Way back in 1970, I was teaching in a school near Ilford and realised I wanted to travel, see something of the world but keep working to pay for it. So in January 1971 I emigrated to Australia, took up residence in Melbourne and got a teaching post at a suburban primary school.In order to make new friends and see something of the Outback I joined the Youth Hostelling Association, whose activities included everything from bushwalking, sailing to snow skiing.
Peter, meanwhile, travelling the world as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy decided he wanted to see more of one of the countries that he had visited. So he also became a £10 Pom and emigrated to Melbourne where he started working for a telecoms engineering company.
Peter, meanwhile, travelling the world as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy decided he wanted to see more of one of the countries that he had visited. So he also became a £10 Pom and emigrated to Melbourne where he started working for a telecoms engineering company.
That year, the YHA Bushwalking Group hosted a Hallowe’en party and it was there that Ron (another Pom and later to be our best man) introduced us. There was a raffle – I won a bottle of Invalid Stout and Peter won a bottle of Sparkling Rose. So we decided to share the prize by going out to a BYO restaurant in Camberwell on our first date!
Just over a year and many bushwalks later, we left Melbourne on Boxing Day for a month’s touring/camping in Peter’s Renault 10 inland to Brisbane, coast road to North Queensland, back to Brisbane via Charters Towers and coast road back to Melbourne. Whilst in Yepoon at Wreck Point (on Tropic of Capricorn) on New Year’s Eve, Peter popped the question. I said "Yes" and was presented with the ring-pull from a can of Foster's as my first engagement ring! We were married 2nd June 1973 and continued to explore Oz – Victoria, Tasmania, South Aust, the Red Centre, NSW, even New Zealand (me).
When we returned to UK to raise our family, we promised ourselves that one day (like the proverbial boomerang) we would retrace our steps. As you know our girls have all been down under for holidays backpacking and now it’s our turn to “SKI”.
So here we go.
Sheila
Just over a year and many bushwalks later, we left Melbourne on Boxing Day for a month’s touring/camping in Peter’s Renault 10 inland to Brisbane, coast road to North Queensland, back to Brisbane via Charters Towers and coast road back to Melbourne. Whilst in Yepoon at Wreck Point (on Tropic of Capricorn) on New Year’s Eve, Peter popped the question. I said "Yes" and was presented with the ring-pull from a can of Foster's as my first engagement ring! We were married 2nd June 1973 and continued to explore Oz – Victoria, Tasmania, South Aust, the Red Centre, NSW, even New Zealand (me).
When we returned to UK to raise our family, we promised ourselves that one day (like the proverbial boomerang) we would retrace our steps. As you know our girls have all been down under for holidays backpacking and now it’s our turn to “SKI”.
So here we go.
Sheila
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