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Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Old Jan 23rd 2007, 1:18 pm
  #106  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I've cut bits from your reply Mercedes, leaving the relevant excerpts! Hope you'll excuse the liberty! This is now going to be a really selfish type of post, but I've whinged about my job so much, that I should share the good as well as the bad....
Anyway, this week, AO2 contract still has 2 months to run, but an AO3 vacant for a few months, next level up, Support Officer instead of Admin Officer, bit more specialist, bit more of a chance to show what I can do, working in the same area of Emergency Services, I thought I'd put in for it, really cos it was the expected thing to do. I had no faith in getting it at all. This week the acting boss (perm one away on leave) says to me that they are interviewing 2 people - and I'm one of them. I KNOW I looked stunned. I then had to hide my disappointment when she told me the other panel member would be one of the guys who savaged me last time before giving the 2 jobs to other girls. I'll be honest, if I'd known he was involved I would never have applied.
However, someone up there is looking after me maybe, as he phoned this morning and had to pull out for family reasons. So the boss roped in (unknown to her) the one guy that has believed in me and encouraged me from day one. She knew we were friends, but I don't think she has any idea how much he has tried to encourage me job-wise to keep going.
The interview was horrible, as they all are, and then they had me into the office last thing this afternoon, and said "You're by far the best candidate, you've got the job". I'm stunned. I think my jaw is still on the floor! Yes its only temporary, but its a step up, it has far more responsibility, and they have said they have faith that given the chance I can show the rest of the place what I can do. Because its more of a project role, I got interview questions about projects I've done, databases I've worked on, reports I've written. All that stuff was back in my "English" life and has been dismissed out of hand if ever mentioned before even in passing - this time I KNEW they would listen. They didn't care which country it was in - they told me so - they just wanted to know that I could do the job.

Very refreshing chance, very different attitude. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity that I've waited over 2.5 years for.
Poll, that's ace my friend.
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Old Jan 23rd 2007, 2:14 pm
  #107  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by northernbird
Poll, that's ace my friend.
I still don't think its sunk in, I have this silly grin on my face and feel like a stunned mullet. I have acquired a new and very loyal friend here in the last few weeks, who has discovered she is 10 weeks pregnant and when I told her she put the phone down quick and sent me a text just saying "I'm in floods of tears, apparently I have hormones!!!"
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Old Jan 23rd 2007, 8:43 pm
  #108  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I've cut bits from your reply Mercedes, leaving the relevant excerpts! Hope you'll excuse the liberty! This is now going to be a really selfish type of post, but I've whinged about my job so much, that I should share the good as well as the bad....
Anyway, this week, AO2 contract still has 2 months to run, but an AO3 vacant for a few months, next level up, Support Officer instead of Admin Officer, bit more specialist, bit more of a chance to show what I can do, working in the same area of Emergency Services, I thought I'd put in for it, really cos it was the expected thing to do. I had no faith in getting it at all. This week the acting boss (perm one away on leave) says to me that they are interviewing 2 people - and I'm one of them. I KNOW I looked stunned. I then had to hide my disappointment when she told me the other panel member would be one of the guys who savaged me last time before giving the 2 jobs to other girls. I'll be honest, if I'd known he was involved I would never have applied.
However, someone up there is looking after me maybe, as he phoned this morning and had to pull out for family reasons. So the boss roped in (unknown to her) the one guy that has believed in me and encouraged me from day one. She knew we were friends, but I don't think she has any idea how much he has tried to encourage me job-wise to keep going.
The interview was horrible, as they all are, and then they had me into the office last thing this afternoon, and said "You're by far the best candidate, you've got the job". I'm stunned. I think my jaw is still on the floor! Yes its only temporary, but its a step up, it has far more responsibility, and they have said they have faith that given the chance I can show the rest of the place what I can do. Because its more of a project role, I got interview questions about projects I've done, databases I've worked on, reports I've written. All that stuff was back in my "English" life and has been dismissed out of hand if ever mentioned before even in passing - this time I KNEW they would listen. They didn't care which country it was in - they told me so - they just wanted to know that I could do the job.

