McKeown Wanted Down Under

There's an enormous amount at stake when you want to uproot your family

to move to the other side of the world.

Especially when your wife doesn't share your dream.

Adrian McKeown wants to move down under for his children's future.

I just think sometimes you have to go with your heart,

and I feel that this is right for my family.

-Hello!

-'I would probably have'

as many reservations as he has reasons for going.

CHILD GIGGLES

Their experiences will push them to the edge.

It's going to take something massive to knock me off this,

and it'll be so hard if Kelley doesn't feel the same way.

-Don't get cross with me.

-I'm not getting cross!

And when limits are pushed - anything can happen.

'What if this didn't work out -'

-where would

-I

-live? What would happen to the kids?

Sometimes I wonder why we're on such a different wavelength about this.

With its hot climate and over 10,000 beaches,

Australia is a popular destination for Brits.

Over 35,000 emigrate there every year.

But is it all it's cracked up to be -

when almost a third return to the UK, missing their old lives?

The McKeowns are going to be pushed to the limit

as they try out life in Australia for one week.

At the end of it, they'll have a very tough decision to make -

whether to stay in the UK, or to move down under.

Adrian and Kelley McKeown live with daughters Kenedee, seven, and Madison, who's three,

in a small village near Carrickfergus in County Antrim.

Adrian has lived here all his life,

and has been dreaming of Australia since he was a child.

'My best friend moved to Australia when I was eight -'

that was the point then that I really started thinking,

you know, there's different places here....

Definitely, in the last couple of years,

he's talked about it probably in every breath of every sentence!

It kind of sometimes feels a wee bit like bungee jumping,

and now he's got me to the top of the ladder

he just has to convince me that the rope's not going to break... And I'm not convinced.

Adrian's memories of Northern Ireland during the Troubles

have fuelled his desire to make a better future for his children.

I was evacuated from school, we had a bomb scare out the back of our house...

I know things have changed, but there are still the underlying tensions

and I just...would love to get the girls to a place where they don't have to worry about that.

Australia might offer - and I stress MIGHT offer -

that chance that they'll be able to have the future that THEY want.

I think there probably are more opportunities, but

erm...I don't necessarily think that being here is such a negative thing.

Adrian's under no illusions who he has to win over.

The one I really need to convince is Kelley.

-Erm...

-It's not a case of convincing me - it's showing me rather than

your one-sided opinion... nick-nick-nick in the background all the time.

The only problem is, it's Kelley's job as a nurse

that can provide the entrance visa.

'I know for a fact that when we go there I'll have to work'

'longer hours, just for us to be able to finance the move.'

Definitely have to have a job before we would go.

I think in the research that I've done

I've proved that to you - that you COULD get a job.

Yeah, but I would still have to GET one.

-I know.

-Right.

-But we know that.

-Right...

With close ties at home, there's a lot to lose.

'We have a nice house and nice friends.

'Good family support and a good church and just to give all that up

'to hope that it will be better'

is a pretty big gamble.

If somebody could give me a guarantee that everything was going to be rosy, that would be good

but the only person who seems to be able to say that is Adrian,

who doesn't have any guarantees.

Unfortunately for Kelley, Adrian is obsessed.

It's always been there and I don't think it would ever go away,

regardless of what we decide.

Erm...

I'm just hoping we make the right decision from my point of view.

Their week down under will either bring them together or tear them apart

so where in Australia shall we send them?

It's Kelley's job as a nurse which will grant them their visa.

As her skills are needed across the country,

they could live anywhere.

Perhaps they might like Darwin, Australia's most northern capital.

As the least populous of Australia's big cities,

the McKeowns might find themselves more at home

but there's a smaller economy and only one major public hospital here

so Kelley may struggle to get work.

As Darwin's a hot-spot for Australian migrants,

house prices have doubled in recent years.

They could go to Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city.

This would offer a radical change from their village life but, as sport and culture are massive here,

the McKeowns would never run out of things to do.

Although prices are rising rapidly, family incomes are higher than the national average,

and with around 30 public hospitals, Kelley should have no problem finding work.

