Evans Wanted Down Under

Could you move your family half way across the world

in search of a new life, if you hadn't even been there on holiday?

Today we give a family a first taste of Australia

which could change their lives for ever.

Bev and Martyn are determined to find a better life

but with an age limit for the visa, time is against them.

It's now or never, basically. If we don't do it now, then we never will.

They have a fight on their hands to convince their son.

I don't wanna live here.

Wouldn't you like to live in a hot country?

I've only just moved to a new school.

And the guilt of taking him away from his grandparents is unbearable.

He'd come to them like a fabulous miracle

and then we're just ripping him away from them.

That does make me feel really, really guilty.

To find their dream they'll have to give up everything they know

to go where they're Wanted Down Under.

With its hot climate and over 10,000 beaches,

Australia is a popular destination for Brits.

Over 35,000 people from the UK emigrate every year.

But not everyone finds their dream as nearly a third return to the UK.

We're giving one family the chance to see if a new start in Australia

really could give them a better quality of life.

They've got just one week to find out.

General Practice nurse, Bev, and self-employed tiler, Martyn,

live in Aberdare with their only son, Alex, aged nine.

They love their community in South Wales

and have a strong support network with families around the corner.

We are typical Valley people. OK?

We are so traditionally Welsh and we just love Wales.

They want more than life in Aberdare can offer.

-It's work, work, work.

-In the evenings, we don't do nothing.

Through the winter, there's nothing much to do.

-Nah.

-It would be just nice to go for a walk and chill out after work.

-That's right.

-And do other things, basically.

Time is running out to realise their dream.

We've gotta go soon because of our ages.

So it's now or never, basically.

If we don't do it now, then we're never going to.

-Hello.

-Hi, Mam.

He came close to making the move before

until there was a tragedy in the family.

About two and a half, three years ago, we were set to go.

Unfortunately, my dad passed away. So...

-It just sort of ground to a halt, didn't it?

Three years later and Alex is older and more settled.

He's very concerned about starting all over again.

I've nice friends and I just moved to a new school.

So it'd be hard to leave all my friends.

But he's not totally against the idea.

When my mum and dad first mentioned about Australia

I was saying, "I ain't going to Australia."

And then it starting pouring down and I was freezing

and I said to my mam,

"I've changed my mind, I wanna go to Australia cos it's freezing."

In the UK, Bev is studying for her Masters degree

to become a highly qualified nurse, able to prescribe independently.

But the system in Australia is very different

-and this qualification may not even be accepted there.

Unfortunately, it'd be difficult to get my qualifications recognised

by, erm, the Nursing Board.

It's not just getting a job that's very worrying for Bev.

She's also scared about leaving family behind in Wales.

I can't even speak about my parents. I'd miss them...

so much.

Oh, I'm sorry.

We just see each other all the time, and...

I know this is causing so much heartache to my mother

but she's trying to be...and father, they're trying to be brave.

For the Evans, finding the right lifestyle and house is vital.

But if they can't afford it, their dreams will be shattered.

The clock is ticking because of Bev's age.

-So it's now or never.

It's essential that Bev, Martyn and Alex

find out if they've been viewing Australia

through rose-tinted glasses.

Leaving their parents behind will be heart-breaking,

but with time running out for Bev to apply for her visa,

it's now or never.

They have one week to decide.

Bev's nursing qualifications would enable them to get a visa

and her skills are in demand all over the country.

But they need to find the right place to call home.

We could send them to the unique but isolated city of Darwin.

But they'll have to be ready for some serious heat.

The average summer temperatures hit 33 degrees.

And don't be fooled, moving to Darwin isn't a cheap option

with property prices only a little less than Sydney

at an average of £315,000.

Alternatively, we could let them try life in Adelaide.

Situated on the southern Australian coast,

Adelaide is a whole different prospect.

With just over a million residents, it boasts a small-city-feel

and Mediterranean climate, to attract over 2,000 Brits a year.