Very refreshing chance, very different attitude. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity that I've waited over 2.5 years for.
Well done you, congratulations.
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Old Jan 23rd 2007, 8:57 pm
  #109  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I still don't think its sunk in, I have this silly grin on my face and feel like a stunned mullet. I have acquired a new and very loyal friend here in the last few weeks, who has discovered she is 10 weeks pregnant and when I told her she put the phone down quick and sent me a text just saying "I'm in floods of tears, apparently I have hormones!!!"
Congratulations and well done!!
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 2:14 am
  #110  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I still don't think its sunk in, I have this silly grin on my face and feel like a stunned mullet. I have acquired a new and very loyal friend here in the last few weeks, who has discovered she is 10 weeks pregnant and when I told her she put the phone down quick and sent me a text just saying "I'm in floods of tears, apparently I have hormones!!!"
Congratulations! You've given me some hope for my own situation (which is getting worrying now we are getting close to the NSW elections and the opposition leader is threatening to cut 20,000 back office public sector jobs if he gets in - I'll have no chance of a perm job then!)
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 3:39 am
  #111  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I've cut bits from your reply Mercedes, leaving the relevant excerpts! Hope you'll excuse the liberty! This is now going to be a really selfish type of post, but I've whinged about my job so much, that I should share the good as well as the bad....
Anyway, this week, AO2 contract still has 2 months to run, but an AO3 vacant for a few months, next level up, Support Officer instead of Admin Officer, bit more specialist, bit more of a chance to show what I can do, working in the same area of Emergency Services, I thought I'd put in for it, really cos it was the expected thing to do. I had no faith in getting it at all. This week the acting boss (perm one away on leave) says to me that they are interviewing 2 people - and I'm one of them. I KNOW I looked stunned. I then had to hide my disappointment when she told me the other panel member would be one of the guys who savaged me last time before giving the 2 jobs to other girls. I'll be honest, if I'd known he was involved I would never have applied.
However, someone up there is looking after me maybe, as he phoned this morning and had to pull out for family reasons. So the boss roped in (unknown to her) the one guy that has believed in me and encouraged me from day one. She knew we were friends, but I don't think she has any idea how much he has tried to encourage me job-wise to keep going.
The interview was horrible, as they all are, and then they had me into the office last thing this afternoon, and said "You're by far the best candidate, you've got the job". I'm stunned. I think my jaw is still on the floor! Yes its only temporary, but its a step up, it has far more responsibility, and they have said they have faith that given the chance I can show the rest of the place what I can do. Because its more of a project role, I got interview questions about projects I've done, databases I've worked on, reports I've written. All that stuff was back in my "English" life and has been dismissed out of hand if ever mentioned before even in passing - this time I KNEW they would listen. They didn't care which country it was in - they told me so - they just wanted to know that I could do the job.

Very refreshing chance, very different attitude. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity that I've waited over 2.5 years for.
Well done lass.. soon be made permanant... and then you will be sick of it in no time.

Perhaps not...
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 5:09 am
  #112  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

congratulations you deserve it
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 8:23 am
  #113  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by chels
Congratulations! You've given me some hope for my own situation (which is getting worrying now we are getting close to the NSW elections and the opposition leader is threatening to cut 20,000 back office public sector jobs if he gets in - I'll have no chance of a perm job then!)
Stick with it - I never thought I'd get a shot at a decent job, felt like banging my head on a brick wall at times!

Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus
Well done lass.. soon be made permanant... and then you will be sick of it in no time.

Perhaps not...
I'll go with the perhaps not! Can't wait to get my teeth into something challenging again. No offence to anyone, but running someone's diary and managing their emails just isn't my type of job, and I'm glad to wave it goodbye, at least for a while
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 9:30 am
  #114  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

We haven't been been here long so still finding our feet a bit. I agree that most of the people we've met too have been very friendly.