Maybe a smaller city like Perth, in Western Australia, would be more suitable for the family.

It's fast-growing, offering lots of work if Kelley can handle the competition.

And as one in eight residents is British-born,

the family should feel more at home here while finding their feet.

House prices are slightly cheaper than Melbourne, so that dream home might be in reach.

Three good options for the McKeowns there,

each of them life-changing.

But where in Australia should they go?

Well, we decided that Melbourne had the edge over

the other two possibilities for their trial week down under.

Although housing is expensive, there are affordable options in the suburbs

and as Melbourne offers great career prospects for Kelley,

it might just help ease her pain.

I'm shaking more now than I was before going in.

I feel under pressure to be honest.

Over the course of the week, there'll be a lot of soul-searching

but will Adrian and Kelley ever see eye to eye?

Just need to find a compromise for you.

For me? I have to compromise?

No, we have to find a compromise house.

'If Kelley doesn't vote for Australia, I won't say

I'll not be disappointed. It will take me a long time to recover.

I feel very lonely, on the outskirts.

It's a long trip for a family with young children.

The McKeowns fly from Belfast via London, Dubai and Singapore,

spanning a distance of over 11,000 miles.

They touch down in Melbourne having been in transit for 34 hours.

Adrian know he only has one week to convince Kelley

and he's already feeling the pressure.

I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about coming over.

I didn't think I would be. Am I going to get a shock?

Because I've maybe had this real desire to be here for a long time

and maybe having this blinkered view of what things will be like.

I haven't been feeling anything about this trip.

-I have been on distraction mode, scrubbing my house. Haven't I?

-Yeah.

So the house is gleaming and we're here, with open minds, both of us.

Yeah. This is my big opportunity to persuade somebody that this might be

the right thing for us so... Yeah, bring it on.

It's crunch time for the family as they head into the unknown.

They've never been so far away from home before

and Melbourne's just a little bit bigger than the small Northern Irish village they're used to.

-GPS:

-You have reached your destination.

A bungalow!

Mummy said it was cute.

The family are staying in the convenient inner suburb of Yarraville.

What do you think of this?

Look! Look at that big bed.

-That could be for you, Daddy.

-Do you think?

-There's a fireplace.

-Wow!

-It's lovely.

It's beautiful.

This small townhouse has three bedrooms,

a homely living area

and a bright garden.

Hopefully, it will please all the family.

-Look at this.

-Oh, Maddy, would you like to play out here?

This is...what I was looking for, to be honest.

Nice and warm.

Stop giving me funny looks, Kelley!

You stop being cheesy!

Uh...mmm...

I don't even know what the thing is that would be the thing that would make me want to go,

"Oh, yeah, definitely!"

We just have to keep an open mind, both of us.

-Both of us?

-That's what I said.

-And see what we'll see.

-Mmm-hmm.

Go away!

It's going to take a lot more than a nice townhouse and a bit of sunshine for Kelley to move.

Adrian has his work cut out.

It is my one and only shot.

It's this week or nothing. It's not going to happen.

Back in Northern Ireland, the McKeown family

own a four bedroom property in a small village near Belfast.

If they sold up for a good price they would have a budget of around £230,000.

But Kelley loves their home, so it would take a lot for her to let it go.

There's no doubt the McKeowns will want to find a home

to make this heart-wrenching move seem worthwhile.

Finding that dream house will depend upon the area they choose to live.

And, ultimately, how much they have to spend.

The family are used to living by the sea,

so this may be a good choice for them Down Under.

But coastal homes can be expensive.

This property has only two bedrooms and, priced at £250,000,

is slightly over their budget.

Living in the city has many benefits.

There'd be no commute to work for Kelley

Plus cultural activities for the whole family

are literally around the corner.

Property prices are booming and places like this can cost upwards of £350,000.

So the McKeowns would have to look further out of town to find something more affordable.

The leads us on to the rural suburbs where properties are much cheaper.

The McKeowns could pick up

a three-bedroom home in a new development

to fit their £230,000 budget.

