Mixed feelings in Brisbane (From Watford Observer)

Mixed feelings in Brisbane

1:26pm Wednesday 3rd December 2003

• Print
• Email
• Share

HOW nice was Brisbane? Well, only as nice as the people who live there and, lucky for me, there was some exceptionally nice people. And former Watfordians at that.

Brisbane is now one of Australia's most desirable places to live. It obviously has the climate, but it is big and bustling, the arts centre of Queensland and is enveloped by some of the state's major tourist attractions, including Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, myriad theme parks, the Gold and Sunshine coasts and Moreton Bay.

I can't think why Terri and Tony Chapman would want to move from Watford to live there! But I really can't think why Jonathan Cox and Janine Mergler would want to leave there and come back to Watford. Until they explain, that is.

Terri was born at home in Gaddeston Crescent, Garston, and later moved to the Meriden estate. She married Tony, who was brought up in Owens Way, Croxley Green, in 1969 and they lived in Abbots Langley until emigrating to Brisbane in 1987.

The majority of their family still live in the Watford area. Terri has two brothers and three sisters there, while Tony has his mother and three brothers there and all of their families.

Terri said: "Homesickness was a problem when we first came here; for me, not Tony. I think it is easier for the men to settle here for some reason."

Their son, Paul, and daughter, Michelle, were 16 and 14 respectively when they first arrived in Australia.

"We left Watford because we believed our children would have a better future in Australia," Terri said.

"On two occasions, when we went back to Watford, our children have met their spouses.

"We went back for good in 1991, as I was homesick. We were there for a year, and Michelle met Neil, who was working in Index in Watford.

"They became engaged and, when we returned to Australia together, got married on a paddlewheeler on the Brisbane River. They now have two girls and a boy.

"And when we went back to Watford in 1994 for my aunt and uncle's 40th wedding anniversary, Paul met up with Carol, the daughter of my uncle's niece. They had known each other since babies, and had gone to school together.

"When we returned after our holiday, Carol followed. They are now married, and they have two daughters and a son. My children and us all live in the same suburb of Rochedale.

Tony went to Durrants School in Croxley, and Terri went to Garston Infants and Alexandra in north Watford.

"When we went back recently, all these schools were gone," Terri said.

Tony worked at Croxley Mills until it closed down, and then he worked as a postie in Watford Sorting Office.

He is now manager of a paper company in Brisbane, where he has worked since leaving Watford (except for the year of their return to England, and the job was kept open for him).

So, as well as enhancing their children's future, what is the best thing about Australia?

"We love the Australian lifestyle and have a higher standard of living here than we would have in the UK, we think," Terri said. (I can add they also have a beautiful home, which, I believe, would be difficult to match back in England. Myself and my girlfriend were guests at Terri and Tony's for three nights, which was wonderful).

But what do they miss about Watford?

"The people. And the pubs. But we have been so lucky with the amount of trips that our family and friends have made over the years to visit us.

"We usually have some guests every other year, so that's great.

"If we ever won Gold Lotto, I think we would buy a house in Hertfordshire so we could stay six months of the year in each country (which is what a lot of the British over here do).

"Failing that, I can't see us ever going back to Watford to live. We would miss this lifestyle too much.

"We live 45 minutes from the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast, 35 minutes from places like Dreamworld, Movieworld and Sea World, and an hour or so drive to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo and the Glass House Mountains a group of magnificent volcanic crags.

"And we would miss the weather."

Terri and Tony have went back to Watford for a visit about two months ago and they had a ball.

"It was wonderful to see my family and had great times with them.

"We went to Southend, Duxford Air Museum, went on the London Eye, around Windsor, went to the beautiful Cotswolds for the first time, and ate ourselves to oblivion dining at friends' homes and in English pubs. We had a terrific holiday.

"It's so very sad to say goodbye but, no worries, we'll be back."

And that's exactly how I felt when we left the home of this most generous, warm couple.

But you too could experience their hospitality, for they are contemplating starting a bed and breakfast service at their abode. So, if you are heading out that way, why not get in contact with Terri and Tony on terriandtony@optusnet.com.au.

A couple who will not be heading out that way in the near future is Janine and Jonathan. I met them in a caf in the centre of Brisbane. Having got comfy, I ask them why they prefer to stay in Australia over England, only to hear: "We're not. We're coming home."

But what about the weather, the standard of living, the lack of convenient free barbecues on the roadside?

But I had forgotten one important factor.

Jonathan Cox was born in Watford General Hospital, and grew up with his family in Croxley Green. His family (his mum, dad and brother, Andrew) lives in Croxley, and his grandparents live in Rickmansworth.

Jon went to Little Green Primary School and Rickmansworth Secondary School before working for Mobiletones.com, a Watford-based ring-tone company.

Janine Mergler was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Australia.

She moved to the UK in 1998, and came to Watford a year later. Her dad and two sisters live in Brisbane, and her mum lives in New Zealand.

In Watford, Janine taught in primary schools and Westfield Technology College, before moving into teacher recruitment for three years.

They met, as Janine puts it, "in a Watford pub of all places" in July last year.

"I started thinking about travelling back to Australia,"said Janine, now back in Watford.

"My recruitment job was wearing me out and I had been granted three months leave without pay until the end of 2002 to 're-charge'. I used this time travelling to the US and Central America before heading back Down Under.

"Before Jon had even met me he had booked a round-the-world trip, and was planning to spend most of his time in Australia. We met up in Australia and spent Christmas with my family."

In Brisbane, Janine worked for the Environmental Protection Agency, and then taught in secondary schools. Jon worked for Pyrotronics Fire Protection as an administration assistant.

"This was the perfect opportunity to live in Brisbane with Jon, work and re-experience the lifestyle of Australia," she said.

"We also had been offered a house to look after while my aunt and uncle went traveling.

It couldn't have been more perfect. The house came with a beautiful white cat and a brilliant Staffordshire terrier. An instant family."

It couldn't have been more perfect, apart from that one thing.

"While living in Brisbane we have taken advantage of all the sights and touristy stuff.

Jon even went swimming at the beach in the middle of winter - not me though.

"However, although we had very cushy living arrangements, jobs, nice car and were enjoying the touristy things and travel opportunities, we missed one very important, no I mean crucial, part of life - our friends in the UK.

"As good as living in Brisbane can be, and as great as the weather definitely is, we decided that settling down in Brisbane at that time was not for us.

We did not have our friends around us. We missed our friends and Jon's family. I have no family in Watford, but Jon's family is like family now. I have many good friends - most in Watford. I am excited to be home."

So what did they miss about Watford that they can now catch up on?

"I missed The Harlequin and cheap flights to the continent," Janine said.

"Jon missed his cricket club (playing for Abbots Langley), the night-life on the High Street and football. He is a huge Watford fan - and checked their results every Monday on the internet.

"He hasn't been able to join any sporting clubs here as we have been travelling a lot on weekends."

And Janine, whose claim to fame in Watford was ensuring her Year 9 topped their English SATS, had a surprising reminder of the town while in Australia.

"There is a television advert over here for coffee. A large, good-looking, Afro-Caribbean guy is reaching for some coffee on a supermarket shelf. A woman says to him, 'Oh, I'd love to go where you are from'. He replies in a thick accent, 'What? Watford?'"

If you find yourself in the High Street on a Saturday night, and you see this lovely couple looking extra-pleased to be where they are, it's probably Jon and Janine.

• Print
• Email
• Share