Williamson Family Wanted Down Under Revisited


Williamson Family

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Moving to the other side of the world can be a

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massive undertaking for anyone.

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But how would you cope if the search for a better life meant

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potentially splitting your family up for good?

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That was the dilemma facing Wendie and Peter Williamson one year ago.

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Today, we'll find out where they now call home.

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In 2013, Wendie Williamson was on a mission to move down under.

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I've wanted to go to Australia for such a long time. It is my dream.

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But it was a dream her son didn't share...

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Not all of me mates have a spare £700 for a flight, do they?

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You're not going to be with all your friends forever, are you?

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I'm not saying that.

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Without Sonny on board, the dream was in real jeopardy.

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This could be a big decision, a big moment in our life really,

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where we either stay together as a family

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or we leave Sonny behind in the UK.

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One year later - find out where the Williamsons now call home -

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and if Sonny's still with them.

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I definitely think I made the right decision.

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Australia's the top destination for Brits seeking a new life abroad.

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With winter temperatures often reaching 27 degrees centigrade,

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and a year-round outdoor lifestyle, it's easy to understand why.

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But moving thousands of miles across the globe can turn the strongest

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dreams into the toughest challenges - and many return to their

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lives in the UK with their ambitions in tatters.

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In 2013, the Williamsons faced some huge decisions

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as they spent a trial week in Australia.

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While experiencing the reality of Aussie living,

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Wendie had to convince her son he would have a better life

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down under, otherwise she risked splitting her family up for good.

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One year on, we'll find out on which side of the world the family

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are living and if they're still together.

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The Williamsons' trial week in Perth started with a 10,000-mile journey

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from home and they'd had plenty of time

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to contemplate the week ahead.

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We just need to go and see a bit of the country now.

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See what Australia has to offer.

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I hope I'm going to like it. I should like it.

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I should.

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I'm going to. I'm going to like it.

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But the family's decision would depend on eldest child Sonny

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being persuaded.

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I hoping that I'll make up my mind by the end of the week...

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whether to decide to come here or not.

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What if it's 50/50?

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Then...I don't know

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Then you'll come.

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There was tension in the air as the Williamsons

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set out on the most important week of their lives.

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When it was over they'd have to decide not only

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where their future lay but whether they'd spend it together.

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Peter, Wendie, Sonny

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and Reece were living in Hartlepool in the north-east of England.

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Wendie was just 19 when she first began to consider

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the benefits of Australia.

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Warm, sunny, less populated than the UK.

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She believed it could offer a better quality of life for her family.

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I want to provide a better life for my children.

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I want to give them better opportunities

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and I don't think I can do that in this country.

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After some reluctance, husband Peter had bought into Wendie's dream.

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Initially it was because I had such a good relationship

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with my father and my parents and the rest of my family.

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And then his dad passed away. And since that happened, I think

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his perspective's changed slightly about going to Australia.

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Now I'm thinking it could be a possibility.

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But the couple's 19-year-old son, Sonny,

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didn't want to leave his life in the UK.

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There's nothing in my life that I'm not happy about,

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apart from my mum and dad wanting to move to Australia.

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That would just upset everything really.

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He's got a great social life, great set of friends, good job...

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-Girlfriend.

-Enjoys his job. A girlfriend.

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Me and Jen have been together two years.

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We've got quite a strong relationship.

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We know each other pretty much inside out.

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Wendie was desperate to move down under,

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but the thought of leaving Sonny behind was tearing the family apart.

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I couldn't leave him here without anywhere to live.

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I couldn't... That just wouldn't be an option. I would have to say...

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I would probably say...

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I don't know what I would say. It's very difficult.

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I don't think Wendie is prepared for going to Australia without Sonny.

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I'm kind of keeping that balance. I'm the one who's

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keeping that topic of conversation going, so to speak.

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For the sake of the family, Sonny had decided to keep an open mind.

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I would like to give it a go cos if you rule out something before you

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even try it, then I think you're in a no-win situation really.

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But if he didn't like what he saw,

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the Williamsons could be split for good.

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If they had to move to Australia and I was to stay here it would

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probably be the most upsetting thing ever to happen in my life so far.

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I just want him to be with us. And that's it.

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I just want Sonny with us.

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The Williamsons were at a crossroad.

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Wendie had just one week to persuade Sonny to make the move,

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or the family would end up living on opposite sides of the world.

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I'm not quite ready to leave Sonny - I am fully aware of that,

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and I think he is - we all are.

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The Williamsons spent their trial week in Perth -

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one of Australia's sunniest cities and a favourite

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destination for families seeking a new life down under.

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Home for the week was a modern, three-bedroom town house.

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Very nice. Nice big television.

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They'd just arrived, but Wendie was already

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thinking about what she wanted from the next few days.

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My ideal outcome for the week would be that we're all

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voting for Australia.

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Simple answer but that's it.

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But for Sonny, it was much more complicated.

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Cos it's my mum's dream I kind of do feel a little bit under

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pressure because she goes on about it so much, she thinks

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she can make me go which sort of makes me want to rebel a bit.

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The whole family was feeling the pressure.

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If the family decision is split at the end of the week,

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I'm not sure what Wendie would think about it.

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He said to me that he knows he going to like it but he knows

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that he doesn't want to move as well.