We decided to show them three properties in the country town of Lilydale.

It has good schools and is only a 40-minute commute to the city.

Built in a traditional wooden-slatted style,

property one has three bedrooms

and is slightly under budget at £200,000.

This is Adrian's first real opportunity

to show Kelley what Australia has to offer.

He prays the home will help to win her over.

Look at the kerb, you eejit! There's a flipping tree there, you doughnut!

-Will you stop shouting?

-No.

Right, girls.

First stop is the rather cosy kitchen.

Oh, the kitchen's tiny, Kelley.

-Yeah.

-It's very tiny.

-It's not big enough for more than one person.

-No.

And then, it's so separate from everything else, you'd be a bit...

-OK.

-It's still a lot smaller than what we've got at home.

It's nice and bright.

-Really? And the light's on. The house is quite dark.

-Do you think so?

-Yeah.

Not a good start. Maybe the backyard will come to the rescue.

Now, this is nice out here.

Yeah, it's nice to have a nice barbecue in the dark(!)

Perhaps not.

Yeah, but you can... get the sun over here.

You could stand in that one foot square piece of sunshine.

It's just very dark to be somewhere where you're supposed to be outdoor living,

it's kind of, you're not getting any of the benefit of the sunshine.

-And it's made of wood.

-You don't like the wooden houses...

-Houses are supposed to be made of bricks.

-No, they're not! You have to forget that, that's back home.

-There are houses here made of brick.

-Yes, there are but...

-other houses are made of wood.

-But they might fall down.

All right! Can you stop fighting with me?

That's round one to Kelley.

Off to property number two.

Property two also has three bedrooms

but is a bit more expensive at £230,000.

That's just within their budget.

And if a large swimming pool and views of the mountain ranges

can't tempt Kelley, then nothing will.

Oh, wow!

-It's in the sky!

-It's in the sky.

-It feels we could jump into...

-You have your own swimming pool.

-Would that be good?

-I want to live here already.

Do you?

This is nice.

-Flags.

-Flags!

Oh, this is a little bit bigger than the last house, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Oh, look at that. That's better.

-Yes, you wouldn't feel like you were stuck in...

-No, that's much better.

And it's got room for a dishwasher!

-Oh, look at this room!

-Ah!

-Hmmm.

-Oh.

Look - this is quite big.

-It's got big built-in wardrobes.

-You wouldn't even need anything else.

I know whose room this might be.

-Whose room might this be?

-My room!

-Your room!

Look at all the toys in there.

I think it's lovely. I didn't think we would find a house with this sort of size rooms

and a pool in our budget.

I really didn't think we'd find a house with a pool in our budget at all.

Yeah.

I just think it's fantastic.

What do you think? You think you could live here?

Erm... I don't know.

I don't know that our home at home is my dream home,

but I do like it.

Just need to find a compromise for you.

For me, I have to compromise?

-No, we have to find a compromise house.

-You said, "For you".

Yeah, a house that you like, which...

We're not going to be able to get a house like we have back home.

So we need to find a house you do like.

-I've found a house that I like.

-That's not what you said.

That's what I meant.

The pressure is just getting too much for Kelley to bear.

Although the kids look settled,

Mum and Dad have a lot to sort through if they're ever

going to make the move.

It may all look tempting, but for Kelley, it's just not home.

Property three is a contemporary design, offering the four bedrooms

the family crave, plus two spacious living areas.

It's on the market for £250,000,

so slightly over budget. But this is what it might take

to win Kelley over.

Nice path, isn't it?

Oh, look at this.

-Whose room do you think this would be?

-Yours and Daddy's.

-Yeah.

-It's a good-sized room, isn't it?

It is, yeah.

-Kitchen.

-Sun room. Ah, look at this.

Kitchen.

This is nice.

Oh, this is nice.

-Oh...

-Oh, what's this?

Nice balcony. You could have fun out here.

It's a long house, so it's going to have a big, long garden.

It just keeps going.

There's more space here than they'd ever imagined.

A big shed and everything.

