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Seven years of rural Australia
I wrote an update a few months back and there was a glitch and it disappeared on me before posting but I have just enjoyed another "long timers" update so thought perhaps I'd have another go!
Well as I said, we're rural. Being farmers, that's not too surprising really. We came in 2006, sponsored RSMS with a three month processing time from start to finish, having never visited Australia before. Bonkers probably but not alone! I'd traveled as a child with my father working in the Middle East so I think it was always a lot easier for me to contemplate. My husband was little more cautious, which is why it was 2006 and not 2001 when I first suggested. We moved to a small rural community, 3 hours from Adelaide, our property was 50 kms out of town (population around 1200) and managed a large scale horticultural farm, growing fresh produce for the likes of Woolies etc. Our life was extremely busy. The business grew enormously once my husband got his teeth into it. This was great but as one of our largest reasons for leaving the UK, was to spend less time working, it worked against us in the long run. I am not one of those wives that moans about their husbands working long hours, better than a lazy lay about, but I am a wife that enjoys spending time with my husband so I worked with him. Our two sons were only 3 and 5 when we arrived in South Australia so they adapted extremely quickly. We had early starts with the school bus leaving our property at 7.30 am and returning at 4.30 pm - that's a long day when you add in homework and dinner! I'd do 200 kms some days with after school sports and averaged 1000 kms most weeks. Working hard enabled us to buy a beautiful beach house and we run a nice car but getting time to get to the beach house became harder and harder. Eventually we realised that the business wasn't going to get any smaller/easier/less involved, never would expect that really so instead we chose to move on. We'd made some lovely friendships and it was a hard decision to leave the area but we'd come to realise that due to the nature of the farming community, if we'd stayed in the area, we'd have always been in the shadow of our former employer. Even when we'd moved inter state we'd get far too much info about what was going on each day! Anyway through one of our business contacts, which had become a good friend, a work opportunity presented itself. After managing other peoples businesses for twenty years, finally chance to do it for ourselves!! Amazing. We are now living in the coal seam gas area of Queensland. Having never lived in town, renting in a boom town has been a huge, huge change but not impossible. With the boys now 12 and 11 it's probably been a good time to move. Both boys have played Rep footy (Rugby League) even though only their first seasons. Quite an achievement!! They've also done well with school with our eldest being selected for school captain after only 6 months at the school. The opportunities have been greater for them both with moving to a larger community. They love being able to cycle (or scooter) to school and to have three extra hours a day where they are not sat on a bus is brill too. We've decided to sell the beach house in South Australia which makes me quite sad (it was one of those magic "we'd never have done this in the UK" moments when we bought it) but realistically there's no point having something like that, that you don't use, and the rent only covers half the mortgage. Instead? I'm not sure but we'd like to buy a house here so hopefully that'll happen soon. Our business has been well received. We're designing, selling and installing agricultural irrigation equipment so it's not a massive market but with the coal seam gas it's a growing market. Our clients are lovely, many have quickly become great friends and the opportunity is there for us to grow and grow. But the best bit of all - we have weekends again. So many people always have weekends, you don't realise how precious they are when you don't have them for many, many years. Quality of life for us is good. We're happy and our children are a delight. We are very proud of the young men they are becoming. Moving country, or even within a country isn't without it's challenges but we've attacked them together and it's made it possible. I've said it before, but you're foolish if you tackle migration to "fix" something - you need to be incredibly strong to deal with everything with either a non-existent or distant support network. I look forward to the future and our next challenges! |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Originally Posted by jothefw
(Post 10895238)
I wrote an update a few months back and there was a glitch and it disappeared on me before posting but I have just enjoyed another "long timers" update so thought perhaps I'd have another go!
