Our
Story by Betty & Owie Roberts
Emigrated from North Wales
Uk,
to Tasmania, Austrailia, December 1966.
It
was a cold December day,Christmas was on its way but on the 6th December
we took our belongings and our 8 children on what would be the adventure
of a lifetime. The decision was now made and we made our way to Bangor
from Caernarfon where we were going to board the Mail Train to Euston
London. Our Emigration had begun, no going back now. We were both
leaving family behind, Parents, sisters, brothers, it was a big decision
but one we had decided to make.
After a very hectic journey with 8 young children we made our way
to Heathrow Airport from where we were to board our plane bound for
Tasmania, our new home. Our British Eagle flight from London to Tasmania
was to take off at noon on the 7th December and after a very long
flight which was much more basic than your modern day flights we landed
at Melbourne Airport, on 9th December at 2pm. We were totally exhausted
and were met by an emigration official who gave us vouchers for a
meal.
As we went through immagration we got held up because I had packed
some of my belongings in a food container. The official emptied all
my belongings out onto the floor and announced it was up to me to
go and find something suitable to put them in. The flight to Tasmania
was now waiting for one very irrate Welshman, his wife and 8 children
so that the flight could take off. By this time the wife was crying
and wanting to go back "home" the kids were all crying and
in walked the Pilot of the Tasmania plane waiting for us wondering
where we were. He saw all my goods on the floor and went and got a
box himself, he helped us put all our stuff in and told us to get
it to the plane while he tore a strip of the official who had caused
all this delay.
At 5pm we finally left Melbourne Airport and arrived in Tasmania at
6.45 on the 9th December. (Remember that Austrailia is 9 hrs in front
of UK when reading this ) :-) That was the start of our new life in
Austrailia and we have not looked back. All our children are now grown
up knowing Austrailia as their home but never forget their Welsh background.
We now have grandchildren the next generation living as Aussie's.
Below are some photo's old one's of our arrival, the kids at play,
and family gatherings, children, and grandchildren.
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