Duckers & Diving: Strewth Mate, what’s all the fuss about Oz?

THIS week our intrepid diarist searches out some of Birmingham’s ex-pats to find out why living Down Under is such a big deal.

We may have retained the Ashes … but, it seems, there are plenty of us whose only ambition is to escape Blighty.

According to the sixth annual NatWest Quality of Life Report, Brits who emigrated ‘down under’ are on top of the world as the land of eternal sunshine is judged to have all that’s needed for a healthier, wealthier and happier life.

Some 82% cite the natural environment and quality of life for their children as the number one reason for moving there. The majority (71%) own a property compared to the global expat average of only 33%. The lower cost of living is a factor too – in July 2012 Australia marked 21 years without a recession, an achievement unmatched by almost any other developed country.

But is this all true? Or is it just another dirty Aussie trick to pull the wool over the eyes of us Poms?

Duckers & Diving put it to the test and asked Chris and Jo Sollom who emigrated just over a year ago – Chris is an air conditioning engineer while Jo used to work for Birmingham Forward.

Jo reveals: “Yes I must admit that life is pretty good here. I’ve had a couple of false starts as far as my employment is concerned but pay is excellent so we can live on Chris’s salary without too much struggle.

“The weather is definitely the biggest attraction; even in winter we have blue skies and sunshine most days. When it rains, it definitely rains, but then it’s over and done with. They are very keen on work life balance and the fact that you can do so much outside and the country is set up for that makes it easier.

“There are the usual cultural adjustments and we’ve had some interesting times trying to get things done – they certainly don’t rush around here and trades people have pretty bad reputations. Probably why Chris is getting on so well. Well trained and does a job properly so he’s been promoted and the clients are now asking for him personally.

“We can’t buy a house until we are residents so we are having to rent for the first time ever. The ‘pension’ is good, it’s superannuation and while companies were paying nine per cent this is being increased over the next few years to 13%.”

And the downside?

Jo goes on: “Government are rubbish, politics is a joke and they get away with some really funny and close to the mark stuff on the TV (which is also very bad – another reason why people are outside most of the time).

“When anything goes wrong or it doesn’t get done properly or is pretty unbelievable we just turn to each other and say ‘well they are Australian’ or ‘well it is Australia’ and have learned to laugh it off. We are almost getting used to not expecting much in the way of service.

“But in saying all of that, we are loving every minute, definitely no plans to come back just yet and once I get another job we will be saving for a house and keeping our fingers crossed we can get residency so that we can choose what we do and where we live.”

So there you go; Aussies may be losers at sport but it’s a ‘fair dinkum’ place to live.

Just so long as our cricketers thump them at their place too!