Williamson Family Wanted Down Under

Now moving to the other side of the world is a massive undertaking for anyone

but how would you cope if the search for a better life

meant potentially splitting up the family for good?

Wendie Williamson's on a mission to move down under.

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

But it's a dream her son doesn't share.

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

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

-I'm not saying that.

Without Sonny on board, the dream could be in real jeopardy.

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

where we either stay together as a family,

or whether we leave Sonny behind in the UK.

And the reality of leaving loved ones behind could push

the family to breaking point.

I didn't think I would be upset.

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

With their winter temperatures often reaching 27 degrees Centigrade,

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

But moving thousands of miles across the globe can turn

the strongest dreams into the toughest challenges

and many return to their lives in the UK with their hopes in tatters.

The Williamsons face some huge decisions in the next week.

After experiencing the reality of Aussie living,

Wendie must convince her son he would have a better life down under.

If she can't, she risks splitting her family up for good.

It's a choice that could test the mother/son relationship

to its limit.

The journey to Perth takes the Williamsons

almost 10,000 miles from home.

It's given them plenty of time to contemplate the week ahead.

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

see what Australia has to offer.

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

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

SHE LAUGHS

But the family's decision all hangs on whether eldest son,

Sonny, can be persuaded.

I'm hoping that I make up my mind pretty early in the week,

whether to decide to come here, or not.

What if it's 50/50?

-Then, I don't know.

-Then you'll come.

There's tension in the air as the Williamsons set out

on the most important week of their lives.

When it's over they'll have to decide,

not only where their future lies,

but whether they'll spend it together.

Originally from Plymouth, the Williamsons live in Hartlepool

in the north-east.

They are Peter, Wendie, Sonny, aged 19

and Reece, who's 12.

Wendie was just 19 when she first started dreaming

of the move to Australia.

I don't know whether it was my mum's family going over about 22 years ago

and I thought it was quite a brave thing to do,

to move to the other side of the world, you know, and leave

your family behind and go and venture at another life somewhere else.

That sort of inspired me.

Wendie sees Australia as a chance for a better

quality of life for her family.

Warm, sunny, less populated than the UK.

Nice, clean-living lifestyle.

I just feel that bettering ourselves would be a great achievement.

I want to provide a better life for my children.

I want to give them better opportunities

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

It's taken some time for husband Peter to buy into Wendie's dream.

Initially, it was because I had such a good relationship with my...

my father and my parents and the rest of my family, really,

that, at the time, moving away from them wasn't something that

I could even deal with, or comprehend.

Then his dad passed away and, since that's happened,

I think his perspective has changed slightly about going to Australia.

Now I'm thinking it could be a possibility.

Wendie and Peter are so serious about the move

they've both studied for degrees to help secure work in Australia.

But eldest child, Sonny, is far from happy with the idea

and doesn't want to leave his life in the UK.

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

Everything that's going on, I'm really happy.

Everything is going really well, apart from my mum and dad wanting to move to Australia.

That would just upset everything, really.

My brother doesn't want to go.

He prefers, like, living like how he does now in Hartlepool.

When the family made the move up north, Sonny found the transition

really tough but, five years on, he settled into his new life.

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

-Mm-hm.

-Good job.

-Girlfriend.

-A girlfriend.

Me and Jen have been together for two years.

We've got quite a strong relationship.

We know each other pretty much inside out.

Sonny's struggling to accept his mum's plans.

She thinks, well, if you go to Australia you can do the same what you've got here.

When I was in Plymouth, I didn't want to leave Plymouth to move to Hartlepool.

Now I did I would never go back. I love it here, I prefer it here.

Despite the tensions, Sonny's very much part of the family's close-knit unit.

He always comes to us for advice and asks what he should do.

He comes home and talks about his day that he's had at work.

We communicate every day.

Wendie's desperate to move down under

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

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

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

I would probably say...

I don't know what I'd say because it's very difficult.

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

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

that topic of conversation going, so to speak.

So, for the sake of the family, Sonny's keeping an open mind.

I want to give it a go because if you rule out something

before you even try it, you're in a no-win situation, really.

But if he doesn't like what he sees it could split the Williamsons for good.

If they had to move to Australia, and I was to stay here,

it would be probably the most upsetting thing

ever to happen in my life, so far.

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

I just want Sonny with us.

The Williamsons are at a crossroads and the next few days could determine their entire future.