Property prices are very reasonable too

at an average of £255,000.

But it's not the backwater town you might expect

with vibrant markets, festivals and beach life on offer.

Or perhaps we could send them to Brisbane.

Property prices are reasonable at an average of £270,000.

Bev and Martyn might just be able to afford

one of their famous Queenslander-style homes.

With over 25 percent of the population born overseas,

the Evans wouldn't feel alone as new residents.

But they'd like to get away from the regular downpours in Wales,

so having wet tropical summers and over 1,200mm of rain a year

would not be ideal.

Three good options there, but where should they go?

We decided Adelaide had the edge over the other two possibilities

and would offer the Evans family what they were looking for.

Over the week, the Evans sample all aspects of life Down Under.

They'll find out if Australian properties

match up to their ideal house back home.

Bev and Martyn get to test out the jobs on offer.

And Alex gets to see if he can make friends

at an Aussie Rules football training session.

But haunted by thoughts of leaving behind their family in South Wales,

Bev and Martyn need to know they really could leave.

And it will be no small challenge to persuade Alex.

It's been a gruelling 22-hour flight for the Evans family,

-covering 10,500 miles.

They're a long way from their loved ones in Aberdare

so they need to know life in Adelaide

would be worth the pain of leaving family behind.

After the longest journey of their lives,

they look surprisingly sprightly.

-A really good flight. Not as bad as we thought, was it, at all?

-No.

Er, really nice. Nice bit of sleep. Arrived fresh and ready to go.

The outcome is going to depend on how Alex takes to Australia.

I wanna see a crocodile and a shark.

Wanna see a bit of wildlife, don't you?

Bev's worries about her job prospects are on her mind.

I'm most nervous, I think, this week about my work experience

that I'm going to get, just to see if the work that they do here

is suitable and compatible to what I do at home.

It's vital they find out if Adelaide really could offer them

everything they dream of.

They've all got concerns about the move,

but if they can't persuade Alex he could have a future here,

-they'll have some real problems ahead.

It doesn't take long until they're reminded

they're a long way from Aberdare.

See that.

I know they say you can see dolphins,

-but I never thought we'd see them here.

-Not on your doorstep.

-Oh, my word, that was fab.

-Would have been nice...

Their base for the week is a first test for Australian life

especially for Alex.

-Look at that flat-screen TV.

-Oh, wow!

Pool.

-Oh, this is lovely, innit?

-Yeah, isn't it?

Nice view to wake up to in the morning. Look at that, Alex.

-Shall we go upstairs and have a look?

-Yeah!

-Yeah!

-Lovely.

-Oh-ho-ho.

-Guess whose room this isn't?

-Mine!

-No, you can't.

-I don't think, so.

You haven't a Bob Hope of having this room.

They're used to the peace and quiet of Aberdare.

The bustle of Adelaide might be a problem.

But the view's impressive.

Imagine living somewhere like this, waking up to this view.

-I thought our view was good.

-I could wake up with this every day.

Dolphin-spotting for a job.

-That's not a bad idea.

-No.

HE LAUGHS

Start a little business. Get a boat, dolphin-watching.

Shark-fin hour.

It's vital the Evans find out if they can afford this move.

That would be a definite no-no.

If we couldn't afford the lifestyle we want,

then it defeats the whole object, so I don't think we would do it.

The other thing would be actually making that move and step

to leaving my parents, that's the hardest for me.

And they're under serious time pressure.

If they leave the decision to move too long, it'll be too late.

Age is not on my side. We've got to be here before I'm 45.

It takes time to get your visa,

so we really need to start the ball rolling, if we decide to come.

-Let's see..

-Won't be another chance.

No. Let's see if what we've dreamt of

-is actually going to be a reality this week.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-We're looking forward to it.

-Very much.

-Bring it on.

HE LAUGHS

Financial worries are huge, but now they're here,

the heartache of leaving loved ones has become a stark reality.