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The possibility of a life down under without her eldest son

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was something Wendie couldn't bear to think about.

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I don't think I've prepared myself for that, if I'm honest.

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I've just got it in my head that we're all going to move out here

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and everything's going to be really, really happy and somehow I've not

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prepared myself for that. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

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Back in the UK, home for the Williamson's was a red-brick,

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three-bedroom semidetached house in the centre of Hartlepool.

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The family planned to rent initially in Australia.

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They'd set themselves a budget of £1,500 a month -

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and Wendie knew exactly what she was looking for.

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Ideally, it would have four bedrooms.

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I'd like to live near the beach.

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Having a sea view's not that important as long as I know

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I could get there within five or ten minutes.

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I want it all open-plan and I want a nice pool with a nice garden.

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And nice neighbours. That's it. That's what I want.

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To give the Williamsons an idea of what the Perth rental market

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could offer, we showed them three properties,

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ranging from what they could afford to their dream home.

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The search began in Port Kennedy -

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a suburb 30 miles south of Perth city centre.

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The four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home was a short

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stroll from the beach, so was it what Wendie was looking for?

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-No furniture.

-No furniture.

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Seems quite small.

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I don't think I'm too excited about this property.

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It definitely wasn't love at first sight,

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but Wendie was keen to know what Sonny thought.

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Would you make the move from Hartlepool to Oz for this?

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-No.

-You wouldn't?

-No.

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He wasn't exactly bubbling over with enthusiasm

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and things soon went from bad to worse.

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DOG BARKING

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I couldn't live next door to that, no. I would be forever saying...

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(Shut up!)

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Some extra space upstairs did get a more positive reaction.

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Could be a little bedsit for you, couldn't it?

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Could be, yeah. I like it. I'd live here.

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Things were looking up but the view was a big let-down.

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I'm just not too keen on looking out on that, are you?

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And remember the dog?

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DOG BARKS AGAIN

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You'd have to be barking mad to live here.

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The setting and soundtrack weren't perfect, but was the house within

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the family's monthly 2,400 budget?

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For monthly rental for this,

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-I would say no more than 2,000 Australian dollars.

-Yeah.

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Do you want to turn it over, Reece?

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2,400.

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-600 a week.

-Yeah...

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Which is our budget.

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It is our budget.

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-And I wouldn't pay 2,400 for this one.

-No.

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It wasn't the best of starts for Wendie's dream.

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Would the next property get things back on track?

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It was in the suburb of Lake Coogee - 14 miles south of Perth.

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So did this three-bedroom Art Deco home

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meet with the Williamsons' approval?

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I don't want to look too excited but I really love this.

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Wow, what a huge, amazing space. It is good.

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I love it. I actually do love it. We probably can't afford this.

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Outdoors was equally impressive -

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with a family-sized pool and stunning outdoor living area.

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But was it somewhere Sonny could see himself?

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-Yeah, course I would.

-You would?

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-Be stupid not to really.

-Course you would.

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It was just what Wendie needed to hear,

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but it wasn't long before old tensions rose up.

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I would still be unsure.

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Your friends could come over for a visit. They're all young enough.

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My mates are 19 and don't have a spare 700 quid

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for a flight, do they?

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You're not going to be with all your friends forever, are you?

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I'm not saying that.

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With his thoughts never far from home,

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it was clearly going to take more than a big house with a pool

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to win Sonny over.

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With a rental budget of £1,500, was this house a home

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they could afford - even if he did come on board?

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Shall we turn over and find out? ALL: Yeah.

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2,100!

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-Is that like 150 more...

-A week.

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But I'd be paying rent if I do come.

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You'd be paying rent?

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Sonny's contribution could have made the house affordable.

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-Could be. Maybe.

-Yeah.

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And Wendie seized upon the opportunity.

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If you actually come with us and start contributing

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-maybe we could afford something a little better.

-Maybe.

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Perhaps all was not yet lost.

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The final house was in Secret Harbour -

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a 50-minute drive south of Perth.

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Did this modern family home keep up the positive vibe?

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-I like it.

-I do, definitely. Do you like that staircase?

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I do like the staircase.

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One feature rubbed Wendie and Peter up the right way.

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Double shower. I would love to have a double shower in a property.

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Of course.

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SHE LAUGHS

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I'm just a man. Just a man.

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Children are around.

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Cringe.

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Spirits were high and Sonny could see some appeal.

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-I like this room.

-Would you like it? You've got your own bathroom.

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There is like room like for desk or something

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so I can do some drawing and stuff.

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The outdoor space was perfect for Aussie living.

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This is exactly what I had in mind.

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It's the ideal house to move to.

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And things just kept getting better.

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-Oh, my God.

-You can see the sea.

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-Sea view.

-Wow!

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This is definitely going to be out of our price range, isn't it?

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The house seemed perfect for the whole family,

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but was it within reach of their 2,400 monthly rental budget?

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Shall we turn over and find out?

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That was substantially over budget.

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Our budget was at 600. This is 900 a week.

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It may have been beyond their means,

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but Wendie wasn't giving up on it just yet.

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This house is worth putting in a little bit more hard work, I think.

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-Definitely.

-Do you think so?

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-Yeah, I'd contribute.

-You would?

-Yeah.

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And if Peter's salary increased down under,

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the dream house could possibly have been within reach.