Wendie's convinced her whole family will be better off in Australia

but Sonny doesn't want to abandon his life in the UK.

She has just one week to convince him, otherwise the family

could end up living on opposite sides of the world.

I'm not quite ready to leave Sonny.

I am fully aware of that and I think he is. We all are.

The Williamsons are spending their trial week in Perth.

With an average of eight hours of sunshine, 365 days of the year,

it's one of Australia's sunniest cities, making it

a favourite destination for families seeking a new life down under.

Home for the week is Hamilton Hill,

a suburb 12 miles south of the city centre.

Will their base for the week, a modern three-bedroom townhouse

get things off to a good start?

-Very nice.

-Yeah, it's a nice size.

A nice, big television.

No Xbox, though, Reece.

Just hours in and Wendie's already thinking about what

she wants from the next few days.

My ideal outcome for the end of the week

would be that we're all voting for Australia.

Simple answer but that's it.

But for Sonny it's a lot more complicated.

Because it's my mum's dream

I kind of do feel a little bit under pressure.

I know how much hard work she's been through to try

and emigrate to Australia by going to uni and getting a degree

and stuff like that. I don't really want to hold her back.

-I think the garage is sound.

-Do you?

-Yeah.

-So you can store all your music equipment and stuff.

-Is that what you mean?

-Maybe, yeah.

-So you will be coming, then?

Wendie seems intent on wearing him down.

Because she goes on about it so much, she thinks

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

-Do you like it?

-Yeah.

-It's good. Easily pleased.

-I am.

And the whole family is feeling the pressure.

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

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

It hasn't even been a talking point.

We have skipped around the edges of it.

I feel a bit gutted, I think.

Having to, like, move on again as I moved from Plymouth to Hartlepool.

He's said to me that he knows he's going to like it.

He knows that he doesn't want to move, as well.

Sonny's desperately trying to balance his mum's dreams with his own.

It will take a lot for something to persuade me

because all of what I've got to leave behind.

If something did persuade me, then...

I would just...

I'm not sure. I think I'll just cross that bridge when I came to it.

I hope at the end of this week he bases a true decision on what

he actually wants to do.

I don't know what that's going to be, I genuinely don't.

And the possibility of a life down under without her eldest son

is something Wendie can't bear to think about.

I don't think I've prepared myself for that...

..if I'm being honest.

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

and everything is going to be really, really happy.

No, I've not prepared myself for that, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Back in the UK, home for the Williamsons is this red brick,

three bedroomed semi-detached house in the centre of Hartlepool.

We have got a relatively nice house.

It's not massive.

-We would sell it, without a doubt, no problem.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

The family plan to rent initially in Australia.

We've got other property that we don't want to sell right now.

We'd sell this house to give us the finances to make the move,

I haven't got a problem with.

But to sell our other properties, at this time,

is the wrong time to sell. So...

Renting.

They've set themselves a budget of 2,400 a month,

that's just under £1,500. What's on the wish list?

Ideally, it would be four bedrooms. I'd like to live near the beach.

Having a sea view is not that important as long as I know

I could get there within five or ten minutes.

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

And nice neighbours...

That's it. That's what I want.

SHE CHUCKLES

To give the Williamsons an idea of what's on offer

in the Perth rental market, we're showing them three properties,

ranging from what they can afford to their dream home.

After they've seen each property, we'll reveal what it costs.

The search begins in Port Kennedy,

a suburb 30 miles south of Perth city centre.

It's an area popular with families with plenty of schools,

shops and restaurants nearby.

This four bedroomed, two bathroom family home is a short

stroll from the beach and could be just what Wendie's looking for.

-Unfurnished.

-No furniture.

-It looks quite small.

-It's a small window space, isn't it?

-There's not a lot of light.

-There is not a lot of light in here, yeah.

What are you looking at? A fence?

It's not the best of starts.

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

-Are you excited about it?

-A bit.

-You are? You like it?

-It's all right.

It's definitely not love at first sight

and, as always, when Wendie's keen to know what Sonny thinks.

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

No.

-You wouldn't?

-No.

Not exactly bubbling over with enthusiasm

and things go from bad to worse.

DOG BARKS

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

SPEAKS UNDER HER BREATH

But the more you look, the more this house has to offer.

Upstairs has a large separate living area.

It's a nice space.

I'm not sure what it is. We've got a sink.

And it gives Wendie an idea.

-This could be a little flat thing for you, couldn't it?