I just think this place is absolutely incredible.

Just the sheer space, the sheer size of it.

I like the number two house because it's got the swimming pool.

And I like this house because it's got a very big garden

and four bedrooms.

You could play hide-and-seek, couldn't you?

Yeah. We could hide behind anything.

It's like a little fairy garden.

It's absolutely gorgeous.

If I was to rate this house out of ten, it would probably be

more than the first two houses added together.

It's much more what we would need.

And I love the fact that there's somewhere for the girls to play.

And it's all enclosed, so it's safe.

I... I think it's probably right at the very top end of our budget,

if not slightly outside it.

-Although that's going to depend on what we can get work-wise.

-Yes.

-I just think it's fantastic.

-It's a little fairy garden.

I can imagine fairies dancing round the tree.

I think the girls would love it.

-I think...

-Shh, you'll wake the fairies!

(Shh, there's fairies in there.)

They have seen three very different homes.

But although Adrian loved what he saw,

Kelley still hankered for her beloved place back in Northern Ireland.

Was property three enough to persuade her?

It's time for the first vote of the week.

OK, between houses in Australia and houses in the UK,

we're going to vote...

ADRIAN AND THE GIRLS: Australia!

Mummy says UK!

Mummy wants UK.

I'm shocked, why did you choose UK?

Because I still like my house more.

And I still prefer bricks to sticks.

-You're not supposed to get cross with me.

-I'm not getting cross.

I don't think Adrian understands how hard it is

because he's still caught up in his own little bubble.

I suppose Adrian said earlier on, "You'll have to make the compromise."

It feels like it'll be me that makes the compromise in everything.

It's more like submission rather than compromise, it feels like.

I don't know what that would do to us in the long term.

Obviously I want all of us to be happy, but I don't want

for me to be unhappy to make that happen, if that makes sense.

I feel very lonely on the outskirts.

But...

..that's OK.

I'm quite happy with my loneliness at the minute.

Poor Kelley is feeling the pressure.

She has serious doubts.

But it's her job that will get them the entry visa

that would make the whole thing possible.

Kelley's career in the UK means everything to her.

The job in Antrim's the only I've had since I qualified in nursing,

so it would be difficult to leave that security.

Especially when it's at the other side of the world,

and you're not going to know anybody.

I'm really hoping that I have an open mind.

Down under, Adrian knows his dream move hinges on Kelley's

experience at work. Already, tempers are fraying.

Adrian, watch where you're going.

Is there anything you really want to ask them?

I just told you, if they have jobs.

Yea, but is that it? Are you happy enough with the job?

I don't know what it's going to be.

I'm sure the hospital's a big place, it depends what department it is.

-You're shouting at me.

-I'm not.

-Yes, you are.

-No, I'm not.

I was asking you questions and you weren't talking to me.

I was thinking about the answer.

The ward Kelley will be working in today treats babies

flown in from all over Australia.

So it's bigger and more specialised than the maternity unit

she's used to back home.

-See you later.

-Love you, Mum.

Kelley may be able to better her 16 grand UK part-time salary,

but for her, it's not just about the money.

I really enjoy my job in the UK,

so it would have to be something that would be on par with that.

I wouldn't want to just work because I had to,

I would want to find something that was enjoyable and I could give everything to.

Hello, Kelley.

Boss Sheri Waldron wastes no time throwing her into the mix.

Her interpersonal skills are essential to the job,

so meeting a new baby's father is a good test.

Hi, nice to meet you.

-This is Kelley, visiting from Northern Ireland.

-Hi.

-Is this your first baby?

-Yeah.

-Been a bit of a roller coaster, I'm sure.

-Yeah, bit of a surprise.

-But she's going OK.

-Yeah?

Has she needed surgery or anything?

-No, she's avoided the surgery.

-That's good.

Just a sleep study next week, hopefully, to keep her clear.

She looks like she's thriving and getting big.

Yeah, she's put on weight the last few weeks.

The feeds are going well.

Good luck when you get her home.

-Thanks.

-And good luck, you.