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Coming home from work to this?

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Of course, if I could make it doable I would, yeah.

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It had been an interesting day on the property front.

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House number one was on budget but the noisy four-legged neighbour

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had put them off.

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Property number two had ticked a lot of boxes

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with its family-sized pool and stunning outdoor living area.

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But the final house was the dream home - and although it had

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a price to match, it could have been worth stretching the budget for.

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So when it came to properties - was it home or away?

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Based on the properties we have seen today we are voting for...

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-WENDY, SONNY AND REECE: Australia.

-Undecided.

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Why undecided?

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We've been shown three properties and only one of them within budget.

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And we didn't like it.

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-Fair dos.

-That's understandable.

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-And you voted Australia.

-Yeah.

-Why have you voted Australia?

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Well, I wouldn't mind living in a massive house with an en-suite

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-and a pool, would I?

-Right. OK. How about you, Reece?

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I think the houses look better than what we live in now.

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Why did you vote Australia, Mum?

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I've seen my dream home. My dream home.

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I know it is out of reach financially but I'm prepared to

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make sacrifices in order to find a dream property

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where you can come and live with us too.

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Wendie may have been prepared to go the extra mile to keep Sonny

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on board, but Peter was sticking to his guns - and his budget.

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If Wendie's hopes were to stay alive, it was vital Perth

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could offer good work prospects for the whole family.

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In the UK, Peter enjoyed his job as Assistant Manager

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for a petrochemical company.

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If I could move my job to Australia and continue doing what I'm

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doing with the same company, that would make me very happy.

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Wendie was a care worker

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specialising in drug and alcohol problems.

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Where I was brought up, on a council estate, it seemed like many people

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were taking drugs and drugs become a big thing in people's lives really.

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And I thought that I could perhaps get into helping them stay

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off it and maybe steer them on the right road, basically.

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Having studied art at college,

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Sonny was serving an apprenticeship as a tattooist.

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Finding the right work opportunity would be

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crucial in persuading him to emigrate.

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If he could get work out there, I think that would maybe

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persuade him a little bit more to come.

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But as the main breadwinner, it was essential Peter found the right job.

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If I love it in Australia and I can't find the right job,

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then I can't see how we can make the move.

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It would be game over.

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If he can't find the right employment, we might have to consider

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staying in the UK, which fills me with dread.

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With so much riding on the day,

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the family set out to explore what work options Perth had to offer.

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First, Peter set off to get the lowdown on potential jobs

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in the petrochemical industry

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from Recruitment Manager Stuart Marsh.

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There's plenty of opportunity at the moment, OK.

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There's quite a few terminals near Perth or if you're really looking to

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live in Perth and work a bit more remotely,

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there's certainly opportunities further afield.

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It was a great start for Peter.

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Across town, Wendie was touring a rehabilitation centre

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with Manageress Wendy Shannon. Were her prospects as encouraging?

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Are there job opportunities?

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I think there is. I think what you offer

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and your experience would actually suit a senior role.

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It was positive news

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but a move would hang on Peter's earning potential.

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I'm comfortable you could achieve a salary of around

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100,000 plus benefits.

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Really? 100,000? That equates to about 65...£65,000.

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I'd say that's right, yeah.

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OK. That's £20,000 more than what my current salary is. Wow.

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Fantastic news for Peter. Were Wendie's figures as optimistic?

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-Between about 68,000 to 74,000 Australian.

-OK.

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That was between 40 to £45,000 a year.

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How would that fit with the work?

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That's very good actually, that sort of doubles my salary.

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Both Peter and Wendie had discovered their earning power would

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significantly increase in Australia, but before they could

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share their great news there was an unexpected turn of events.

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The couple discovered Sonny couldn't be included on the family visa

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as he was over 18 and a wage earner.

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With her dream potentially in tatters,

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Wendie and Sonny sought urgent advice from a migrant official

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to find out if Sonny could register for a visa of his own.

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If you want to apply at some later stage to come over

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and live in Australia, then tattoo artist is not

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on the Schedule of Occupations List.

0:18:510:18:54

Wendie was stunned. If Sonny wasn't eligible for his own visa

0:18:540:18:58

it could have meant her dream was over.

0:18:580:19:01

But there was a glimmer of hope.

0:19:010:19:03

If it was possible for you to be dependent,

0:19:030:19:06

which means basically you'd have to be studying and not

0:19:060:19:09

earning money of your own and you're dependent on your parents,

0:19:090:19:14

then you could be included.

0:19:140:19:15

Wendie's dream suddenly rested on Sonny's willingness to give up

0:19:180:19:22

the job he loved to become a student again.

0:19:220:19:25

I don't really feel that keen on going back to college.

0:19:250:19:28

It wasn't what Wendie wanted to hear.

0:19:330:19:35

But if I did like this country enough then it would be worth it

0:19:360:19:40

cos it's only six months out of my life...to go back to college.

0:19:400:19:44

So if I did look about Australia a bit more and I did feel like I

0:19:440:19:48

did want to move here

0:19:480:19:49

-then it would be something I would consider, yeah.

-OK.

0:19:490:19:53

A move was perhaps still a possibility.

0:19:540:19:57

With a huge sigh of relief,

0:19:570:19:59

Wendie and Peter met to vote on working in Australia.