It's going to be a tough week.

In the UK, the Evans live in a four-bedroom detached new-build.

They love their house and their community

so a new home in Australia has a lot to live up to.

On the edge of the Brecon Beacons,

they enjoy fantastic views over the valleys.

Alex has room for all his toys and he knows the kind of house he wants.

If we go out there I wanna a nice house, as well.

And pool...table, a proper one and, or just any

and a swimming pool.

They're determined to have an extra room for loved ones to stay.

But to afford it, they'll need every penny of the £235,000

they hope their home is worth.

They love their house in Aberdare,

so it's vital they find the perfect place to call home in Australia.

They've got several options.

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia

is the economic and cultural centre of the area.

Property in the city, itself, can be hugely expensive

but there are more affordable alternatives in North Adelaide.

At £265,000 this two-bedroom property has plenty of period charm

but if they want more space, they'll have to break the bank

and spend considerably more.

Another option would be suburbs like Belair

which offer stunning country scenery right on the doorstep.

There are some truly impressive properties available

like this stunning three-bedroom house which costs £330,000

and has a huge living area overlooking the valley.

But it's a 30-minute drive to the coast,

so it wouldn't give them the beach life they've been dreaming of.

For the family, the beach is a key factor.

The further south out of Adelaide, the more they'll get

for their money.

This £290,000 home in Christies Beach

offers a stunning sea view, three bedrooms

and a large open-plan living space.

With the beach a short walk away, they wouldn't even need a pool.

Weighing up everything they're looking for

we decided to show them three properties near the beach.

Here, the lifestyle they dream of, would be a stone's throw away.

Property 1 will need to set the standard high

Located in Moana,

it's less than an hour from Adelaide.

Best of all, there's a stunning beach at the end of the road.

As a three-bed, with open-plan living space,

a veranda and pool room, it might persuade Alex

that this move wouldn't be too bad after all.

Estate agent, Julian Adams, is on hand to show them in.

Hi, I'm Martyn.

First impressions are key.

-Ahh.

-Nice, isn't it?

-Oh, this is lovely, here.

-And cool.

-It's a nice living area.

-Definitely.

You could get plenty of furniture in here.

The rest of the living space needs to meet their expectations.

-That's a nice sized kitchen, isn't it?

-Yeah.

It's plenty big enough.

-Probably want to get it re-tiled a little bit.

-Little job.

Space is a key requirement,

but their budget may not stretch to the size of rooms they want.

It's imperative we have a spare room.

-Do you think you'd get all your toys in here?

-Yeah.

Or would it be better as a guest room? It's something we want.

See what the other size is.

-And change the colour scheme

-All right? See what else is here.

With one other similar bedroom,

the master needs to be something special.

-That's a nice airy room. Isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Is ours bigger?

-I think it's the same, it's a king-size.

They haven't been wowed yet.

But if they're going to give up their ideal home in Aberdare,

they need to be.

-My word!

-What?

-Look what's over there.

That could be our other bedroom.

-Oh, my gosh, this is gorgeous.

-Lovely, isn't it?

-Now that makes a big difference.

-Alex, look over there.

Cool.

-Ahh.

-Come and see what's in here.

-This is lovely, innit?

I'm just really flabbergasted at the size of it all.

-Can we live here, if we wanna?

-We could if we wanted, yeah.

I wanna pool, I do.

Don't need a pool, sea's at the end of the street.

So no pool needed.

Oh, my gosh.

This house is gorgeous.

This is an enticer away from Aberdare, isn't it? From Wales.

-I wanna live in this house.

-It certainly suits you, Al.

THEY LAUGH

Even Alex has fallen for the fantastic outside space.

But it's not quite the full package.

Property 2 needs to raise the bar.

Located just a couple of streets away in Moana,

it's another three-bed with a huge open-plan living space

and large garden.

Although not finished to the standard of Property 1

at £208,000, they'd have money left over to make it their own

and maybe get that pool.