Things like the Mindil beach markets are not on in the wet season so we haven't seen them yet but we're looking forward to that and a few other events. Also looking forward to getting out into Kakadu and Litchfield for weekends

There's no danger of it getting cold at the moment, even inland but I know it will do later in the year. It's amazing how it can be 32C during the day and 12 or so overnight isn't it?
Originally Posted by Mercedes
Well done. How are you liking Darwin? One of my favourite places, I've got quite a few friends there, worked for a few of the government bodies there as well as had a few as clients. It was where I went when I was broke, and my good old husband cleared me out. I found the people there incredibly kind, and many offered me a roof over my head when I was looking for work. I stayed on the Navy base as one of the places, as some of the guys adopted me and found me an empty room and fed me. sandwiches from the canteen. . Good thing was there was no strings attached either, they really wanted to help me. I was there for 2 months and never got caught, plus they took me to the RAF hospital when I was sick and gave them false id numbers for me. I think the nurse there knew I wasn't navy, but I was that ill that she ignored it and treated me, well actually they called in the doctor who arrived in his tux and were going to keep me in overnight, but managed to persuade them I wasn't that bad. I had this image of me escaping in my PJ's if they had. They did find out later and I got told off, but nothing happened. I think I still have one of their passes to get on the base. One of my interviews was with the radio station there (can't remember it's name) and the manager called me in for an interview just to bollock me for applying for a job I was over qualified for. Had no intention of hiring me, as he said it worried him that I had such low expectations. Best motivation I got, I went home and rang a few others and got an interview 2 days later. Still think of that bloke as it was the best motivator for someone to tell you they thought you were worth higher than what you were applying for. I love to meet him again one day and thank him, but he's probably moved on.

One of the places that is always on my intinery when I go to Oz. Got a lot of fond memories of Darwin, it was a good place to be when I was on a downer and for people to pick you back up. Lot of great people there, you should have no problems making loads of good friends and plenty of partying.

Do they still have the markets on the beach there in the evening where they sell different asian food. Often used to go there and watch the sunset and have dinner.

If you go camping don't get caught out, like I did, I was told to take a warm jumper for the evening and a sleeping bag, I thought they were kidding so ignored the advice, we were only 2 hours away and it was freezing.

If they still have got it and you want an experience try gliding there, they crank it up, I took a Brit navy guy there and I actually thought it was going to crash when it was his turn as well as he did as all I could hear was the screams from the ground....Thankfully it didn't crash and I didn't have to carry his body back to the base...although he did have to put up with me taking the piss out of him....

I better shut up now....fond memories...
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Old Jan 24th 2007, 9:54 am
  #115  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by wmoore
Things like the Mindil beach markets are not on in the wet season so we haven't seen them yet but we're looking forward to that and a few other events. Also looking forward to getting out into Kakadu and Litchfield for weekends
ohhhhh, camping in Lichfield & Kakadu NPs are my fondest memories of Aus. I preferred Lichfield in many ways as it was so much quieter, and equally as beautiful. Fancy having all that on your doorstep, you lucky thing!

And Polly, you go gal!! Many congratulations and I hope this turns out to be the opportunity you've waited so long for.
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Old Jan 25th 2007, 12:31 pm
  #116  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Wow ! Overyones comments seem quite negative.
Is this because only those it hasn't worked for use these forums ?

I was born in the UK,emigrated with my parents at age 9.
Now living in UK married to an English woman.We lived in Melbourne
for 3 years,she hated it.Money was tight,kids were very young.
Now on the verge of returning this time to Qld.Want better life for kids
etc.Think it might be different now kids are 10 and 13 ?But really unsure!
We've been on and off with this for last 6 years,the itch wont go away
but we feel once we go there's no turning back and that's very worrying.
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Old Jan 25th 2007, 10:03 pm
  #117  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by HiddenPaw
ohhhhh, camping in Lichfield & Kakadu NPs are my fondest memories of Aus. I preferred Lichfield in many ways as it was so much quieter, and equally as beautiful. Fancy having all that on your doorstep, you lucky thing!