0:19:590:20:02

BOTH: Australia.

0:20:080:20:10

After a day of intense highs and lows, Wendie's face said it all.

0:20:110:20:16

But now the pressure was really on to persuade Sonny that

0:20:160:20:19

emigrating down under would be the best move for him.

0:20:190:20:22

For Wendie, the move was about a better life.

0:20:280:20:32

So did a day out Aussie-style

0:20:320:20:33

draw Sonny closer to the idea of emigrating?

0:20:330:20:36

The Williamsons spent the day at Lancelin,

0:20:390:20:41

one of the biggest sand dunes in Western Australia.

0:20:410:20:44

It was a chance to spend quality time together -

0:20:440:20:47

and to gather their thoughts.

0:20:470:20:49

It's a special moment really for us to spend time together.

0:20:490:20:52

Having this opportunity to see Australia as a family unit is

0:20:520:20:56

very special for me. It could be our last time together as a family.

0:20:560:20:59

Sonny had enjoyed the day.

0:20:590:21:01

Today has been unreal and I've really, really enjoyed it.

0:21:010:21:06

So I do have a kind of a battle going on in my mind what

0:21:060:21:09

I want to do at this moment in time.

0:21:090:21:11

I think today has opened Sonny's eyes in terms of the type

0:21:110:21:16

of activities and the kind of lifestyle we could have

0:21:160:21:19

if we moved to Australia, but on saying that,

0:21:190:21:22

I think Sonny still has unfinished business in the UK.

0:21:220:21:25

It's his life, at the end of the day, and I don't want to take that

0:21:250:21:28

away from him. All I can do is show him what Australia...

0:21:280:21:31

How lovely Australia is and hope

0:21:310:21:33

that he makes the decision to come with us.

0:21:330:21:35

So had Sonny seen enough to keep his mum's dream alive?

0:21:350:21:39

Based on our lifestyle activities today we are voting for...

0:21:390:21:42

ALL: Australia.

0:21:470:21:49

It was a clean sweep. Despite his doubts,

0:21:500:21:53

Sonny had given the thumbs up to the Aussie lifestyle.

0:21:530:21:56

Wendie's dream lived another day.

0:21:560:21:58

A unanimous vote for the Australian lifestyle was great news for Wendie.

0:22:030:22:08

But now it was time to find out if they could actually afford it.

0:22:080:22:11

We prepared a comparison of costs between Australia and the UK -

0:22:110:22:15

starting with the weekly shopping bill.

0:22:150:22:18

-Leg of lamb - £15...

-In the UK.

0:22:180:22:22

£9 here. That's surprising, isn't it?

0:22:220:22:25

-Do we really eat all this in a week?

-Yes, we do.

0:22:250:22:28

£85.73 per week worse off in Australia.

0:22:310:22:35

And that was just for food. Next up were the bigger costs.

0:22:370:22:41

The couple based their sums on the second property they saw.

0:22:410:22:45

Rent here, monthly, would be £1,980. That sounds a lot, doesn't it?

0:22:450:22:52

£1,980 a month.

0:22:520:22:54

Doesn't it?

0:22:570:22:59

-Yes. It does sound a lot.

-That sounds crazy.

0:22:590:23:01

It was a huge amount of money but in Australia their combined

0:23:010:23:05

salaries after tax would provide an increase of almost

0:23:050:23:09

£21,000 a year, so did that help balance the books?

0:23:090:23:14

-That would leave us with £3,028.

-There you go.

0:23:140:23:20

-So we're better off by £24.

-There you go.

0:23:200:23:25

It wasn't much, but it was enough for Wendie.

0:23:250:23:27

You haven't calculated it wrong. You've done it right.

0:23:270:23:32

We're going to be better off in Australia.

0:23:320:23:34

So were the figures enough to convince Peter?

0:23:360:23:38

BOTH: Australia.

0:23:430:23:44

We're going to be better off financially here.

0:23:470:23:50

Even though it costs more to live here, our wages cover it, yeah.

0:23:500:23:54

-We are £24...

-Better off a month.

-..better off a month.

0:23:540:23:58

And I'm sure we'll put that to good use.

0:23:580:24:01

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we will.

0:24:010:24:02

With the finances just in the black, Wendie's dream was still on course.

0:24:110:24:15

But she wasn't home and dry just yet.

0:24:150:24:19

Sonny had made it clear that leaving the UK would be an enormous

0:24:190:24:22

wrench, so would watching messages from home be the family's

0:24:220:24:26

toughest challenge yet?

0:24:260:24:28

BOTH: Hi, guys.

0:24:310:24:33

Hi, Wendie. Hi, Peter, Sonny and Reece.

0:24:330:24:38

-BOTH:

-Hi, Peter, Wendie, Sonny and Reece.

0:24:380:24:42

Hi, Sonny.

0:24:420:24:44

Wendie is extremely friendly.

0:24:440:24:47

She makes coming to work quite pleasurable really.

0:24:470:24:49

Pete is a real hard worker and he's always got a story to tell,

0:24:490:24:56

he's always a good laugh, isn't he?

0:24:560:24:58

They're just a lovely family really.

0:24:580:25:01

Sonny and Reece, beautiful.

0:25:020:25:04

They're very family oriented. They do a lot together as a family.

