You may remember our story on pals from St Theresa’s Roman Catholic School who have met every year to chew over their school days. The reunion was started after a chance meeting between two of the class when the organiser, Dora Graves, changed her job.
Christmas cards were exchanged and this eventually led to Dora organising a meeting in November 1991. They have met every year since, however, one important member was always missing. Sylvia Smith emigrated to Australia on Boxing Day 1968 as part of the “Populate or Perish” policy. It was intended to substantially increase the population of Australia and to supply workers for the country’s booming industries. In return for subsidising the cost of travelling to Australia—adult migrants were charged only ten pounds for the fare (hence the name; Ten Pound Pom), and children were allowed to travel for free—the Government promised employment prospects, housing and a generally more optimistic lifestyle. the scheme reached its peak in 1968; during this year over 80,000 migrants took advantage of the scheme.
Assisted migrants were generally obliged to remain in Australia for two years after arrival, or alternatively refund the cost of their assisted passage. If they chose to travel back to Britain, the cost of the journey was at least £120 (equivalent to £4,625 in 2015), a large sum in those days and one that most could not afford.
This year though Sylvia was able to return to England for the first time since her and her late husband and young son Rob set up home in Melbourne. Sylvia said ” it took us five days to get to Australia when we went in 1968, and it was hard for the first couple of years but we settled down and we were happy to stay, although of course we did miss our friends. Coming back for a visit is lovely but I also wanted to show Rob his roots”
Rob, a successful plumber in Melbourne, said “It was important to me to connect to my roots: I love Australia but I always wanted to see where I was born and I’ve loved being in England. I guess a part of me will always be English”. Although it is her first visit back in almost forty seven years Sylvia still has her Yorkshire accent. “It is strange that she still has it” admits Dora “she looks just the same too”. Sylvia is now the proud Grandmother to nine children in Australia. “We were given the option to return to England after we had stayed in Australia for two years but we stayed so I never thought I would see the girls again.
The only thing that’s changed is that they are more blonde than they were when I left”. Rob, has now introduced his mother to the internet so all the girls intend to stay in touch by email. “I do hope I can get back next year in person too” says Sylvia.
