0:00:02 > 0:00:04After years spent working abroad,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08you're more than happy to finally be back home.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Your partner, though, wants a new life
0:00:11 > 0:00:15and already has a job offer on the other side of the world.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Would you sacrifice everything that keeps you content
0:00:18 > 0:00:20to allow them to follow their dream?
0:00:20 > 0:00:25In 2015, Gemma Crompton was struggling to make that decision.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30Today, we'll find out what side of the world the family now call home.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34In 2015, air-traffic controller Andrew Crompton believed
0:00:34 > 0:00:38his family life really could take off in Australia.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40This opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44But wife Gemma wasn't convinced about the merits of moving.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48It's starting a new life. You know, everything is from scratch.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52A trial week down under revealed some home truths.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53That's insane.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56So, one year on,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59have the Cromptons made it to the other side of the world?
0:00:59 > 0:01:03It was less than ideal but we knew there was no other way to do it.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Home to over a million expats,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Australia's long been the destination of choice
0:01:30 > 0:01:32for British families on the move.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Promising average annual temperatures of 21 Celsius,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38some of the best beaches on Earth
0:01:38 > 0:01:41and a laid-back lifestyle, it's easy to see the attraction
0:01:41 > 0:01:45for thousands who emigrate there every year.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47But it isn't idyllic for everyone.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Almost half of those who move return home with their dream in tatters.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Former naval officer Gemma Crompton was used to navigating her way
0:01:58 > 0:02:01through stormy situations.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05But her most challenging journey ever was on the horizon.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09While she was happy with a new career and life in the English countryside,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11husband Andrew was convinced
0:02:11 > 0:02:15his family would be better off living in Australia.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18With a job offer already on the table,
0:02:18 > 0:02:19Andrew had just one week
0:02:19 > 0:02:24to steer Gemma towards the life he'd wanted for years.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29One year ago, the Cromptons' first ever visit to Australia got underway
0:02:29 > 0:02:32with just over 22 hours in the sky.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33Touching down in Brisbane,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Andrew was full of anticipation for the week ahead.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38It's really warm, I'm loving it.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41So, yeah, can't wait to see where we get to go.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- It's better than England. - It's better than England?
0:02:43 > 0:02:45You're right, it's better than England.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47In your five minutes' experience of Australia?!
0:02:47 > 0:02:48And that's all it took.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Henry may have been on board already,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54but Gemma was going to take more work, despite the sunshine.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58It makes it a lot more appealing but
0:02:58 > 0:03:02as far as moving my entire life here, then I'm still,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I still need to be convinced.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07As they took their first steps into Brisbane,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Andrew knew where his family would spend the rest of their lives
0:03:10 > 0:03:12was anything but certain.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17When we first met them, the Crompton family - dad Andrew,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21mum Gemma, Henry, then aged seven, and Matilda who was five,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24lived in Fishbourne in County Durham.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Having met in the Royal Navy 16 years previously,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Andrew had stayed on dry land while Gemma sailed the world,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34deployed to conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Andrew then became a civil air-traffic controller
0:03:37 > 0:03:41and after several years at sea, Gemma retrained as a radiographer.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Right, so we're going to make chocolate brownies.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46- Yay!- Yay!
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Mum to Henry and Matilda, Gemma loved being permanently on home turf.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53But Andrew had other ideas.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Seeing an advert for air-traffic controllers in Brisbane had set him
0:03:56 > 0:04:00thinking about a new life on the other side of the world.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04He got in the car and said, "Australia are recruiting, do you want to move there?"
0:04:04 > 0:04:05I said, I'm not going."
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Despite Gemma's reluctance, Andrew went ahead and applied for the position.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Landing a job offer months later,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16he was determined to put the country on Gemma's radar.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Everything about it just screams
0:04:20 > 0:04:22this would be a great place to go to.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25The opportunities for the children as they grow up
0:04:25 > 0:04:28far outweigh the opportunities that are in the UK.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33We are outdoors people and being in a climate like Australia,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36that would afford us all the more opportunity to do that.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41The only thing standing between Andrew and the life he wanted was Gemma.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Dedicated to her new career
0:04:42 > 0:04:46and passionate about practising tae kwon do at her local club,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48she was happy with life in the UK.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Convincing her to give it up would be a massive challenge.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55I don't know if I could make the sacrifices.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00I find it all very unsettling that I knew exactly where my life was going
0:05:00 > 0:05:04and that I was going to work for promotion in the hospital I was in
0:05:04 > 0:05:06and stay there until I retired.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Moving half a world away would also have meant
0:05:09 > 0:05:12splitting Gemma from sister Joanne, who she saw every day.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16She has been extremely emotional about it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Out of everybody, she will be the one that's hard to leave.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24- VOICE BREAKING:- We're best friends.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27The couple were at polar opposites
0:05:27 > 0:05:29when it came to where they should be living.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32But Andrew's job offer meant it was decision time.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35In one week, Gemma would face an agonising choice
0:05:35 > 0:05:39between the life she loved and the one her husband longed for.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42This opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I think if we don't go now,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48we never will go and I think if we didn't even attempt to go,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51we'll regret it for the rest of our lives.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53How do you choose between a life you love
0:05:53 > 0:05:57and the man you love and what he wants from his life?