0:25:040:25:08

Sonny is an interesting person.

0:25:080:25:13

He's got a very interesting personality.

0:25:130:25:15

He just does anything for you. He never puts himself first

0:25:150:25:18

-and he just...

-He's funny like,

0:25:180:25:20

-everything he says has to be a joke.

-He's got no shame.

0:25:200:25:23

He just does outrageous things.

0:25:230:25:25

THEY LAUGH

0:25:250:25:28

She's always talked about going to Australia,

0:25:280:25:30

from when she was young, from as long as I can remember.

0:25:300:25:33

I'd be really sad to see Wendie go, I really will,

0:25:330:25:35

but happy on the other hand

0:25:350:25:37

because I know it's something she really wants.

0:25:370:25:39

If the whole family go, they'll be deeply missed.

0:25:390:25:44

Obviously we'll miss them, we'll miss seeing the boys, Peter.

0:25:440:25:48

We'll miss coming up to visit, because we won't be

0:25:480:25:51

-able to get to Australia...

-So often.

-Yeah.

0:25:510:25:53

To lose him would be...heartbreaking for any of us

0:25:530:25:58

cos he's such a close friend.

0:25:580:26:00

I'd be devastated, don't know what I'd do really.

0:26:000:26:04

I'm getting a bit...

0:26:040:26:05

I've a lump in me throat.

0:26:050:26:07

It's too far away, it's quite upsetting really to think about.

0:26:070:26:12

I know this is a difficult decision for you to make,

0:26:120:26:15

we're going to love you no matter what. Take care. God bless.

0:26:150:26:19

If you decide to stay here, we're all really happy, but then again,

0:26:190:26:25

if Australia's the right thing for you to do,

0:26:250:26:29

then you should go for it.

0:26:290:26:30

Don't let us stop you. In fact, we won't stop you.

0:26:300:26:33

We love you so much. So live your dream.

0:26:330:26:37

I don't want you to go at all but I know that if you do go,

0:26:380:26:43

it's the right decision for you to make. And...

0:26:430:26:46

I miss you and I love you and can't wait for you to come back.

0:26:480:26:54

I didn't think I'd be upset.

0:27:020:27:04

I know how upset she would be if you did come

0:27:080:27:10

and for us to ask you to make that decision...

0:27:100:27:14

We're forcing that upon you in one respect.

0:27:140:27:17

It's up to me what I want to do.

0:27:170:27:19

I can stay if I want to stay. I can come if I want to come.

0:27:190:27:22

This is going to be difficult for us, Sonny, as parents to actually say

0:27:220:27:25

goodbye to you if you do decide to stay in the UK.

0:27:250:27:28

Yeah, I know but you're not saying goodbye forever.

0:27:280:27:31

You're going to stay, aren't you?

0:27:310:27:33

Mm, yeah. Made my decision, yeah.

0:27:330:27:36

Have you?

0:27:360:27:37

-I think he has.

-Yeah.

0:27:370:27:39

-I'm 19 now, 20 next year...

-Yeah.

0:27:430:27:46

I can't be living at home all my life.

0:27:460:27:48

Can I?

0:27:500:27:51

Messages from loved ones back home had pushed

0:27:540:27:56

Sonny into a decision - Wendie's worst fear had become a reality.

0:27:560:28:01

As the final vote approached, she faced a heart-breaking decision.

0:28:010:28:06

Would she still choose to chase her dream of a better

0:28:060:28:09

life down under, or would the pain of leaving her eldest

0:28:090:28:12

son behind be too much to bear?

0:28:120:28:14

I think I've realised that Sonny does want to stay in the UK.

0:28:140:28:18

I'm having to think a little bit more about that now.

0:28:180:28:20

I just think, I know the distance...

0:28:200:28:23

If he needed me in an emergency, it would be a 26-hour flight.

0:28:230:28:26

I think she thinks she's been a bit selfish maybe in the past

0:28:260:28:29

because she's been saying to me, "You're coming to Australia,

0:28:290:28:32

"I'm not leaving you here."

0:28:320:28:33

But after watching the friends and family video,

0:28:330:28:37

I think she kind of realised what I'd have to leave behind.

0:28:370:28:41

Sonny's decision had deeply affected everyone.

0:28:410:28:44

I was upset, like my brother, that he didn't want to come over here.

0:28:450:28:50

Because my mum and dad do, so it's quite upsetting.

0:28:500:28:54

I'm considering all aspects of what I've got in the UK.

0:28:550:29:00

What possibly could be out here for me.

0:29:000:29:03

And I'm continuously flicking from one side to the other.

0:29:030:29:06

But it seemed Wendie had finally made up her mind.

0:29:060:29:10

I think I have come to a decision on which way I'm going to vote.

0:29:100:29:13

It was time for the Williamsons' to decide where their future lay.

0:29:150:29:19

-PETER, WENDY AND REECE: Australia.

-England.

0:29:260:29:29

UK, yeah? You're not coming, then?

0:29:310:29:35

No. I've got too much to lose in England.

0:29:350:29:38

Do you think that seeing that friends and family DVD

0:29:380:29:41

brought it home to you?

0:29:410:29:43

I've always thought that anyway but, yeah, that obviously...

0:29:430:29:45

-Made it clearer.

-Yeah.