BABY CRIES I think that's our cue to leave!

-It is!

-Well, thanks very much again.

-OK.

-OK, bye.

Well, boss Sheri seems impressed.

But does Kelley really want to be there?

Meanwhile, Adrian and the children grab recruitment manager,

Neil Chandaria, on his lunch break.

-How are you?

-OK.

-Yeah?

Adrian is desperate to find out what his job prospects are down under.

My biggest concern is, I'm a recruitment manager back home,

I do have a team of staff that work under me.

I'm worried about...would I get a similar role out here?

Or would I find myself right back at the start, being an administrator

-and working my way up?

-I think that's a bit drastic.

I think that you may have to take a very small step backwards,

in order to gain those stripes and move forward.

Yeah, I suppose you do need to get an understanding of the labour market,

-the laws and stuff.

-Absolutely.

If I was to come out

and have to go back to the likes of a senior recruiter role,

what sort of package would be on offer for that type of work?

I would anticipate a salary package of around...

70-80,000 dollars, is certainly achievable.

-That would be achievable?

-I would say so.

-Catch you soon.

-Thanks, mate, really appreciate it.

I found my meeting with Neil very useful.

Really nice surprise when he told me about the salaries,

the basic scale is nearly £10,000 more

than what I'm getting back in the UK.

So that was a really nice surprise.

-SHE SCREAMS

-Woah!

My biggest concern is for Kelley, how she's getting on

over at the hospital. She was very nervous this morning,

although she wouldn't let on to anybody.

Even going up in the car, she wouldn't admit

that she was feeling nervous about it.

I'm just hoping that she likes what she sees there.

At the hospital, Sheri introduces Kelley to fellow Brit Amy,

who might be able to win her over.

Did you find it difficult settling in?

I think the first three to six months,

I was ready to pack up and go home.

Just missing family and home and everything.

But I've made some fantastic friends here,

and it's probably the best thing I've ever done.

-My husband will be pleased with you for saying these things!

-Yeah!

I'm a bit more realistic than he is,

and I want to explore every little nook and cranny of moving.

It is a good move, I have to say.

I think he thinks, "Oh, your name's on a list of wanted jobs, let's go."

Kelley is that bit more careful and a bit more thoughtful through things.

I just think, sometimes you have to go with your heart.

And I feel that this is right for my family.

It does get a little bit frustrating sometimes,

that she doesn't seem to understand how passionate I am about it.

Yeah, it does.

Sorry.

Sometimes I wonder why we're on such a different wavelength

about the thing.

Kelley's very much, you know...

everything you've got, you've got back home.

But I'm looking at the longer term.

And what future I have for my two girls.

And I don't see the future back at home.

And I think somewhere like Australia, Melbourne in particular,

just offers them so much more.

My husband has had it in his head

from when he was about eight years old,

that he would like to emigrate to Australia.

Part of me is intrigued but part of me is...

I don't know whether I'm too sensible or too scared or what it is.

There is a lot of support,

and it's very easy to build networks.

Some of our nurses, they love it when new people start.

Somebody will organise a barbecue or we all go to the tennis,

or we go and see a show.

-It feels a little bit overwhelming, I think.

-Yeah.

-I feel under pressure.

-Yeah.

It's going to take something massive

to knock me off this.

And that's going to be so difficult, if Kelley doesn't feel the same way.

Oh...

Adrian and I have been talking about prospective jobs over here.

I think he is sick of me banging on about this, that and the other.

"Reality, reality, reality."

I think I've been quite negative because...

I think when you've only worked in one place,

I suppose it's safe.

Every part of me wants to lie and say, "No, it was awful,

"I could never work here."

I feel positive in that I like it.

But that's scary for me.

Yeah, I just feel a little unsettled.

I think I'm shaking a bit more now than I was before I went in!

I can't distinguish whether it's excitement or nerves,

but yeah, I don't know.

I just feel a bit... "Woah!"

Will Kelley be able to fit her family into a new life down under?

She's obviously torn, and finding it hard to work out what she feels

about a move.

Emotions are running high.