0:06:03 > 0:06:06The Cromptons spent their trial week
0:06:06 > 0:06:08in Queensland in the north-east of Australia.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Their temporary base was the suburb of Buddina,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15just over 60 miles north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Would their first glimpse of Aussie living be enough to get Gemma excited?
0:06:19 > 0:06:20CHEERING
0:06:20 > 0:06:22It's only got a pool.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Wow!
0:06:24 > 0:06:26We've got our very own swimming pool!
0:06:26 > 0:06:28This is unbelievable!
0:06:28 > 0:06:32I didn't expect anything this amazing and grand
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and just...luxurious.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Indoors, the main living area was an instant hit.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Oh, my goodness.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- This is amazing.- Isn't it?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Oh, you can see the sea.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52With the beach on their doorstep,
0:06:52 > 0:06:58the family couldn't wait to feel the sand between their toes and Andrew was confident about the week ahead.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00I think we've got out of the traps quite well.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04After today I can't see us going too far backwards, I think.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It can only get better.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09But despite her earlier enthusiasm,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Gemma was beginning to think about the decision she'd soon face.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19Do I sacrifice their family and their relationships with their grandparents and my relationships
0:07:19 > 0:07:23to come and live somewhere sunny, you know, is it that,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26is it that shallow or is this really a better life for us?
0:07:26 > 0:07:29And if the answer to that at the end of this week is yes,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31the answer will be easy.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34If I'm still on the fence at the end of the week, then...
0:07:34 > 0:07:37it's going to be a much different question, I think.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Back in the UK,
0:07:44 > 0:07:48home for the Cromptons was a modern four-bedroom detached house
0:07:48 > 0:07:50in Fishbourne in County Durham.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Their budget for a property in Australia was around £300,000
0:07:54 > 0:07:58if Andrew could convince Gemma to make the move.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02I'm hoping that if we did go, the house would be less important
0:08:02 > 0:08:06so it would be more of location, close to beaches, close to parks,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08close to things that we can do.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11We would love to have a pool and a large garden
0:08:11 > 0:08:14with one of those shoe racks that rotate.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16All right, don't push the boat out!
0:08:17 > 0:08:20We showed the Cromptons three properties,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24two on budget and a third which could have been their dream home.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27The search began in Pelican Waters.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- Nice isn't the right word. - Unbelievable.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Just minutes from the Sunshine Coast's beaches,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35this location's wide range of sporting activities
0:08:35 > 0:08:39should have appealed to the family, but was house on their wavelength?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- What do you think? I'm liking it. I'm liking it.- So far, so good.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47Wow!
0:08:49 > 0:08:50- I love it.- Look at this.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54The modern interiors won Gemma over straightaway.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57This is absolutely sensational.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- The open plan living.- Yeah.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01The large garden was a hit, too.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03I love this outside space.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06This is really the thing that gets me excited.
0:09:07 > 0:09:08Moving back inside,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12Andrew's chances of convincing Gemma to move seem to be on the up.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14This is one of the big bedrooms.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18I think I just spied a walk-in wardrobe.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Wow!
0:09:19 > 0:09:23The master bedroom with en-suite was a definite hit.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25- His and hers' sinks. - That's what you've always wanted.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- I know.- Apart from a walk-in wardrobe.- I can have my untidy side.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33And decent-sized bedrooms for the children went down well, too.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- Oh, I think this could be Tilda's room.- Is this yours?
0:09:36 > 0:09:38This is exactly what you need. It's not too big,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41it's got great outside space.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Come on, you guys.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46It's like a little maze, this house.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49It looked like this was somewhere the Cromptons could be comfortable,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53but was it affordable with their £300,000 budget?
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- This is it, Tilda.- Let's turn over.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- BOTH:- Ooh!
0:09:59 > 0:10:01So, pretty much top of our budget.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03But doable.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Yeah, it is doable.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08But, in my heart I was hoping it would be a bit more affordable,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10which gave us a bit more kind of leeway.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Despite positive reactions, the cost had disappointed Gemma.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19The next property would need to deliver what she wanted
0:10:19 > 0:10:21at a price she was happy to pay
0:10:21 > 0:10:23if Andrew was to persuade her to make a move.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26To find out, the family travelled to Maleny,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30a quaint town situated in the heart of the Sunshine Coast.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Let's have a look.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It's a little bit bold.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36But I like the log burner.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39I didn't even notice the log burner because the chair was in the way.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42The kitchen had one very pleasing aspect.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44My goodness.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48So, this might change my view of this house.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It looked like Gemma could be coming round.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Yeah, if you just take out
0:10:53 > 0:10:56the chairs and the pictures, then,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58wow, it could be amazing, couldn't it?
0:10:58 > 0:11:00The positive note continued upstairs.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Wow!
0:11:04 > 0:11:07But the en-suite was a bit of a let-down.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Nice, but I think not quite in our taste.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13No, it's a bit outdated, I think.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17The house needed upgrading but the generous gardens did hit the mark.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It's all about this view, isn't it?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23And Andrew was quick to spot something else.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Gem, it's a granny flat.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Oh, my goodness!