0:29:450:29:48

So you're not saying never, never though?

0:29:480:29:50

I'm not saying never, no.

0:29:500:29:51

It had been a hugely emotional week for the Williamsons.

0:29:580:30:02

Australia had lived up to all of Wendie's expectations,

0:30:020:30:06

but it looked like Sonny and the family were facing new

0:30:060:30:08

futures on opposite sides of the globe.

0:30:080:30:11

One year on...

0:30:110:30:13

It's January, 2014, and the Williamsons are in the UK.

0:30:130:30:18

But some of them are preparing to make a move.

0:30:180:30:21

Their week down under persuaded Peter and Wendie

0:30:210:30:24

Australia should be their future home.

0:30:240:30:27

Australia was everything I hoped it would be.

0:30:270:30:30

When I came away, it made me want to go back and experience more.

0:30:300:30:34

Having that week in Australia really motivated us, I think.

0:30:350:30:38

It did but I don't think any of us expected to

0:30:380:30:42

be moving as quickly as this.

0:30:420:30:43

On their return to the UK, the couple wasted little time

0:30:450:30:48

getting ready to emigrate down under.

0:30:480:30:50

We came back at the end of May.

0:30:500:30:52

We reduced the asking price of our house in June, it sold in July.

0:30:520:30:57

We moved in here, into the rented accommodation, in July.

0:30:570:31:01

And then started the process of applying for my visa.

0:31:010:31:04

We got all that done and by the September,

0:31:040:31:06

we had all the paperwork that we needed,

0:31:060:31:08

and we got granted in October. So, all in all, that was pretty quick.

0:31:080:31:12

Only seven months after returning from their week in Perth,

0:31:150:31:18

the family have already waved goodbye to their belongings,

0:31:180:31:21

but they'll soon be saying a tougher farewell.

0:31:210:31:24

Sonny has stuck to his guns and decided to stay in the UK.

0:31:240:31:28

I didn't want to risk going to the other side of the world

0:31:280:31:31

to not be happy.

0:31:310:31:32

Their week in Australia helped Wendie realise it was

0:31:320:31:35

time for him to forge his own path in life.

0:31:350:31:38

I think after the show she kind of realised how I felt

0:31:380:31:42

and I think she understood my point of view

0:31:420:31:45

and I think she felt quite bad in the end for trying to make me go.

0:31:450:31:48

We said to him, "If you don't want to come to Australia,

0:31:480:31:51

"you have to go and fend for yourself."

0:31:510:31:54

And he did. Soon as we came back, he managed to get himself a house

0:31:540:31:59

and he's been paying his own rent, bills, his own shopping,

0:31:590:32:02

and he's been doing really well.

0:32:020:32:04

-He's actually proved to us he can survive without us.

-Yeah.

0:32:040:32:07

We've got a lot closer since I've moved out and stuff.

0:32:070:32:11

Especially in the last couple of weeks when we've

0:32:110:32:14

been trying to spend more time together before they move.

0:32:140:32:16

Although it's been tough for Wendie,

0:32:160:32:18

she's come to terms with Sonny's decision.

0:32:180:32:21

We just have to keep our fingers crossed

0:32:210:32:23

and hope that he misses us so much that he'll come out at a later date.

0:32:230:32:26

That's what I'm hoping for.

0:32:260:32:28

I am definitely a little bit jealous but

0:32:280:32:30

I still think I've made the right decision.

0:32:300:32:32

I know I can go over whenever I want to see them and stuff.

0:32:320:32:36

So, yeah, I definitely think I made the right decision.

0:32:360:32:39

After saying their farewells, it's time for Wendie,

0:32:440:32:47

Peter and Reece to set off for their new life.

0:32:470:32:50

And they can't wait.

0:32:500:32:52

I've got no last-minute jitters whatsoever.

0:32:520:32:55

I'm just really looking forward to this experience

0:32:550:32:58

and grateful I've been given this opportunity.

0:32:580:33:00

I can't wait to get on the plane, to be honest with you.

0:33:000:33:03

It's quite sad leaving loads of friends behind

0:33:030:33:06

but I know I'll see them in a few years.

0:33:060:33:09

Five months later, the family are well and truly settled in Perth,

0:33:200:33:24

Western Australia, but Wendie still has to pinch herself to believe

0:33:240:33:29

she's made it to the other side of the world.

0:33:290:33:31

It felt very strange, if I'm being honest, when I landed,

0:33:310:33:36

knowing that I was not going to be returning to the UK.

0:33:360:33:40

It all felt surreal.

0:33:400:33:41

I couldn't quite take it all in that my dream had finally come true.

0:33:410:33:46

Landing in the country without jobs, Wendie and Peter spent their

0:33:460:33:50

first few weeks in Perth taking time to adjust to life down under.

0:33:500:33:54

We both didn't rush to work right away.

0:33:540:33:56

We had enough money to survive, live a nice lifestyle.

0:33:560:34:02

Having a month or so off was all part of the plan.

0:34:020:34:05

I kept saying to myself and to you, "Does this feel real?

0:34:050:34:09

"Can you believe we're not going back home?"

0:34:090:34:12

As we were walking up the beach, and it's 30 degrees,

0:34:120:34:15

-and you're just absolutely in paradise.

-Yeah.