There's Mummy. Wave.

-Hello!

-Hi, there.

-Hiya.

-Hello.

-So how'd you get on?

-Yeah, it was really good,

the girl was really nice. All the people were really friendly.

What was the unit like compared to yours?

Massive, big and spacious.

Did she say anything about opportunities for you?

She said that if I felt like it was somewhere I wanted to work,

I could just give her a ring, she would have a chat with me.

OK, so do you want to move to Australia?

Erm, pass!

No, no cop-outs, do you want to move to Australia?

Pass. It's not a question I can answer straightaway.

Kelley's not quite ready for the big decision yet, Adrian.

But as far as work is concerned, how will she vote?

We've both been looking at job prospects here today.

And we're going to take a vote.

And we're going to vote for...

BOTH: Australia.

Are you surprised?

Daddy's surprised too.

-It's only one vote.

-Are we going to do it?

There's still one vote.

Kelley is finally warming to

Adrian's dream of moving to Australia.

But, with financial storms brewing,

their truce is hardly likely to last.

-I'm not patronising you, but...

-You are patronising me.

I don't mean to, but...

And facing up to the prospect of leaving loved ones behind

is not going to be easy for anyone.

'I agree it was wrong of me,'

but I was very hurt to think that they were going to move away.

I would miss Kenedee and Madison so much.

'I just would, because they're them.'

Even if Kelley does side with Adrian,

there's still the question of cost.

Can they actually afford to make the move at all?

Back in Northern Ireland,

the McKeowns own a spacious four-bedroom property,

which Adrian believes to be worth around £190,000.

We arranged for two estate agents to give a more recent valuation.

Very nice kitchen.

Belfast sink.

'Good spacious accommodation, yeah.'

Dining room is a bit small and tight.

(That's cos we've got a big table.)

Something tells me this is a girl's room(!)

FAMILY CHUCKLE

Hmm, you could do with a pair of sunglasses in here,

-'but it's a nice-sized double room.'

-Oh, the cheek!

Yep, three good double rooms

and a smaller boxroom.

That's not a boxroom. You can't get a bed in a boxroom.

A year ago, this property would have valued around £220,000-£225,000.

Due to the current decline in the housing market,

I would see this on the market around about £145,000-£150,000.

(Huh? No way.)

-Told you.

-No, that's too low.

If I was valuing this property today and putting it on the market today,

my valuation would be £140,000.

As the guy said, this time last year, you would have been looking, 200-220 for it

and I think, realistically, I was expecting at least 160 for it.

That's what I thought it would be.

You know, I'm quite shocked at them saying 140, 145.

It has... It's knocked me back.

It's not the end of the world, but it's not what I was expecting.

Might be the end of your world.

The balance of power may be shifting in Kelley's direction,

but there could be even more financial surprises in store.

We've prepared a breakdown of their daily Australian expenses,

so they can see if they can actually afford to live here.

Phone and internet...

That's 55.

Gas and electricity...

130 a month here.

Rice...

Really expensive.

-That's because it's boil in the bag.

-Chocolate is much more expensive.

It's three times the price.

After crunching the numbers, do they end up better,

or worse, off in Australia?

OK, and do the difference in salaries.

-Stop doing...

-I'm not patronising you, but...

-You are patronising me.

-..do the calculation.

-So, we would be six and a half grand a year...

-That's a month.

-..£540 a month better off.

-At that exchange rate.

The salaries over here seem to be that much better

and, erm, that's going to make a huge difference to us.

What if you still want to move here?

I'm not asking you how you're going to move,

-I'm asking, would that help a little bit, having more money?

-No.

-I said I wasn't going to base the decision on one thing.

-It would help.

It's shocked me that we are, potentially, that better off.

One thing isn't going to make the final decision, but I suppose it is not a cross.

And another tick?

No, I just said it's not a cross.

Despite being better off Down Under, Kelley still seems unconvinced,

so which way will they vote on the cost of living?

Based on the cost of living, we are going to vote...

BOTH: Australia!