0:11:29 > 0:11:31- Check it out! - I just love this garden.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34A studio cottage with its own kitchen and bathroom
0:11:34 > 0:11:37could be the perfect home from home for visitors.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38This is lovely.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Oh, yeah!
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- Great fireplace as well.- This is amazing.- This is fabulous, isn't it?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47And the property's half acre of gardens took Gemma's breath away.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I love this. I love this.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52This is fabulous.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55But was it somewhere they could afford to call home
0:11:55 > 0:11:57with £300,000 to spend?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01SHE WHISTLES
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Whoa!
0:12:03 > 0:12:06It was £35,000 over budget.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I mean, I love the garden, it's gorgeous, it's beautiful, but...
0:12:09 > 0:12:11it doesn't tick all our boxes for that amount of money.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- It doesn't tick many of them, really.- No.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18The home hadn't offered enough to justify the price tag.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20With one more property to go,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22the family headed back to Pelican Waters.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Oh, my goodness, these are like...
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- ..palatial.- Wow!- I know.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32Would this contemporary five-bedroom house in a private gated community
0:12:32 > 0:12:34be an all-round winner?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Oh, yeah.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40This is going to be a good one.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Inside didn't disappoint.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Oh, my goodness. Look at this.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- Wow!- Wow!
0:12:47 > 0:12:49It is, it's huge.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51The house definitely wasn't run of the mill,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55but would it be the one to convince Gemma to make the move?
0:12:56 > 0:12:57Look at that kitchen.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01I love how it all just opens out so your whole living area's just...
0:13:01 > 0:13:02in and out at the same time.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05It's amazing.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Outside had plenty to get excited about, too.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- A swimming pool!- Massive!
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Massive swimming pool. Not only that, there's a slide.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15And you've got a garden on the side.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19It was less roomy than the last one, but Gemma didn't mind.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21The garden's gorgeous.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's just so quiet.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- It is quiet, isn't it?- I know.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Five bedrooms meant plenty of room for guests
0:13:29 > 0:13:33and the enormous master bedroom with en-suite left Gemma speechless.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- This is my bedroom.- It's just absolutely perfect, isn't it?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- It is, it is. - Everything is really high-standard.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44The house had sold itself to the whole family,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48but with £300,000 to spend, could they afford it?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53No!
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Wow, that is even, it's way higher than we predicted.
0:13:57 > 0:13:58Yeah, that is a lot more.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Yeah, that is colossally more money than we can afford.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05At £151,000 over budget,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09this house would be a stretch unless the couple could substantially
0:14:09 > 0:14:12increase their earnings down under.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Property 1 had the space and gorgeous garden the couple wanted,
0:14:16 > 0:14:18but Gemma needed more for their money.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Despite substantial grounds
0:14:20 > 0:14:23and a granny flat, the interiors of Property 2
0:14:23 > 0:14:25weren't quite to anyone's taste.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Complete with a pool,
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Property 3 was everything the family wanted.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33But at more than £150,000 over budget,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37sadly, the price tag wasn't quite as agreeable.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39So based on what they'd seen,
0:14:39 > 0:14:40how did the family vote
0:14:40 > 0:14:44when it came to choosing between property in Australia and the UK?
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Australia.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Undecided.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Australia.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59Why are you undecided, then?
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I loved all the houses, they were all gorgeous,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06but for the top of our budget,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08we still didn't get exactly what we wanted.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13I don't know that we can afford to have, you know,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15a house that will meet our needs.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24The Sunshine Coast's property prices had added to Gemma's doubts about
0:15:24 > 0:15:27leaving the life she loved in the UK.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31But the right work prospects down under could have helped Andrew's case.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Back in the UK, he was an air traffic controller at Durham Tees Valley Airport
0:15:38 > 0:15:41and he'd already landed himself a job down under.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Tels mobile, you have the DME report back to us.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Air Service Australia have offered me a position where I would control
0:15:48 > 0:15:51a Brisbane tower, and subject to successfully completing
0:15:51 > 0:15:53a probationary period and training,
0:15:53 > 0:15:55they would make my position permanent.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Gemma was working as a diagnostic radiographer in North Tees Hospital.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Passionate about her job, the thought of giving it up was devastating.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07It's a really important part of my life.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09And...
0:16:10 > 0:16:12..I would find it really difficult to go.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19To explore her work opportunities in Australia,
0:16:19 > 0:16:23we arranged for Gemma to visit a private radiology clinic
0:16:23 > 0:16:26where she met operations manager Trevor Gourlay.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30- Hello, Gemma.- Hi, nice to meet you. - I'm Trevor, how are you? - Very well, thanks.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33After a quick tour of the facilities, Gemma quizzed Trevor
0:16:33 > 0:16:34on her prospects.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Looking at my experience, would you consider me for a position here?