Well as I said, we're rural. Being farmers, that's not too surprising really. We came in 2006, sponsored RSMS with a three month processing time from start to finish, having never visited Australia before. Bonkers probably but not alone! I'd traveled as a child with my father working in the Middle East so I think it was always a lot easier for me to contemplate. My husband was little more cautious, which is why it was 2006 and not 2001 when I first suggested. We moved to a small rural community, 3 hours from Adelaide, our property was 50 kms out of town (population around 1200) and managed a large scale horticultural farm, growing fresh produce for the likes of Woolies etc. Our life was extremely busy. The business grew enormously once my husband got his teeth into it. This was great but as one of our largest reasons for leaving the UK, was to spend less time working, it worked against us in the long run. I am not one of those wives that moans about their husbands working long hours, better than a lazy lay about, but I am a wife that enjoys spending time with my husband so I worked with him. Our two sons were only 3 and 5 when we arrived in South Australia so they adapted extremely quickly. We had early starts with the school bus leaving our property at 7.30 am and returning at 4.30 pm - that's a long day when you add in homework and dinner! I'd do 200 kms some days with after school sports and averaged 1000 kms most weeks. Working hard enabled us to buy a beautiful beach house and we run a nice car but getting time to get to the beach house became harder and harder. Eventually we realised that the business wasn't going to get any smaller/easier/less involved, never would expect that really so instead we chose to move on. We'd made some lovely friendships and it was a hard decision to leave the area but we'd come to realise that due to the nature of the farming community, if we'd stayed in the area, we'd have always been in the shadow of our former employer. Even when we'd moved inter state we'd get far too much info about what was going on each day! Anyway through one of our business contacts, which had become a good friend, a work opportunity presented itself. After managing other peoples businesses for twenty years, finally chance to do it for ourselves!! Amazing. We are now living in the coal seam gas area of Queensland. Having never lived in town, renting in a boom town has been a huge, huge change but not impossible. With the boys now 12 and 11 it's probably been a good time to move. Both boys have played Rep footy (Rugby League) even though only their first seasons. Quite an achievement!! They've also done well with school with our eldest being selected for school captain after only 6 months at the school. The opportunities have been greater for them both with moving to a larger community. They love being able to cycle (or scooter) to school and to have three extra hours a day where they are not sat on a bus is brill too. We've decided to sell the beach house in South Australia which makes me quite sad (it was one of those magic "we'd never have done this in the UK" moments when we bought it) but realistically there's no point having something like that, that you don't use, and the rent only covers half the mortgage. Instead? I'm not sure but we'd like to buy a house here so hopefully that'll happen soon. Our business has been well received. We're designing, selling and installing agricultural irrigation equipment so it's not a massive market but with the coal seam gas it's a growing market. Our clients are lovely, many have quickly become great friends and the opportunity is there for us to grow and grow. But the best bit of all - we have weekends again. So many people always have weekends, you don't realise how precious they are when you don't have them for many, many years. Quality of life for us is good. We're happy and our children are a delight. We are very proud of the young men they are becoming. Moving country, or even within a country isn't without it's challenges but we've attacked them together and it's made it possible. I've said it before, but you're foolish if you tackle migration to "fix" something - you need to be incredibly strong to deal with everything with either a non-existent or distant support network. I look forward to the future and our next challenges! Hope things continue to go well in QLD :thumbup: |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Lovely update Jo:thumbsup:
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Re: Seven years of rural Australia
That's great to hear, Jo.
You've never been the average, run-of-the-mill migrant and I've never heard you whinge or moan about anything (despite living in places most people wouldn't last five minutes in ;) ). You're always see the good side of everything and I've no doubt that your success here is due to your positive attitude. Hope the next 7 years are even better for you. |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Arrrrrr thanks everyone. Nicky - that's what I aim for (no point moaning, make changes instead)
Sorry it waffled on - hadn't realised it was soooo long! |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Fantastic update, Jo - I'm glad the big change of moving back to "civilisation" has worked out so well for you and the family.
:goodpost: |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Really enjoyed reading this.:goodpost:
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Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Great to hear your update Jo. As we came to Australia in 2006 with a sponsored RSMS as well (although to outback Qld) I was following your story at the time (my forum name was different back then but couldn't remember the pw anymore :confused:)
Glad that all is going so well in Queensland for you now, all the best for the future for your family and business :thumbsup: |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Great update Jo, thanks for that. I often think about you because you're one of the very few who haven't done the standard move. So pleased it's worked out so well, although no doubt there have been quite a few ups and downs along the way.:D
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Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Great reading and insightful from my point of view knowing very little about the farming community in Aus.
One question, have you been here long enough to call yourself a Cockie ?.... I guess that question is irrelevant now that you've sold the farm. |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Originally Posted by ozzieeagle
(Post 10907643)
Great reading and insightful from my point of view knowing very little about the farming community in Aus.
One question, have you been here long enough to call yourself a Cockie ?.... I guess that question is irrelevant now that you've sold the farm. And no I would never have called ourselves Cockie's - Cockie's are considered smaller scale farmers, think hobby farmer but a bit bigger. |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Originally Posted by moneypenny20
(Post 10904737)
Great update Jo, thanks for that. I often think about you because you're one of the very few who haven't done the standard move. So pleased it's worked out so well, although no doubt there have been quite a few ups and downs along the way.:D
Originally Posted by jothefw
(Post 10909029)
We never owned the farm, didn't have a spare $15 million - managers only.
And no I would never have called ourselves Cockie's - Cockie's are considered smaller scale farmers, think hobby farmer but a bit bigger. (I gather there's opportunity out there for managing - it's not as if there are endless bucks in the bank for buying outright! But then look at the debt some farmers sit on - but manage somehow..) |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
Originally Posted by NickyC
(Post 10895779)
That's great to hear, Jo.
You've never been the average, run-of-the-mill migrant and I've never heard you whinge or moan about anything (despite living in places most people wouldn't last five minutes in ;) ). You're always see the good side of everything and I've no doubt that your success here is due to your positive attitude. Hope the next 7 years are even better for you. |
Re: Seven years of rural Australia
^^ +1
:thumbup: |
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