There's a friendly reception.

-Hello.

-Is it theirs?

-Oh, this is... Oh, wow!

-This is lovely.

It's a lovely floor.

I'm quite surprised.

-I really am. Really high ceilings.

-Lighter compared to the last one.

-This one's a lot lighter.

-Yeah.

This is nice. Bit small. I prefer the kitchen in the last house.

This is slightly dated.

At this price, they'd have £20,000 left over to change the kitchen

if they wanted to.

But this house wouldn't be worth the investment,

if the bedrooms don't meet their high standards.

It's too small.

-It couldn't be a guest room, it's too small.

-No.

-You could put a single bed in...

-What do you want a single bed for?

It doesn't seem there's anything to redeem this house

and Bev and Martyn have only one word to describe it.

-Small.

-Just that little bit too small.

-Too small.

-Again it's small.

-It's too small.

Oh, walk-in wardrobe.

It's a disappointment.

They just can't get the space they'd hoped for in their budget.

The first house wasn't perfect, but is still setting the standard.

Property 2 was a huge disappointment.

It's down to Property 3.

If they can't find the right house, the deal could be off.

Located 15 miles north in the district of Marion,

this house is only a 25-minute drive to the centre of town.

On the market for £260,000,

this three-bed in a quiet cul-de-sac has one huge advantage

over the other houses.

A pool.

This could finally win them over.

-Have a look and if you've got any questions, please ask.

-Thank you.

Oh, I thought it would be bigger than this.

-It's not...as big as I thought.

-I just expected it to be bigger.

For a living area.

This snug kitchen probably won't help to convince them.

-It's small again though, isn't it?

-Yeah.

Smallest one of the three, isn't it?

-Yeah, probably this makes it look a bit bigger cos it's open.

-Yeah.

-Shall we got through?

-Yeah.

It's not looking good.

-Oh.

-It's a little bit small again, really, isn't it?

Er, yeah.

It couldn't be a guest bedroom, could it?

-A struggle to keep this long term for Alex.

-Yeah.

Again, not enough room for Alex. It's becoming a common theme.

The master bedroom needs to redeem this house.

Oh, now, this is nice.

-The size as well.

-Oh, yeah. These lovely floors.

-The floors are lovely. Really nice.

-That's a nice bed, too.

The master has impressed,

but bedroom 3, it's a big disappointment.

-It's not as big as Alex's back home, is it?

-No.

-No.

-So...

They're all struggling to see themselves here

but there's a bigger problem to overcome.

-I don't wanna live here.

-Wouldn't you like to live in a hot country?

-I've only just moved to a new school.

-That's true.

-Mmm.

That's true. That's something we'll have to think of, isn't it?

-Yeah. It's all our decisions, isn't it?

-Yeah.

All of us have got to decide, haven't we?

If Alex can't be convinced, their dreams might end in disappointment.

It sounds like he's made up his mind

but there's one thing that might convince him.

-Oh, that's nice.

-Oh, they've got a pool.

-That's something a bit special, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-I wanna live here.

-You're gonna live here now.

SHE LAUGHS

That was on your list.

-You didn't want to come to Australia.

-Changed your mind a bit.

It's what Alex was hoping for.

But Bev and Martyn, they're not impressed.

Would you be prepared to have a smaller house just for a pool?

To be honest, having the extra room is more important to me.

I want to house my parents, your mother when they come over.

The pool hasn't caused a splash,

but there's one last chance to win them over.

A huge playroom with an en-suite bathroom.

Oh, now. This could be a guest bedsit!

This makes a difference.

We can certainly turn it into a bedroom.

You could. That changes the whole dynamics of the house.

Although it's quite small, we thought.

This shines a completely different light on it and opens it right up.

Yeah. Definitely.

Tours over.

They like the outdoor area of Property 1.

-But discovered with their budget they would struggle

-to get the space they dream of.

Even the pool didn't win Martyn and Bev over.