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
0:16:40 > 0:16:41You seem well-rounded.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45It was a good start, and opportunities could be plentiful
0:16:45 > 0:16:49with a new public hospital being built on the Sunshine Coast.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53One of the most advanced hospitals in the world, we're led to believe,
0:16:53 > 0:16:58- and looking at somewhere of about 140 imaging staff, which...- Wow.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01That's really nice to know that there's going to be such demand for
0:17:01 > 0:17:03my profession in the coming year.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06With Andrew already having secured a job down under,
0:17:06 > 0:17:10he went to explore educational options for Henry and Matilda.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12They visited Sun Coast Christian College,
0:17:12 > 0:17:17a popular private school where they met principal Mark Ash.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20All right, so I gather you guys are ready for a bit of
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- a look around the school?- Yes.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24While Henry and Matilda sat in on a lesson,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Andrew asked Mark about their potential Aussie schooling.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Matilda's just about to turn five
0:17:30 > 0:17:33and in the UK she's been at school for a year, almost.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Coming to Australia,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37I think we were concerned that she would resit a year.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41In Queensland here there's a lot of flexibility given to schools around
0:17:41 > 0:17:45starting age, so our head of primary would do an interview and then
0:17:45 > 0:17:49in consultation with you determine whether it's best to start in prep,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52year one, what's going to give her the best outcome.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54It was welcome news.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Andrew was also keen to find out about their physical education.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00What sort of sports programme do you have on a day to day,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- week to week basis?- Primary kids are just midway through their first
0:18:04 > 0:18:08season with touch, netball, volleyball, basketball.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Andrew was happy with what he'd heard and it sounded like
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Henry and Matilda would have no problem fitting in.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16So, what do you guys think of the school, then, today?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- I like it.- You like it, you want to come here?
0:18:18 > 0:18:20- I love it.- You love it?
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Back at the clinic,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Gemma was finding out about potential work hours.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Well, our MRI starts here at seven, goes through till nine every night.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32- Right.- We occasionally do Saturdays if the workload demands it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34And salary?
0:18:34 > 0:18:37You'd probably start off at 90 to 100,000, you know,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40it sort of gets up to about 115, I suppose.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44That's unbelievable - that's more than double what I earn in the UK.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49So, had Gemma heard enough to choose a career in Australia over the UK?
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Australia!
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Australia all the way.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Mind made up, Gemma was keen to share her news with Andrew
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and find out how he'd got on at school.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Both of them thought it was brilliant.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Oh, that's great news.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09So, how was your day? How did the job go?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12My qualifications were really good.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15I'd be quite desirable in Australia. And the best bit was
0:19:15 > 0:19:18he said I would earn 115,000.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20115,000?
0:19:20 > 0:19:24- Yeah!- That is mint.- Yeah.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30Gemma's vote for Australia was a step in the right direction
0:19:30 > 0:19:33but there was still a long way to go before the move was a done deal.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36A key part of Andrew's desire to emigrate was the lifestyle
0:19:36 > 0:19:39he believed the country could offer.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40So did a family day out
0:19:40 > 0:19:43put him another step closer to achieving his goal?
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Making the most of the fine weather,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49the family headed east of Caloundra to enjoy a day at King's Beach.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50It's going to be fun.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58The children took to the lifestyle like ducks to water.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03This is awesome.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Henry spotted an adventurous activity he'd like to try.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11- Bungee jump.- Do you fancy doing bungee jumping? - Do you want to go on the jump?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13It was the perfect way to burn off some energy.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15OK, little man, move into the middle.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17I'll tell you when to jump.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Could you get used to this, then?
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Oh, yeah. It beats hanging out in Fishbourne in the rain!
0:20:21 > 0:20:24That was music to Andrew's ears.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33Andrew was delighted to finally experience Aussie living.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36It's gone way past everything that I thought it would be.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39And it looked like Gemma could be warming to the idea of
0:20:39 > 0:20:41a life in the southern hemisphere.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44It just really has opened my eyes to what kind of a life we can have.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46The weather obviously is a huge bonus.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Still, she was mindful - sunshine wasn't everything.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51It's starting a new life.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54You know, everything is from scratch.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56All too aware of Gemma's dilemma,
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Andrew knew she held the key to the family's future.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01She has the ultimate veto.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04If she doesn't want to come, she doesn't have to come
0:21:04 > 0:21:06and none of us will.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08As the afternoon drew to a close,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Gemma pondered the reality of leaving her sister in the UK.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16I don't know if I'm ready for that and I'm pretty sure she's not.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19I mean, she's texted me every day that we've been here
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and I just can't imagine having a life without her being in it.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29So, based on lifestyle, did the family prefer Australia or the UK?
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Australia!
0:21:42 > 0:21:46I just loved how everything is just all so close to the beach as well
0:21:46 > 0:21:47so you could have a really full day
0:21:47 > 0:21:50without really getting bored of doing any activities.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53And it was all free, really, it was a really good.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55I had a great day. Did you have a great day?
0:21:55 > 0:21:56Yeah.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02With another vote for Australia,
0:22:02 > 0:22:07it looked like Andrew was inching closer to achieving the life he wanted for his family.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10But would the finances down under stack up?
0:22:10 > 0:22:13We'd prepared a comparison of costs with the UK.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16First up, a look at the weekly grocery bill.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Brown sauce is, like, way more expensive.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23We'll have to get our own... source our own supply!
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Bananas are a lot more expensive.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- Yeah, they are, which is surprising, really.- And potatoes.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33Most of it is slightly more expensive, I would say.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35A quick tot-up of the figures
0:22:35 > 0:22:39revealed they'd be paying almost £80 more every month down under.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42- Not too bad, though.- No. - Could have been worse.- Happy days.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46Encouraged, the couple moved on to the bigger monthly bills.