0:34:150:34:17

After living in a rental property for a couple of weeks,

0:34:180:34:21

the family have taken out a one year lease on a four-bedroom property

0:34:210:34:25

in the suburb of Safety Bay.

0:34:250:34:27

It's been the cause of some dissention.

0:34:270:34:30

That's probably when reality kicked in for me actually,

0:34:300:34:33

when we saw this house and I realised Pete liked it,

0:34:330:34:36

I didn't, but we were moving in any way.

0:34:360:34:39

For a base, it's a good house. It's a good size, got four bedrooms,

0:34:390:34:44

there's massive gardens, there's a double garage,

0:34:440:34:47

it's located in a very nice suburb.

0:34:470:34:51

There's a lot of positives about this house.

0:34:510:34:53

This is our living room.

0:34:550:34:57

I'm not a fan of this living room cos it's pretty dark but...

0:34:570:35:01

Pete likes it.

0:35:030:35:04

Wendie hasn't been won over by the kitchen either.

0:35:040:35:08

It's not my ideal kitchen, it's very old-fashioned, as you can see,

0:35:080:35:12

but it serves a purpose.

0:35:120:35:14

But there is one room that gets the thumbs up.

0:35:140:35:17

We had to get a pool table. Every Aussie house seems to have one.

0:35:170:35:22

Pete has even got his own space as well.

0:35:220:35:26

Which is for his precious decks.

0:35:260:35:29

Yeah, this room is...quite a good room.

0:35:290:35:33

And it overlooks the garden as well, which is nice.

0:35:330:35:36

The only thing missing is the pool.

0:35:360:35:38

This is not my dream house.

0:35:400:35:42

My dream house would consist of having a pool,

0:35:420:35:44

that's what I moved over here for, to live the Australian dream.

0:35:440:35:48

It's a good base. The house is big enough.

0:35:480:35:51

It hasn't got a pool but so what? We'll get a pool eventually.

0:35:510:35:56

It's close to Reece's school, it's close to Wendie's work...

0:35:560:35:59

And close to the beach.

0:35:590:36:01

Close to the beach, what more do you want?

0:36:010:36:04

A pool.

0:36:040:36:05

Despite moving to the other side of the world without employment,

0:36:070:36:11

Wendie was lucky to land on her feet.

0:36:110:36:13

I was very fortunate. I didn't have to go searching for work really.

0:36:130:36:16

Contacts made on the family's original trial week proved useful.

0:36:160:36:22

They offered me a job as soon as I stepped off the plane, basically.

0:36:220:36:26

My new job is absolutely fantastic.

0:36:270:36:29

I work on a rehabilitation farm helping clients with addiction.

0:36:290:36:35

It's a lot more relaxed than what I was doing back in the UK.

0:36:350:36:39

I'm part-time and it's absolutely fantastic.

0:36:390:36:42

I'm earning the same money I was earning working full-time back home.

0:36:420:36:45

Peter found searching for work a bit trickier though.

0:36:450:36:49

The process of looking for a job has been quite difficult.

0:36:490:36:52

You apply for quite a lot of jobs and you get a lot of knockbacks.

0:36:520:36:56

Although he's now found a job, it's not quite perfect.

0:36:560:37:00

Working with a gas processing company on an island 700 miles

0:37:000:37:04

from Perth will see him working away from home for three weeks at a time.

0:37:040:37:08

I'm not too excited about spending 26 days away from my family,

0:37:080:37:13

but I need to go and earn some decent money

0:37:130:37:15

and that's what this job's going to do for me.

0:37:150:37:17

It doesn't exactly fit with Wendie's vision of family life down under,

0:37:170:37:22

but it does have some upsides.

0:37:220:37:24

We've gone from being a family of four to a family of three,

0:37:240:37:27

and now we're going to be a family of two.

0:37:270:37:30

I didn't really come to Australia to be on my own.

0:37:300:37:35

However, the job that Pete's been offered

0:37:350:37:38

has just a substantial amount of money that he can't really refuse.

0:37:380:37:41

It's a very well-paid job, it will allow me

0:37:410:37:46

to save for the next year. If I did this job for five years,

0:37:460:37:49

we could potentially pay our mortgage off.

0:37:490:37:51

For Reece, the transition to a new school down under

0:37:510:37:55

was daunting at first.

0:37:550:37:56

It was like starting all over and I didn't know anyone.

0:37:570:38:02

I didn't know anything about them. It was really hard.

0:38:020:38:05

But after a few weeks, he discovered some benefits

0:38:050:38:08

of Aussie-style schools.

0:38:080:38:10

The teachers are quite laid back and not worried about

0:38:100:38:15

school uniform or how you dress.

0:38:150:38:18

They're not as strict as England, which is good.

0:38:180:38:23

Most of the people in my classes welcomed me into school

0:38:230:38:28

and it made life a lot easier.

0:38:280:38:31

Mum and Dad are proud of how their son has adjusted.

0:38:310:38:34

He's coping really well. I think he seems a lot happier in himself.

0:38:340:38:39

It's a big thing for any 14-year-old to move to the other

0:38:390:38:42

side of the world but he's coped really well with it.

0:38:420:38:45

With some family already in Perth,

0:38:470:38:49

Wendie hasn't suffered too much from homesickness.

