Old pictures Liverpool docks.

[Richard Quartermaine]

There are many stories told Jim. Of the ones that went back home, stayed there, did well, did not so well, some pondered over their actions and bought tickets back again. There were so many that gritted their teeth, stayed, or came back, assimilated, prospered and became pillars of our society. Personal aspirations, emotions, events turn peoples minds to actions that change the course of their lives and perhaps some seek excuses to explain those actions.

Had the right door opened here for the bright cabinet maker/joiner he could have sailed his boat to New Zealand or the warm South Seas. Look at Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard, our most recent conservative and labor prime ministers born in London and Barry, Wales respectively. Their Mums and Dads were stayers.
Cheers,
Richard

[Jim Brady]

Richard I remember on the Empress Of Britain we carried a doctor and his family to Canada,before the ship docked in Montreal he had booked a return trip back to the UK.All he would've seen is the beautiful scenery of the St.Lawrence,so what put him off ??he obviously did not have a firm commitment in the first place.
Regards.
jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

When I was on the GEORGIC, in August 1955, we had near three thousand £10 Poms for Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney.
I copped off with a lovely girl who was with her brother and parents, they came from Bury, not far from me here.
When they got to Melbourne it was cold, Wet, Raining and dull, it looked worse than Bury, It was winter of course.
They were sent to a Hostel in Brooklyn outside Melbourne. I went to see them the next trip on a Star boat, They
But again after six weeks of a terrible trip on the GEORGIC, anywhere would look good. They lived in an old army camp, in Nissen Huts, two families to a hut seperated by a breze block wall and just a cold water tap outside. They werer told they had to stay there for 12 months , they were given a job, and could not leave for 12 months, even tho` it was not their trade, If the left Oz before the 12 months they had to repay the outward fare as well.
Next trip I did to see them, they were living in a farm house a long train journey from Melbourne in Melton South.
Dad and mother wanted to come home, but Shiela and her brother wanted to stay there so he said it was quite a dilema for him.
After that Shiela kicked me into touch and went with a TV Executive so I lost contact with the family.
Conditions in Oz in the 50s were a little primitive, it took years before it has become the great country it now is.
I have seen people emmigrate there and come back and after a few months here have decided to go back to Oz,
Cheers
Brian

[Terry Calow]

wonderful old photos the one of the hinakura brought back many happy memorys i sailed on here 10years after photo in 1968

[Lou Barron]

Yes i can understand why some people returned home from Australia and even in NZ because it was a total different lifestyle to what they was use to .
When i stayed in NZ it was not to bad i think being a ex MN guy it helped .
Also they was a few ex MN guys mixed together and we sure got into a few fights with the locals .Then we met some of the girls and we parted ways and getting married .
Then i met the love of my life and got married and i think it was the best thing i ever did .i love NZ but i also love England .

[happy daze john in oz]

Brian #13, some of the hostekls used way back in the 50's and 60's are still in use today. One lot in the highpopint area has been turned into student accomodation. I went through it in 1995 and copuld not believe that people had lived there, some of the stuff in the times of Dickens would have been better. But times here were a little primitive, my brother in law and family came out in 1959 and the raea they lived in did not have sealed roads until 1974. Added to that the dreaded 6'o'clock closing and ahving to travel at least 12 miles from home on Sunday to be a bonefide traveller so as to get a beer. Times have chnaged greatly since then but many of the 10 Pond Poms still will tell you of the horrors they experienced back then.