0:22:46 > 0:22:52The mortgage here based on the first house we viewed is 1507.33.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Childcare is a lot more.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Because obviously we won't have our family.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03And then private school fees per month for both kids, 436.13.
0:23:04 > 0:23:101326.69 more expensive per month.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- Yeah.- Wowsers.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16It was a considerable hit, but Gemma had the potential
0:23:16 > 0:23:19to almost double her salary in Australia.
0:23:20 > 0:23:227654.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23And that's per month.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27When the couple subtracted their outgoings,
0:23:27 > 0:23:32they discovered they'd actually be £1,300 better off each month.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33That's £16,000 a year.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35SHE GASPS
0:23:49 > 0:23:50That's insane.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56It looked like there was only one way this vote could go.
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Australia.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Australia!
0:24:06 > 0:24:08So, you're happy with that, then?
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I'm happy with an extra 16 grand a year.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13I'd be insane to vote anything else based on finances.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20So far, Gemma had discovered
0:24:20 > 0:24:24the work, lifestyle and financial opportunities Australia could offer
0:24:24 > 0:24:26were hard to argue with.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29But a move wasn't in the bag just yet.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33It was now time for her to confront the reality of leaving loved ones.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37The family sat down to watch a DVD of messages from home.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40So, do you think you're happy to watch that
0:24:40 > 0:24:42even though it might make you sad?
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- It won't make me sad. - It won't make you sad? OK.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- So, are you sure?- Yeah. - OK, should we watch it, then?
0:24:47 > 0:24:48Yeah.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49Hi!
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Hi, Gemma, Andy, Henry, Matilda.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Hi, kids. This is your Nana.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- Hi.- Hi, Gemma, Andy, Matilda and Henry.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04My son, wonderful boy.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05Just like his father!
0:25:07 > 0:25:10My relationship with my sister is she's my best friend.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13We're there for each other, we're on the phone a lot of the time.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15She's a very outgoing girl.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18She's a very loving girl. I'm very proud of her.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Two lovely kids. Very well brought up, very well-behaved.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26It'll bring them on leaps and bounds down under.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29I ain't going to last forever.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33She's hopefully going to live a lot longer than I will now
0:25:33 > 0:25:35and I want what's best for them.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Well, it's going to break my heart.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47There will be a huge hole in my life if the grandchildren go.
0:25:49 > 0:25:54Whatever you do, you have our full backing and our full support.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55I love you all very much.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02I hope you make the right decision for yourselves.
0:26:02 > 0:26:07Love you both and adore my grandchildren. Bye.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I'm gutted that you're going to be across the world.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25But I know you're only on the other end of a phone and I know
0:26:25 > 0:26:28we'll still stay in touch and still be close.
0:26:28 > 0:26:29I'm very proud of you.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34All right?
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I knew Joanne was going to be the hard one.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46She's just such a huge part of our life and I need her, I need her.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49So, it will be hard to leave.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Are you worried about me?
0:26:52 > 0:26:53No. I'm OK.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Hearing messages from home was particularly tough for Gemma.
0:26:59 > 0:27:05Would the thought of how much they'd be missed in the UK mean Andrew's dream's about to run aground?
0:27:05 > 0:27:08With the job offer already on the table,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Gemma knew he was more determined than ever to make the move.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15He's already here, he's made this move in his head and his heart.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17This week has just cemented 100%
0:27:17 > 0:27:20that this is the right place for us to be.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Henry was convinced, too.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26I think it would be quite nice being here for a long time,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28being in the sunshine.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I don't like being in the rain.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33But with the final decision approaching,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Andrew was still unsure what life his wife would choose.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40If she votes yes, that will be fantastic,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42we would make a brilliant life here.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45If she decides that it's just not what she wants, then OK,
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I'll have to console myself to that fact.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49It's totally emotional.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51My head is in Australia now,
0:27:51 > 0:27:56my heart is just still attached and I can't really explain it,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59I just feel sad when I think about leaving home.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04Whatever Gemma decided next would change the family's path forever.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Had the week done enough to convince her to follow Andrew's dream?
0:28:09 > 0:28:13So, after a trial week in Australia, we're ready to make our final vote.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26- Australia!- Australia!
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Really?
0:28:28 > 0:28:29- Good news.- Yeah, I think so.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31I mean, there's always going to be,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34it's going to be an emotional roller-coaster,
0:28:34 > 0:28:35it's going to be hard to leave,
0:28:35 > 0:28:38but this is definitely the right place to raise our kids.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42I might be a bit crazy on the transition but let's go for it.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- You guys happy with that? - Right, guys, let's go.