Australian houses need to be something special

to match up to the house the Evans love in Aberdare.

It's decision time on property.

Based on the houses we've seen today,

our vote has gotta be...

-UK.

-UK.

-I don't know.

I'm surprised at that. You said you didn't want to come!

I didn't know.

They've got a pool.

With no votes for Australia,

their trial week has got off to the worst possible start.

They need to turn things around if this move is going to happen.

It will take some more searching to find the perfect home.

But if Martyn and Bev don't both find good jobs with decent salaries

they won't be able to afford it and the whole move could be off.

Back in the UK, Bev works as a General Practice nurse

earning a wage of £33,000.

She's determined to move up in her career

so she's spent the last two years studying

-to improve her qualifications.

By UK standards, she'll be highly skilled,

but would she be overqualified to work in Australia?

I want to make sure I get the right job when I'm out there.

And General Practice in South Australia is very much like we were

about ten years ago.

We've arranged for Bev to meet Denise Mackenzie

who runs nursing training

and has agreed to give Bev a taste of teaching

to see if would be right for her.

There's a huge amount riding on this and Bev's under pressure.

I feel really apprehensive about this and nervous.

I feel a bit out of my comfort zone doing a presentation.

It's a massive factor in our decision

whether to come to Australia, whether I can get the right job.

-I've got something...

-Hi.

It's time to find out if nursing in Adelaide really would suit Bev

and allow her to use her qualifications.

She's straight in at the deep end.

SHE SIGHS NERVOUSLY

OK, I'm a nurse practitioner in the Primary Care support unit,

like Denise said...

It's a nervous start. There's a huge amount riding on this

and Bev has a lot to prove.

Whilst one of our team looks after Alex,

Martyn is on his way to find out his employment options.

He's determined they wouldn't just be moving here to work.

If the wages aren't there, the lifestyle's not

then obviously there's not a lot of point us moving to Australia

because we're not going to achieve what we want.

So it's vital that he finds out exactly how much

he could contribute to their finances.

Back at the centre, Bev is coming to the end of her lecture.

90 percent of these deaths could have been avoided

if these patients had had proper management plans and support

with appropriate treatments.

And she looks relieved it's over.

And that's it.

SHE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

But Bev's experience isn't quite over yet.

She would want to keep the practical side of nursing going.

She's off to a training centre to see if they do things differently

in Oz.

It's time for Martyn to get some answers.

We've arranged for him to meet David Powell,

a Brit who made the move himself

and now has a successful tiling business.

David puts him straight to work,

but Martyn has some important questions.

What's your working day like, hours-wise?

It really depends on where you're working.

-My week would probably be at least a 40-hour week.

-Yeah.

We tend to do an eight-hour day.

That's about the same as he works in the UK

but Martyn still has some concerns.

What are your expectations? Have you got any reservations?

-It'd be finding work cos coming here as new...

-Yeah.

-You've been here 22 years, you had to build up a reputation.

-Yeah.

So that is a bit nerve-wracking, leaving everything behind.

And wages-wise, it depends what you can earn here.

-You'd probably get between 60-70,000 a year.

-Right.

-That would work out between £35,000 to £37,000.

-Maybe a bit over that.

That's a very good wage. More than I'd be earning in the UK.

Working for himself, Martyn could earn up to £36,000 a year.

It's a fantastic result and has put his mind at ease.

Over in the centre, it's vital Bev finds the right role for her.

Felicity Steer is waiting to meet her.

-Beverly.

-Hi, I'm Felicity.

-Hi.

-I'll get someone to come in and we can do a mock ECG

-. OK.

And that will give us a chance to see what you actually do

and see how it relates to the way we do it over here.

Ian is going to be their test patient.

OK, you just have a moment there.

Just breathe normally and it will be over in a sec.

-So, I'm not going to jump or feel...

-You wont feel anything.

No electric waves are going to go through you, I promise.

-There's your ECG.

And a fine looking ECG it is too.