And Polly, you go gal!! Many congratulations and I hope this turns out to be the opportunity you've waited so long for.
Having those sort of places around certainly helped with the decision to move up here. Though we haven't explored them yet (much of Litchfield is closed this time of year due to the wet), we certainly plan to spend time there during the dry.
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Old Jan 25th 2007, 10:06 pm
  #118  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by fishnorfowl
Wow ! Overyones comments seem quite negative.
Is this because only those it hasn't worked for use these forums ?

I was born in the UK,emigrated with my parents at age 9.
Now living in UK married to an English woman.We lived in Melbourne
for 3 years,she hated it.Money was tight,kids were very young.
Now on the verge of returning this time to Qld.Want better life for kids
etc.Think it might be different now kids are 10 and 13 ?But really unsure!
We've been on and off with this for last 6 years,the itch wont go away
but we feel once we go there's no turning back and that's very worrying.
Due to the specific nature of the Moving Back to UK forum, there are bound to be lots of negative comments about Australia - this board is mostly frequented by those who haven't settled in Oz, for whatever reason.

If you want to see the other side of the fence, have a look at the Australia Lifestyle & Culture forum. Though you should be warned that this forum can swing completely in the other direction so you have to be able to filter and just take in what you need

Welcome BTW.
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Old Jan 25th 2007, 10:32 pm
  #119  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I've cut bits from your reply Mercedes, leaving the relevant excerpts! Hope you'll excuse the liberty! This is now going to be a really selfish type of post, but I've whinged about my job so much, that I should share the good as well as the bad....
Anyway, this week, AO2 contract still has 2 months to run, but an AO3 vacant for a few months, next level up, Support Officer instead of Admin Officer, bit more specialist, bit more of a chance to show what I can do, working in the same area of Emergency Services, I thought I'd put in for it, really cos it was the expected thing to do. I had no faith in getting it at all. This week the acting boss (perm one away on leave) says to me that they are interviewing 2 people - and I'm one of them. I KNOW I looked stunned. I then had to hide my disappointment when she told me the other panel member would be one of the guys who savaged me last time before giving the 2 jobs to other girls. I'll be honest, if I'd known he was involved I would never have applied.
However, someone up there is looking after me maybe, as he phoned this morning and had to pull out for family reasons. So the boss roped in (unknown to her) the one guy that has believed in me and encouraged me from day one. She knew we were friends, but I don't think she has any idea how much he has tried to encourage me job-wise to keep going.
The interview was horrible, as they all are, and then they had me into the office last thing this afternoon, and said "You're by far the best candidate, you've got the job". I'm stunned. I think my jaw is still on the floor! Yes its only temporary, but its a step up, it has far more responsibility, and they have said they have faith that given the chance I can show the rest of the place what I can do. Because its more of a project role, I got interview questions about projects I've done, databases I've worked on, reports I've written. All that stuff was back in my "English" life and has been dismissed out of hand if ever mentioned before even in passing - this time I KNEW they would listen. They didn't care which country it was in - they told me so - they just wanted to know that I could do the job.

Very refreshing chance, very different attitude. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity that I've waited over 2.5 years for.

That's fantastic news. You go get em girl, show them just what us English lassies are made of
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Old Jan 26th 2007, 12:11 am
  #120  
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Default Re: Why did you move to Australia in the first place.

Originally Posted by Pollyana
I still don't think its sunk in, I have this silly grin on my face and feel like a stunned mullet. I have acquired a new and very loyal friend here in the last few weeks, who has discovered she is 10 weeks pregnant and when I told her she put the phone down quick and sent me a text just saying "I'm in floods of tears, apparently I have hormones!!!"
Great news

Well done Polly. I said it would happen. Bonza
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