0:28:53 > 0:28:59It was a really tough decision for Gemma, but after much deliberating,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Andrew had finally got the all-clear
0:29:02 > 0:29:06to start his new job as an air traffic controller down under.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09One year on, it's time to find out
0:29:09 > 0:29:13if the family's journey of a lifetime had taken off.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15It's April 2016
0:29:15 > 0:29:19and the Cromptons are living in Queensland, Australia.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23When they all chose to move down under at the end of their trial week
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Andrew felt all his dreams had come true.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29I was really made up. I always thought we'd make that decision
0:29:29 > 0:29:31and I believed that Gem would
0:29:31 > 0:29:35come round to the idea that Australia was a better life for us,
0:29:35 > 0:29:36but when everybody voted
0:29:36 > 0:29:39and everybody at the same time shouted out, "Australia"
0:29:39 > 0:29:42it was, I thought, "It's going to happen, we're going to move"
0:29:42 > 0:29:44and that's everything I wanted.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47MATILDA SQUEALS
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Their week in Australia had convinced Gemma
0:29:50 > 0:29:54a move was worth the sacrifice of breaking close ties to home.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57There wasn't really anything holding me back except leaving my family.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01Everything else was better here and I didn't expect that.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04With their minds made up, she began putting the wheels in motion
0:30:04 > 0:30:07before they even landed back in the UK.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11I started making lists and I think that made Andy very uneasy,
0:30:11 > 0:30:15just how manic I was going to get as soon as we hit UK soil.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19I think he started to see what he'd let himself in for.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23Breaking the news to family wasn't as painful as they'd anticipated.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26I think they all secretly, whether they voiced it or not,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29were expecting us to go back and say we were going to go to Australia.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32Andrew had already been given a start date in October
0:30:32 > 0:30:35for his new job, so there was no time to lose.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41We arrived back in April in 2015 and we left on the 30th of September.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43I think that was the hardest thing, having the finish line,
0:30:43 > 0:30:45so we had to fit everything in before that
0:30:45 > 0:30:47and that was the trickiest bit.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49It was full throttle, making sure that we had everything in place.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Andrew had already secured a temporary visa
0:30:52 > 0:30:53because of his job offer,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56but Gemma was keen to put things on a more permanent basis.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01I didn't want to move across the world on a temporary anything,
0:31:01 > 0:31:05so I realised that my job would get us a permanent visa.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Gemma's visa came through within three months.
0:31:08 > 0:31:09Then, I was just hit with this
0:31:09 > 0:31:13"Wow, this is real, we are really going to Australia."
0:31:13 > 0:31:18It was exciting that it was happening and we could have this new life
0:31:18 > 0:31:20but then it was like a real bold underline,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23"You are leaving everything behind."
0:31:23 > 0:31:27The couple began the mammoth task of packing up their lives in the UK.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30We had to empty our loft, which I'm sure everyone can understand
0:31:30 > 0:31:32what an epic job that is.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36But there were some things they were determined not to get rid of.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38We knew that if we were coming,
0:31:38 > 0:31:41there was no way we were leaving our dogs behind and that was really
0:31:41 > 0:31:44tough, to get your dogs into Australia, it's no mean feat.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Find a stick. Here's one.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53With such a quick turnaround, before they knew it, it was time to go.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55I get emotional just thinking about saying goodbye.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59It was an emotional time for Gemma,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01particularly saying goodbye to her sister
0:32:01 > 0:32:04and I think they were putting it off until that very last moment.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08I knew that was going to be the hard one for me and it really was awful.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12But when departure day dawned, it was time to dry the tears.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15It was more of a release, wasn't it?
0:32:15 > 0:32:18- Yeah.- It had finally arrived and we were embarking on the adventure.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Once we got on the plane,
0:32:19 > 0:32:22that bit was done and it was all exciting from there on,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and every time we got a step closer to Australia,
0:32:25 > 0:32:29we were kind of pinching ourselves thinking, "We're doing this, we're really moving to Australia."
0:32:29 > 0:32:32The Cromptons touched down in Brisbane
0:32:32 > 0:32:34at the end of September 2015,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37less than six months after their trial week
0:32:37 > 0:32:41and moved into their new home on the Sunshine Coast.
0:32:41 > 0:32:42We looked on the internet,
0:32:42 > 0:32:45we found some houses that were in our price range
0:32:45 > 0:32:47and we decided that this was the house we wanted,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49this was the wow house.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51It was a great start to their new life.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54It was so impressive. The sun was shining,
0:32:54 > 0:32:56the garden was all in full flower.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58We got into the house and it was just gorgeous.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01It was a lovely time. It was like being on holiday
0:33:01 > 0:33:03but then knowing that we were here to live.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05Their house is in Buderim,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08a picturesque township overlooking Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11This area is just fabulous.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15It's a mountain with rainforests and what a place to live.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17It's just sensational.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19This is our open plan living area.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21It's really nice and bright.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23This was exactly what we wanted from a house in Australia.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27We all get to stay together, even when somebody's cooking dinner. It's ideal.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29But it's not perfect in every aspect.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33We've got a beautiful view but the kitchen is just tiny.
0:33:33 > 0:33:34But I like the view from down here.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36The view is exceptional.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39It's nice to sit and eat your dinner here looking out at that.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42The master bedroom's got a pleasing outlook, too.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44We've got beautiful views out into the forest.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48It's nice and big and spacious and we've got a walk-in wardrobe,
0:33:48 > 0:33:50which was one of my tick lists.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Again, though, it does have a downside.