It's a positive result for Ian,

but Bev's worried about being able to use her advanced training.

-I work more as a nurse practitioner now.

-Yeah.

But I would like to incorporate the academic side

with, erm, the clinical skills.

Working in a general practice a few days as a nurse practitioner?

-And then working as a mentor?

-That would be absolutely fabulous.

To keep on the nurse practitioner role.

But I wasn't sure whether I could do that.

Well, hopefully that will be coming through.

It will be possible for Bev to combine

teaching and practical roles, but not quite yet.

Disappointingly, she'll have to wait until new legislation comes in.

Denise arrives and it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty.

What, erm, could a nurse expect to earn?

-Roughly, I think around 68. Is that?

-It's about the 68 mark.

68,000 is just under £40,000, far more than Bev earns in the UK.

Thank you very much for your time.

The wages are better, but Bev's Masters qualification

wouldn't be of use.

If she moved, the last two years of study would have been wasted.

This could have a serious effect on her decision.

-How did it go?

-OK. I had an interesting afternoon.

I don't think I'd be able to get my advanced status recognised yet.

It'd be taking a backward step.

-It's a big decision, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's an important one.

-But wages were definitely better.

-As well.

-It's a positive, I suppose, on both sides, really

-. Yeah.

Which way will they vote?

My role as a nurse practitioner wouldn't be recognised here yet

and I think it would be a shame to take a step back.

And for that purpose, I'm gonna vote for...

..UK

Based on the amount of work that's here in Australia,

and the wages, I'm gonna have to vote...

..Australia.

They're split down the middle and it's a huge blow to their plans.

Despite the wages, Bev is worried about taking a step backwards.

Things will need to turn around, if they're to rekindle their dream.

The Evans family have had a mixed experience so far.

Viewing three houses, they were disappointed with what was on offer.

Martyn found out that he could earn a good wage,

but Bev wouldn't be able to use her qualifications immediately.

It's vital they persuade Alex he'll be happy here

and soon it will be time to face the music.

They need to be confident they could leave their families behind

and move to the other side of the world

in search of a better life.

So they would both be able to find work,

but would their finances take the hit?

To get the lifestyle they dream of in Australia

it's vital they get maximum value for their property in South Wales.

The Evans love their four-bed home

and the fantastic views it offers over the Welsh countryside.

They bought at the height of the property boom,

but hope its still worth somewhere near £235,000.

-We sent two estate agents to give them an accurate valuation.

Good sized living room, nicely decorated,

-the fire is a nice focal point.

-Good sized back garden, not overlooked

-.

-Nice views down the valley .

-Lovely views, aren't they?

Nice quality kitchen. Well tiled.

They look nervous. Time for a second opinion.

Modern fitted kitchen.

And absolutely fabulous views to the rear again.

Might consider buying that. What do you reckon, Al?

They hope it will be valued somewhere near £235,000.

Id put the property on the market for £230,000

to achieve around £225,000.

And for a quick sale, probably put it on for about 217.

For a quick sale, I would value this property

-at £210 to £215,000.

Hmm. So what's the verdict?

-No horrible surprises, was there?

-No.

I don't think we'd be looking for a quick sale

even if we were to come to Australia, so...

No, I'm quite pleased with that.

The house looked quite nice actually.

So, er...probably be a bit sad to leave that house.

A great result. It's worth almost exactly what they expected.

However, that will mean nothing if they can't afford the mortgage

and the lifestyle that they want.

Time to see if they'll be better off in Australia.

What have we got here altogether?

-All the good things for you are dearer.

-Yes.

Cabbage is dearer. Alex will be glad, he hates cabbage.

-Chicken.

-Chicken is dearer.

It's going to cost us £34.00 more a week, so its a "plus."

OK, so if we look at our mortgage per month.

-900 a month.

-732.

-So that leaves a difference of

-168.

-168. Rightness.

-Shall we look at salaries?

-Yeah.