That is another vote from Kelley for Australia,

but if you move to the other side of the world,

one of the hardest things to cope with is leaving loved ones behind.

We've prepared some messages, from friends and family,

back home in Northern Ireland.

Hi, everybody.

I hope you have had a wonderful time.

I've missed you, especially you, Kenedee and Madison.

'Kelley, Adrian and the girls are a brilliant family unit.'

They just really gel together. They are just lovely.

'Adrian's quite quiet. Very quiet,'

very personable.

He loves his family to bits -

Kelley and the kids, as well as the bigger family.

If I ever wanted a son-in-law, I wouldn't want one any different than Adrian.

THEY LAUGH

'Kelley is my daughter, but she is my best friend'

and sometimes she is like a mum to me, as well.

'I see her every day and even, well, not every day,

'we speak on the phone.'

Kenedee and Madison have both completely individual personalities,

'but both are amazing personalities, and for them'

not to be here - and I might not see them for a number of years,

if not again -

'that would be extremely difficult.'

'About 18 months ago, Kenedee was up here'

and, erm, she just came out of the blue and said,

"Oh, we might...we're going to go and live in Australia, in a house with a swimming pool."

'I just couldn't wait for Kelley to get back and I was in tears,

'"What's this about you going to Australia?" I was devastated. I was angry, which was wrong,'

but I was very hurt, to think that they were going to move away.

'If they leave Northern Ireland, for us, it's pretty devastating. You just don't build up'

your friendships easily and quickly in life and, erm,

'that's just the key to life, isn't it, and to living?'

'We brought them up to the best of our ability.'

As the saying says, "You can lead a horse to water,

"but you can't make it drink."

'That's how it is.'

I would miss Kenedee and Madison so much...

..cos, erm...

'..I just would, because they are kin.'

I don't know what your decision is going to be.

'I know it will be difficult for you, it will be difficult for us, but whatever you decide,

'we will support you and can't wait'

to see you back home.

Love you.

I'm missing them.

Missing who?

Everyone.

Everybody?

SHE SOBS

MADISON: Dry those tears up, please. I don't like people crying.

-I know you don't.

-Have you been crying lots?

I don't want to sound callous, but it probably doesn't change

what my decision would be...

..because there are so many ways we can keep in touch now.

Obviously, I'm upset that she's upset and...

..if we decide to move here, we might have six months or a year

or longer of this, who knows? But at the end of the day,

it has to be our decision.

I don't know. I didn't think Kenedee would get as upset, so...

I thought she would get upset, but I didn't think she would just be as upset.

-Did you think you would get that upset?

-No.

No?

KENEDEE WHIMPERS

It's very hard seeing messages from loved ones,

especially for the children,

but if the McKeowns are going to go through all the pain of separation from their roots,

they have to be sure their new life is going to be worth it.

In Northern Ireland, church is extremely important to Adrian and Kelley.

-Is it your first time here?

-Yep.

Adrian hopes that finding a similar community Down Under will help persuade Kelley to make the move.

-I want to be at the far side.

-We're not to go to the far side.

I want to be the fourth person in.

# Hallelujah... #

The Donvale Presbyterian Church has a weekly congregation of a thousand people

and welcomes new members from all backgrounds.

This should be a great way for the McKeowns to meet like-minded people.

Everyone seems to know each other and chat, and there's lots of people still hanging around

nearly an hour after the service has finished, so that's a good sign.

Everybody has been incredibly friendly.

It just seems really, really nice. I've really, really enjoyed it.

Well, it's thumbs up for church. Now it's time for the children to have some fun.

Game on!

I would have to say this is probably one of the nicest places I've ever been.

It's nice to be able to swim outside.

You can safely say there's nowhere like this back home in Northern Ireland.

Daughter Kenedee has a weak muscle condition and this place would be perfect to help strengthen them up.

We know that swim is very important to Kenedee, with her wee problem with her legs.

We'd be very happy for her to come somewhere like this as often as she wanted.

All the facilities here for her are really good

on what she's been prescribed and what she needs, so... it's really good.