0:33:53 > 0:33:57It's right on the living room and when your children get up at 5am,
0:33:57 > 0:33:58it's less than ideal.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02Henry and Matilda are happy with their lot.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04This is my bedroom.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08My bed has got a slide.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11It was important for us to bring, like, the beds and the furniture
0:34:11 > 0:34:13just to give the kids as much continuity as they could from home.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16This is my bedroom.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19I've got a bunk bed so when people come to stay,
0:34:19 > 0:34:24they can sleep, and Tink, she sleeps on the end there.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The room's a bit dark but it's close to the man cave,
0:34:27 > 0:34:29so that's why I picked it.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31This is the man cave.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35We've got a TV up here and there's a nice view of all the house.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Me and Daddy like to hang out up here sometimes.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42We thought it would be great but to be honest it's so hot up here.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45We could live without it, I think.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46What?!
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Maybe not, Mum!
0:34:49 > 0:34:52The house is situated right in the middle of a forest.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55It's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:34:55 > 0:34:58We get...the Australian king parrots come and land and we can feed them
0:34:58 > 0:35:02and, you know, that's so different from pigeons at home and sparrows.
0:35:02 > 0:35:03It's ideal for the dogs.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06We've got a bit of a grass area, so they can just have a run.
0:35:06 > 0:35:07We can leave them out here when we're at work.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09We're very in love with our dogs.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11It was important that they were happy here.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14With Andrew starting his work just a couple of weeks after arriving back
0:35:14 > 0:35:19in Australia, the family were jet-propelled into life down under.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23So, we had to get the kids set up in school, set up bank accounts,
0:35:23 > 0:35:24set up Medicare accounts,
0:35:24 > 0:35:28so we expected to arrive and have 18 days lying in the sun
0:35:28 > 0:35:29and what happened was
0:35:29 > 0:35:32we spent 18 days sitting in offices around the Sunshine Coast
0:35:32 > 0:35:34waiting for pieces of paper.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38- And then I flew to Melbourne for... - Three months.- Three months, yeah.
0:35:38 > 0:35:39So that was pretty tough.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43With Andrew off training, Gemma was left flying solo.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46But unfortunately, her settling-in period
0:35:46 > 0:35:48was about hit some turbulence.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Having decided to rent out their home in the UK rather than sell it,
0:35:51 > 0:35:55Gemma was devastated to receive some very unsettling news
0:35:55 > 0:35:57from the other side of the world.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02The tenants we had in our home took out identity theft in our name.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04We were getting bills dropping in to family
0:36:04 > 0:36:06where we'd had our mail redirected
0:36:06 > 0:36:10saying that we were owing £1,000 on credit cards and store cards.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13You hear about it happening. You don't expect it to happen to you.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17The stress of knowing I had criminals living in my home,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20I found that really, really emotional.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24More than 1000 miles away from Andrew, Gemma felt very alone.
0:36:24 > 0:36:30It was really hard trying to set up a new life here with all of that going on in the UK
0:36:30 > 0:36:33and not really having a support network to help me.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35At times, Andrew feared the worst.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Every day was kind of like maybe Gem will turn round and go,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40"Do you know what? It's too hard. I can't do it,"
0:36:40 > 0:36:41and we'd have to go home.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43Eventually, the situation was resolved,
0:36:43 > 0:36:47the tenants evicted and the debt cleared.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50The Cromptons got on with establishing their new lives in Australia,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53but being away from his family for long periods
0:36:53 > 0:36:55began to tell on Andrew.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58And I only got back for a couple of weekends through that entire time
0:36:58 > 0:36:59and that was hard.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03Being separated from Henry and Matilda was especially difficult.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05I hadn't been away from the children
0:37:05 > 0:37:07for more than a couple of nights here or there.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It was hard not to have that physical contact with them,
0:37:10 > 0:37:13giving them a hug when they felt bad
0:37:13 > 0:37:17or sharing their successes at school or their new friends.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20It was less than ideal but we knew there was no other way to do it.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24It was a challenging time for the couple, but it didn't put them off.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27On the really bad days I was like,
0:37:27 > 0:37:31"Well, on a good note, at least I'm in Australia."
0:37:31 > 0:37:34The children have adapted well to life down under.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37They are always outside. They love school. They've got new friends.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40They love the lifestyle that it affords them. You know,
0:37:40 > 0:37:42every day when they're not at school,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44we're out and about doing something.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46I like living here because there's more sunshine,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48so I get more time to play out.
0:37:48 > 0:37:55I think moving to Australia was a good idea.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56After about three weeks, Henry said,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00"Thank you, Mammy, for bringing us to Australia. I love my new life."
0:38:00 > 0:38:02And I was like...
0:38:02 > 0:38:04"Oh! We made the right choice!"
0:38:06 > 0:38:08And Mum and Dad feel very at home, too.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Everybody's really friendly.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12You walk past people on the street and they say, "hi".