-That's enough to make a big impact on the difference over here.

-Yeah.

Bev and Martyn would both be earning substantially more money,

so they'd potentially be £1,462 a month better off in Australia.

THEY LAUGH

That's a massive jump. It's great.

That's a real positive. Didn't expect it to be that much.

Which way he will they vote?

-Australia.

-Australia.

It's a great result on the finances,

but they still have to persuade Alex.

He's an only child

-and Bev is worried about him fitting in and making friends.

-It could be a deal breaker.

Back in Wales, rugby plays a vital role in the family's life.

Alex plays regularly, Martyn coaches and Bev's a big fan.

They'd be sad to leave their team and friends behind.

Although in Australia Rugby Union is popular,

in Adelaide Aussie Rules is far bigger.

They are keen to give it a try to see if Alex would fit in.

Coach Matt Wormald is waiting to put them through their paces.

Welcome to the Henley Sharks.

Thanks very much for having us today.

We train for about an hour. You can come and help too.

From what I understand it's a totally different game...

-Do you know the rules?

-Not a clue.

-Nothing at all.

Don't know what the goals are down this end?

Kick it in the middle, you get six points.

-Kick it on the ends, you get one point.

-You've been watching it on TV.

-Know more than me.

-He has.

-Well done.

-OK, let's go.

-Go and have fun.

Martyn played competitive rugby until he was 30

and it's still a big part of his life.

He's eager to give coaching Aussie Rules a try,

but he'll have to learn the game pretty quickly.

-You've done this before.

-Beginner's luck!

-Seeing her son happy is giving Bev hope of winning him over.

He won't be easy to win round, but I'm hoping this will help

because he's so mad into sport.

He loves all sports.

I'm hoping this is going to be an enticement.

Hes fitting in quite nicely.

-He's having a great time with the kids.

-He is.

And she's making friends on the sidelines, too.

Do the mums get together often and have a good social life?

Probably too much so. With the boys all playing out here together,

we get together for the trainings and we've got a good social group

because we follow that group through the year.

So you get to know the parents well.

We support each other, you make good friends.

Leaving the rugby club he coaches at would be a wrench for Martyn,

so Aussie Rules needs to capture his imagination

if he's going to see it as a new passion.

I don't think Aussie Rules will ever replace Rugby Union for me, no.

I'd pick up an interest in it.

Whether it'd become as interesting as Union for me, I don't know.

I don't think so.

I wouldn't coach, I don't know enough about the game.

To be fair to the kids, you need to know what you're talking about.

OK, guys!

It's a shame, Martyn can't see himself coaching,

but if Alex falls for the sport,

he'll be cheering from the sidelines.

-And Matt's resorted to bribes.

-Thank you, mate. Did you enjoy it?

-Yeah.

-Your skills are very good.

From the Henley football club, we'd like to give you that football.

To have and learn, and you might come out here and play.

-I'll give you that.

-Thanks.

-Alrighty. No worries.

# We are the navy blues

# The all dark navy blues. #

The Henley sharks have welcomed Alex with open arms,

but it'll take a lot to convince him to leave the team he loves.

Well done, boys. Good stuff. Well trained.

This training session has made me think that Australia is better

than I thought, so I'd like to move to Australia.

That's a huge turnaround in Alexs thinking,

but leaving behind the lifestyle he knows is still a big risk.

It's time to make their minds up.

My choice is going to be...

ALL: Australia!

Yeh!

-Give me five.

-I love that.

-That's nice.

-We chose the same.

-We all got the same!

Only time will tell how this will affect their final vote

but there are still some huge challenges ahead of them.

Alex might be coming around to the idea of moving

but Bev and Martyn are having doubts.

Time is running out and they're taking stock.

It's a long way to come

if they're not going to find happiness here.

I think were in a "not so sure place" at the moment, I would say.

There are positives and negatives.

But Bev's feeling the pressure.