As ever, Adrian's mind is on his wife.

Kelley does seem to be very positive today.

I know she had a bit of a restless night, but...

I'm keeping fingers crossed that this place may be getting to her

and hopefully getting to her in the right way.

We hope so too, Adrian.

I just feel a bit under pressure, but...I'm trying not to let it get me down as much.

The McKeown family have had an active day out. Now it's time to vote on lifestyle.

For lifestyle we vote...

Australia!

Ever since he was a child,

Adrian has dreamt of leaving Northern Ireland and moving to Australia

but a certain someone has always stood in his way.

The one I really need to convince is Kelley.

It's not a case of convincing me, it's showing me, rather than...

your one-sided opinion, "nik-nik-nik" in the background all the time.

I don't necessarily think that being here is such a negative thing.

As soon as they touched down in Australia, cracks started to show.

-This would be the final compromise for you.

-For me. I have to compromise.

It's more like submission rather than compromise.

I don't know what that would do to us in the long term.

To Kelley's amazement, she enjoyed her work day.

Everybody was so nice and friendly

and I feel a bit, "Uhhh..."

But despite a vote for Australia the battle was far from over.

I'm not asking you, "Are you going to move?", I'm asking, "Would that help a bit?"

I said I wasn't going to base a decision on one thing.

Sometimes I wonder why we're on such a different wavelength about the thing.

I feel very lonely on the outskirts.

The McKeowns have tried Australia for one week

and Kelley's eyes have been opened to Adrian's dream

but is it enough to persuade her to take such a massive step?

Adrian knows exactly what's at stake.

I would quite happily say that this week has been the best week of my life.

It's just doubled my determination that this is the right place for my family to grow up.

If Kelley doesn't vote for Australia I'm not going to lie and say I'll not be disappointed.

It will take me a long time...to... to recover.

This last week has been a bit horrendous for me.

Adrian and I have had a few more deep and meaningful conversations

than we've had in the last three or four years,

but that's not a bad thing, because it's not something you do lightly.

Even when we were looking at houses, I was thinking, "What if this didn't work out?

"Where would I live and where would Adrian live and what would happen to the kids?"

That's actually been the worst thing all week.

If we're going to move to the other side of the world for us we have to be completely secure,

and I think we needed to hear that we would be there for each other and it would be a decision for both of us.

Mummy and Daddy have been really different today.

They've been starting to get really kind and less shouty and everything,

and I think it's because it's becoming

even sunnier than yesterday or something.

I was 27 whenever me and Kelley got together

and I was thinking, "That's it, I'm never going to meet anybody,"

and then this lovely girl walked into my life and just changed it.

So my first reaction was, "I'm not losing this girl."

I love the way he loves the girls...

..and I love the way he's so passionate about things...although it drives me crazy sometimes.

His love maybe seems to get stronger, and then...

I suppose sometimes I don't feel that way about meself, so I can't really understand why he feels like that.

She knows I love her to bits

and I'll do absolutely anything for her,

and if staying in the UK's the thing that's going to make her happy

then staying in the UK will be what we do.

I don't mind what they vote for, but...

I just hope they are going to make the right decision.

The McKeowns have had a life-changing week.

They've had to dig deep and ask huge questions they've never confronted before,

but now the wait is over. It's time for the final vote.

It's been a very interesting week in one way or another,

and we're going to vote...

..Australia!

And I'm going to vote...

Australia!

SHE LAUGHS

-What?

-That's a surprise!

No, I'm absolutely stunned, but absolutely delighted.

I feel like I might puke.

-LAUGHTER

-Why?

-I don't know.

I don't know whether it's excitement or nervousness

but it does feel a bit like a weight's lifted off me shoulders, and...

yeah, we'll just have to go from here.

It's been a life-changing journey

and Kelley has made a brave decision for Adrian and the children.

Let's hope it works out for them.

I suppose at home it's easy to kind of steer towards staying at home, because you don't know any different,

and, as much as I tried to cling onto it, I really couldn't.

Australia was bigger than me. SHE LAUGHS

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