Dannevirke: Australia okay but no place like home

Gail Whale, left, and her daughter Christian are thrilled to be home again after more than four years living in Australia. Husband Mike will be returning too as the family settle back in to the good life in Woodville. Photo / Christine McKay

Just over four years ago, Gail Whale and her family left Woodville for greener pastures in Australia and more money in their pockets. Now, the pull of family and friends has seen them make the move back and they couldn't be happier.

"It's good to be home," Gail said.

And it seems the Whales are not the only ones moving back across the Tasman.

"Our shipping company told us that in previous years it was a case of six containers of possessions heading to Australia and one container coming this way. Now it's the other way around," Gail told the Dannevirke News.

"We'd made the move to see what opportunities there were in Australia, especially for my husband Mike and we're hopeful there will be work in New Zealand now, especially with the Transmission Gully project."

Mike has been a builder since he was 16, but with no job security or good money here Gail had decided to push for the family to move to Queensland where there was good paying work on offer.

Mike doubled his income and more in Queensland, where there was so much work he could put in up to 60 hours a week, building bridges and culverts damaged in major floods.

"He arrived there on a Sunday and started work on Monday," Gail said.

Daughter Christian went, too, and the family settled into rental accommodation in Ipswich, paying $325 a week, while renting out their Woodville home.

"There were great educational opportunities for Christian and a new career for me," Gail said.

"In Woodville I had been doing home-based childcare, but in Australia I completed my certificate in aged care and worked in that sector.

"There was heaps more money for both Mike and me."

But money isn't everything and the family missed home.

"Christian had been sick and we realised it was time to come home. There's no place like home and Woodville is a great place to live," Gail said. "We missed family and friends so much and although there was plenty to do in Australia, it was expensive."

With their possessions in a container crossing the Tasman Gail has been busy with some home refurbishment and Christian has started at Tararua College.

"I just rocked up to school and I'm happy to be here," the teenager said.

While it's good to be home Gail admits their life has been in limbo waiting for the container.

"Christian and I have been living with our daughter and son-in-law in Dannevirke and Mike is still in Australia, so the phone calls are expensive, but he'll be back when his contract finishes. I know we've made the right move.

"Home really is where the heart is, I love this place."