It's massive wrench taking us away from my parents and Martyns mother,

but even more of a wrench to take Alex away

because they have a massive input into his life.

I feel as if he'd come to them like a fabulous miracle

and we're just ripping him away

and that does make me feel really, really guilty.

And it's a pain That's becoming all too real.

SHE SOBS

In a way, I feel really guilty for loving this so much.

For the first time, the distance from home has really hit Bev.

They're faced with a heart-breaking decision.

Move now or it'll be too late.

Go and say goodbye to everyone they know.

Seeing messages from back home could reassure them

or leave them in despair.

We prepared a DVD for them to view.

Yo-hoo.

Hi, Alex, its me Nanny Ducky.

I hope you're enjoying yourself, Love, and having a lovely time.

Theyre a proper family, they do everything together.

Martyn is my youngest son.

To me, he's absolutely fantastic,

hes always there for me especially since his father passed away.

Living locally, it's a lot easier to know he's there for me

and I can call him whenever I want. He's always been a great son.

Alex is a little ray of sunshine.

He brings so much joy into my life.

I love him to bits. He's a gorgeous little boy. He's always...

I'm getting... Sorry.

Beverley is a wonderful daughter.

She'd do anything for anybody.

We love her to bits. We're very proud of her.

It's just so far away.

It's just so far away.

But erm...

-It's a wonderful opportunity.

-A wonderful opportunity.

But I think what they're doing now is the best thing

to look at what they want, and best of luck to them.

They've talked about it for so long. And I think it's there,

and they need to go and see if this is what they want.

-If they do go, they will leave a big, big hole in our lives.

-Yeah.

Who are we going to have to organise our nights out?

You were the person who brought us together and who keep us together.

We're missing you already. Erm... Love you to bits.

If you decide to stay in Australia, I'll miss you dreadfully,

but I want what's best for you. Be safe, be happy,

and I'll see you soon. Bye.

Bye.

SHE SNIVELS

-That was lovely, wasn't it?

-Good, yeah.

-That was really good that was.

I have got really special friends. We've got the most fantastic family.

I can't believe Nanny Ducky admitted her name was Nanny Ducky on telly.

That was your little pet name for her, wasn't it? And Nanny Bowie.

-Nobody said don't go.

-No, so there you are.

Yeah, I still don't wanna go.

They've got a fight on their hands to persuade Alex,

but how did Bev find it?

-I'm quite pleased.

-Really?

I'm quite pleased with myself how I held it together.

-She didn't, did she?

-"Held it together."

Don't you think I held it together?

-The first minute.

-I only made one hanky soppy.

Seeing the messages has brought home the reality

of living on the other side of the world.

They discovered with their budget they'd struggle

to get the home they'd been dreaming of.

While Martyn was pleased with the wage he could earn,

Bev was disappointed to find her qualifications are not recognised.

Alex loved playing Aussie Rules,

but the guilt of tearing Alex from his grandparents

has forced them to face the true cost of moving

to the other side of the world.

It's now or never. Soon Bev will be too old to get a visa

so when it comes to the final decision

can they really uproot their lives?

I was hoping for a black or white decision

but there's lots of grey areas for me to mull over.

The wages have been a big influence and it.s been a great week, so...

My choice is gonna be...

-Australia.

-Australia .

-UK.

-Oh.

-Oh.

THEY LAUGH

You're cheats, you two.

-Why are you crying?

-Because I feel really guilty...

You feel guilty, what about?

Our lives are never straightforward. Are they?

-Where did you wanna be yesterday?

-Nowhere.

-No. Where did you wanna be yesterday?

-UK.

-No, you didn't.

-No, that was because of Aussie Rules yesterday.

-Well, there you are, you had a good experience.

-An own goal.

-That's my decision.

-End of story.

It will take more than Aussie Rules to change his mind.

They still have to persuade Alex,

-but Bev and Martyn have been convinced by life in Australia

-and they're one huge step closer to making their dream a reality.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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