pics! As for Queensland, I am not sure but I think it is the same in NSW. However as you say Australia has signed up to the Geneva convention and therefore I assume that it has to recognise us as a family. But yes - I would be pleased if you could do some research for us as we may want to move North.

Originally Posted by Ian12

The boys were adopted in the UK and they are UK born. We were one of the first same ex couples to be approved by the British Courts and as we were one of the first the preparation lasted a bit longer (no complaints as it was helpful) 2 years. Also the final adoption hearing was heard in the High Court just to make sure there would be no challenges. It was a very positive experience. The Judge was complimentary and after telling us that it was in the boys best interests to remain with us and be adopted (they had been placed with us for two years after we were prepared and approved) she gave us all "Congratulation" card asked the boys if they would like to come up to the bench and sit in the judges chair! Still the pics! As for Queensland, I am not sure but I think it is the same in NSW. However as you say Australia has signed up to the Geneva convention and therefore I assume that it has to recognise us as a family. But yes - I would be pleased if you could do some research for us as we may want to move North.

Originally Posted by Sandra

Just my opinion but I find my leafy suburb a pain in the arse for neighbours! So in no way do I think you should start looking at yourselves to change or move areas first. I have every sympathy with what you are going through.

We lived in a rental for a year before buying in this same area.....tried with the neighbours....no joy! Moved into new house and after 18 months and three BBQ invites to the locals .....no joy! Where we last lived in the UK, we had an annual street BBQ on the green and the kids played in the street as standard.

So forget you needing to change! There are odd unfriendly folk here in Aus and Sydney seems to have more than its share of them

What we did here......we joined the mainstream boring bits....one of ours is in scouts and hubby is on the committee as maintenance man #2!!! So far he has to hold a ladder I think

The P&C group at the school is a great source of getting 'in' or just helping out on the general help days at the school.

The local bowling club!!! Yes I know please laugh but we joined as social members, allows us to be seen and it also holds a Friday night Family BBQ - nobody speaks to us yet apart from the barman and barlady but we we will keep trying

Because of scouts we have been away to a family camps and despite our fears really had a great time. We also got invited to a 'pot luck' committee dinner and I did manage to like it a bit - hubby made me promise I would not be rude about the 70's. But if they had made me throw my keys in any pot I was gone! Apart from the social side of the scouts for the kids, the camps and things you get to take the kids to let you see different places that you possibly would not see if just being a normal tourist to areas. I know bits of NSW most people don't get to go....eg Camp Karriong (still laughing about Carry On!). But it might also open opportunities for future work/business opportunities?

My daughter is special needs as well, partially deaf. We got very little support in primary but have to say the high school she has just started this year is fantastic so far. I have since found out more getting help and learning not to wait for it here. I think part of my problem was being new I thought I could ask for less!

The new start is daunting and when people who live in the same street are difficult it can make it worse. But do not jump to move just yet try some other areas of the community where your input and help are appreciated.

I have also sent a pm

Chin up

Sandra