0:38:490:38:52

Hello, babe! Did you get lost up the freeway?

0:38:540:38:58

-Hi, Reece.

-Hi!

0:38:580:39:00

It's been lovely having people here I'm familiar with, yeah.

0:39:010:39:04

I think that's a head start, really.

0:39:040:39:05

Good to see you again, darlin'.

0:39:050:39:09

They absolutely love it here.

0:39:090:39:10

There's no way that they would ever go back.

0:39:100:39:13

They've got their work, they've made friends, it's great for them.

0:39:130:39:17

But five months after the move,

0:39:180:39:19

Wendie's still coming to terms with leaving Sonny behind.

0:39:190:39:23

I've gained family here but left family back home. I do miss Sonny.

0:39:230:39:27

Hiya!

0:39:310:39:32

-SONNY:

-'All right, hiya.'

0:39:320:39:34

How are you going?

0:39:340:39:35

He does miss us as a family, but with the beauty of the internet,

0:39:350:39:38

we've managed to stay in touch with him.

0:39:380:39:40

So, it's like he is just down the road, really.

0:39:400:39:43

Have fun tonight. Have a nice day as well. See ya!

0:39:430:39:46

ALL: Bye!

0:39:460:39:48

It does feel very strange being just the three of us.

0:39:500:39:53

I do miss him.

0:39:530:39:55

The couple are pleased with how Sonny's coping having flown

0:39:550:39:58

the family nest, but are hopeful one day he will make the move.

0:39:580:40:03

He's coping extremely well but I still would love for him

0:40:030:40:07

to be here with us. And eventually, he might.

0:40:070:40:10

-He will.

-He will.

0:40:120:40:14

SHE LAUGHS

0:40:140:40:15

While their move went smoothly,

0:40:150:40:17

at times Wendie and Peter found things did get strained.

0:40:170:40:21

Logistically, the journey's been great.

0:40:210:40:24

Emotionally, it's been difficult at times.

0:40:240:40:27

It's been difficult on our relationship,

0:40:270:40:31

because I think when you move here you lose your identity slightly

0:40:310:40:35

because you leave family behind, you leave friends behind.

0:40:350:40:37

That has an impact on your relationship because

0:40:370:40:40

you rely solely on each other.

0:40:400:40:42

-It hasn't been a completely smooth ride...

-No, it hasn't.

0:40:420:40:45

-..but overall, it hasn't been too bad.

-No.

0:40:450:40:49

The lifestyle opportunities afforded by the move down under

0:40:490:40:52

are having a positive effect on everyone.

0:40:520:40:55

The best thing about living here is waking up to sunshine every

0:40:550:40:58

morning and having parrots flying around in your garden,

0:40:580:41:02

walking down to the beach and seeing dolphins.

0:41:020:41:04

You don't get one day of sunshine and six days of rain,

0:41:040:41:08

you get a whole week of sunshine.

0:41:080:41:10

I'm more happy here than I was in the UK because the weather,

0:41:100:41:15

you can do more things. My family life has changed a lot

0:41:150:41:19

because we go out walking the dog, we do more activities together.

0:41:190:41:24

I've been dreaming about coming to Australia since my early twenties,

0:41:240:41:28

I think, and now I'm actually living that dream...

0:41:280:41:32

..it feels fantastic.

0:41:340:41:36

Wendie's always been the driving force behind the move.

0:41:360:41:41

There has been a lot of pressure on me to make this work cos

0:41:410:41:44

it's something that I've talked about for so many years.

0:41:440:41:47

So, almost half a year into their new life down under,

0:41:470:41:51

are there any regrets?

0:41:510:41:52

I'm 100% sure I've made the right move.

0:41:520:41:57

With no doubt whatsoever in my mind.

0:41:570:41:59

I definitely know I've made the right move.

0:41:590:42:02

And the rest of the family seem to agree.

0:42:020:42:05

I think my future lies in Australia.

0:42:050:42:07

I've made a new life for myself. It's a lot better than the UK.

0:42:070:42:13

The whole move has been worth it. We're not going back to the UK.

0:42:130:42:18

I can't see that happening.

0:42:180:42:19

Wendie's dream does exist here in Australia, I would say,

0:42:190:42:23

and we are striving to achieve it.

0:42:230:42:26

I do think our future is going to be great,

0:42:260:42:29

I do see us having a wonderful life, a wonderful lifestyle.

0:42:290:42:33

There's just one obvious downside.

0:42:330:42:36

-We're just missing one thing and that's a family member.

-Yeah.

0:42:360:42:39

So once Sonny has lived his social life in the UK

0:42:390:42:43

and gets a bit fed up, hopefully he's going to come out and join us.

0:42:430:42:46

Eventually - that's the key word here - eventually.

0:42:460:42:49

-When it's right for him.

-Yeah. That's right.

0:42:490:42:52

Secretly, deep down, I would love for him to be here with us.

0:42:520:42:57

For sure.

0:42:570:42:58

Within the space of a year, it appears the Williamsons have finally

0:43:020:43:06

achieved the lifestyle Wendie and Peter had been dreaming of.

0:43:060:43:10

And who knows?

0:43:100:43:12

At some point in the future, Sonny may yet join them.

0:43:120:43:15

We wish the whole family the very best with their new lives.

0:43:150:43:18

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