We are a family of four - Ernie, Charmaine, Michelle & Charl. Originally from Kempton Park in South Africa we immigrated to Australia in June 2000.

We made the very hard decision to start a new life in a foreign country because of crime in South Africa and we wanted to ensure that our children will have a secure future.

Immigrating has been a life changing experience, something that can not be easily set in words. It has been an intense emotional, financial and personal journey, but through everything we are still convinced that we made the right choice. We as a family are proud to look back and say that we have come out the other end stronger, wiser and we’ve found a more personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. This would not have been possible without His grace and favour.

The night we left South Africa for Australia was the hardest thing we had to do. I will never forget the feeling as the plane took off. I realised that our lives will never ever be the same again. We were saying goodbye to everything we held near and dear. A huge sadness came over me that I cannot explain.

The children were so excited about this new adventure not yet completely understanding the impact it will have on us, but we knew the price that we are paying, will be high.

It is hard having to leave those who are so close to your heart behind and trying to offer a better future for your kids - not knowing if they will ever understand the motivation behind the decision and how hard it has been to make such a decision. On many occasions I‘ve felt a sense of hatred towards those perpetrators that has forced us to find a better life for us as a family for forcing us out of the country and away from our families and friends that we so dearly love.

And then our parents - also finding it hard to accept that how could it be in anybody’s best interest, by leaving your family behind.

But on the bright side - Our children are experiencing the freedom we had as children where they can ride the bicycles and play in the street with the neighbour’s children, even at night and doing fun things that we used to do as children.

We go to bed at night without being scared. We can go to the beach and public parks and have picnics and experience a freedom no longer enjoyed in South Africa. They can walk home from school and take the bus without feeling unsafe. Every country has crime but at least here it’s less and car-hijackings and break-ins are not as common as in SA. And even when a crime is committed, the chances of someone being killed are very slim.

It is wonderful to live in a society where everything works. It is a new experience to live in a suburb where people can still trust one another and count on your neighbours to look out for your best interest. It’s great to live in a country where 99% of all murders end with a conviction.

We are grateful for Australia accepting and offering us the opportunity to make a new beginning and offering us this new life.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi

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