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I was really moved by just how welcoming everybody was.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18It's been fabulous.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Andrew's now in the final stages of his training.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24I always wanted to continue to be in air traffic control
0:38:24 > 0:38:27but I'd have probably come and been a bin man or anything, really.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30The fact that I could come and continue a job that I love
0:38:30 > 0:38:31was a bonus.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35It's taken a bit of getting used to, though.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39Brisbane Airport is completely different to the airport I used to control at Durham Tees Valley.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43The number of aeroplanes, the amount of passengers,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45just the scale of the airport itself,
0:38:45 > 0:38:48everything's different. There's an awful lot of mental discipline to
0:38:48 > 0:38:51unlearn the way you've done things historically, to then
0:38:51 > 0:38:53start doing it the way you're meant to do it in the new way.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56Getting to work's a lot different as well.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59My commute in England was 20 to 25 minutes at worst,
0:38:59 > 0:39:03whereas here, at best it's 65 minutes.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Now... That's hard. It makes an early start
0:39:07 > 0:39:09a really, very early start.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12On the flipside of that coin, when I'm not at work,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15I'm exactly where I want to be, on the Sunshine Coast.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Gemma's recently started work, too.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Having moved into the private sector,
0:39:19 > 0:39:23she finds working as a radiographer down under a lot less stressful
0:39:23 > 0:39:25than in the UK.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27We have a lot more space between our patients,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30so there's more time to really build up a rapport with your patients
0:39:30 > 0:39:33and look after them. So I do enjoy that, that's nice.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Everybody here is really happy in their job.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37There's a much calmer working environment
0:39:37 > 0:39:39than I've ever been used to.
0:39:39 > 0:39:43And it's not just Gemma reaping the benefits of her new job.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46Where I work is actually only ten minutes' drive from my home.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49It tends to be eight till five, Monday to Friday,
0:39:49 > 0:39:53which fits really well with the children going to after-school care.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54I'm at work when they're at school.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57There's no more me going out to work when they're going to bed
0:39:57 > 0:39:59and then being asleep all day when they're home,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02so we have much better family time, much better balance.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04That's not the only bonus, either.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06I'm earning more now in Australia doing three days a week
0:40:06 > 0:40:10than I did in the UK working four days a week, so it's no comparison.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Overall, Gemma's very content with her lot.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16I always had big aspirations when I was in the UK
0:40:16 > 0:40:17for what I wanted to do.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20I think those have changed, actually, with my move to Australia.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23But in terms of career ladder climbing,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26I think I'm just going to enjoy my life on the coast.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29The family have already had plenty of visitors.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30First out was Andrew's mum.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34She arrived two months in and stayed right through Christmas
0:40:34 > 0:40:37and New Year and during that time Andy's sister flew in
0:40:37 > 0:40:39and then my mum arrived three weeks ago.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42So, we've had a lot of visitors.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44- We haven't had much time on our own, really.- No.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46If you're achin' for some bacon.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48LAUGHTER
0:40:48 > 0:40:52Life's been so busy, there's scarcely time to be homesick.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55But the distance from home did hit hard when Gemma missed an important
0:40:55 > 0:40:58family occasion back in the UK.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Joanne got married a month ago
0:41:01 > 0:41:05and I couldn't be there because I'm here, so...
0:41:05 > 0:41:09nothing will ever give me that back
0:41:09 > 0:41:12and I feel awful because that was my choice to come.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14She may not have been able to be there in person,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16but thanks to modern technology,
0:41:16 > 0:41:19Gemma still played a part in the big day.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22I watched her put her dress on and I watched her get her hair done
0:41:22 > 0:41:24and just before she walked down the aisle
0:41:24 > 0:41:26it was just me and her talking.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28That was amazing that you can do that in this day and age
0:41:28 > 0:41:31and that really does make the distance less, and it does help.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35So far, Australia's surpassed all of the couple's expectations.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39You can't even get anywhere close to living in the UK as we live here.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Our spare time as a family's exceptional now.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46We're never in. So, we spend a lot of time at the beach.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49That is never going to get old for us. We go swimming in the river
0:41:49 > 0:41:51and the dogs are swimming alongside us and that's great fun.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Everything we do here is as a family.
0:41:54 > 0:41:55It's a lovely lifestyle.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Even your worst day here is just amazing.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01That sounds cheesy but it is.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04They've no doubt they made the right move.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07With all the emotional ups and downs we've had since we moved to
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Australia, there's not a moment where I've regretted my decision.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15We've been in Australia six months now and I can honestly say every day
0:42:15 > 0:42:18I've woken up and thought, "Thank goodness we made the choice to come."
0:42:18 > 0:42:20They really are living the dream.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I didn't even know my life could ever be this good,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25so we're kind of creating a new bar for the dream and
0:42:25 > 0:42:27it's much higher than it used to be.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31I will always be English and British but Australia is my home.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34I'm just so grateful that we did this for our children because
0:42:34 > 0:42:38their life will be so much better here than
0:42:38 > 0:42:40it ever would have been in the UK.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Everything about who we are
0:42:42 > 0:42:45fits perfectly with what Australia has to offer
0:42:45 > 0:42:48and I can't ever see us going back.
0:42:48 > 0:42:49We love Australia.
0:42:49 > 0:42:54It's just the most amazing place and I'm so grateful that they let us in!
0:42:58 > 0:43:02Life has really taken off for the Cromptons down under
0:43:02 > 0:43:05and despite Gemma's initial reservations,
0:43:05 > 0:43:09it looks like she's more than happy to have made the move.
0:43:09 > 0:43:14We wish her, Andrew, Henry and Matilda a long and happy future
0:43:14 > 0:43:18living the dream on Australia's Sunshine Coast.