-Maybe.

All of a sudden, the barking dog's not an issue.

-It could be a little bedsit for you, couldn't it?

-It could be, yeah.

I like it. I'd live here.

Things are looking up.

So we've got living space for Sonny.

There's another room in here.

-This would be...

-This is nice.

-It's just like a house in two, isn't it?

-Mmm.

But the view's a big letdown.

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

And remember the dog?

DOG BARKS

The dog barking like that, that's going to keep me awake, isn't it?

-I would have to be barking mad to live here!

-THEY LAUGH

It might be hard to listen to but if the price is within

that monthly 2,400 budget, could they put up with it?

For a monthly rental for this,

I would say, no more than 2,000

-Australian dollars.

-Yeah. About that.

Do you want to turn it over, Reece?

-2,400.

-It's a lot.

-600 a week.

-Yeah.

Which is our budget.

It is our budget.

If we could pick something that would suit us better as a family, for 600 a week, for sure.

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

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

-No.

It's not a great start.

This house may be bang on budget but it's nowhere near Wendie's dream.

Perhaps the next property can get things back on track.

It's in the suburb of Lake Coogee,

an Aboriginal name meaning "body of water"

and there's plenty of that around with the ocean just a stone's throw away.

It's a small, residential area, 14 miles south of Perth,

but close to the city of Fremantle, which has good shopping,

restaurants and night life. It should suit this active family.

Will this three-bedroom Art Deco home meet with the Williamsons' approval?

The bedroom, as soon as you walk in, do you think that's strange,

or is it good? Is it bad? What?

It's a bit weird, isn't it?

There is a nice view.

Do you think that's a nice view?

Well, it's better than looking at just houses.

It would be nice to have something not on a main road.

-Shouldn't we see the rest of the house?

-Yeah, we should.

That's good advice because just around the corner...

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

-Wow, what a huge, amazing space.

-Yeah, it is good.

I'm in love with this.

It looks like it's a hit.

I love it, I absolutely do love it.

We probably can't afford this.

And Wendie has another cunning plan.

We could, if Sonny worked as well and you could contribute, yeah.

Sonny could contribute, you could start paying keep, couldn't you?

-A little bit.

-Yeah.

Wendie's got a smile on her face at last

and things just get better and better.

-Look!

-What?

Walk-in wardrobe.

This is every girl's dream, isn't it?

Can I have this, please?

SHE GIGGLES

And the outside is equally as impressive

with its family-size pool and stunning living area.

But is it somewhere Sonny could see himself?

Yeah, of course I would.

-You would?

-It would be stupid not to, really.

-Of course you would.

That's just what Wendie needed to hear

but it's not long before the old tensions are back.

I just don't want to be...

unsure.

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

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

-You're not going to be with all your friends forever.

-I'm not saying that.

With his thoughts never far from home,

it's clear it's going to take more than a big house with a pool

to win Sonny over.

With a rental budget of 2,400,

is this somewhere they could afford, even if he does come on board?

-Shall we turn over and find out?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

2,100!

That 750 a week.

That's like 150 more...

A week.

-I'd be paying rent, if I did come.

-You'd be paying rent?

Sonny's contribution could make this house affordable.

-It could be, maybe.

-Yeah.

Wendie seizes on the opportunity.

-You couldn't expect it to be any cheaper than that.

-You couldn't expect it to be any cheaper

but then again you've just put something to my mind,

if YOU actually come with us and started contributing,

-maybe we could afford something a little better.

-Maybe.

That, you know, we'll have to look at that as another option, won't we?

All is not yet lost.

The final house is in Secret Harbour,

a thriving coastal community, 50 minutes drive south of Perth.

With shops, schools, a world-class golf course

and beautiful beaches close to hand, it could be the perfect location

for the Williamsons.

This impressive modern family home should tick a lot of boxes for Wendie.

That's lovely.

I love it, I love it.

Not even through the front door and it's a hit already.

-What do you think?

-I like it.

-I do, definitely.

-Do you like that staircase?

-I do like the staircase.

I like the glass, as well, where you can see through it.

And there's one feature that's definitely rubbing them up the right way.

Double shower.

I would love to have a double shower.

Of course!

I'm just a man.

I'm just a man.

Children are around.

Cringe.

Spirits are high, so what does Sonny make of the house?

-I like this room.

-Would you like it?

-Yeah.

-You've got your own bathroom.

-There's room here for, like...

desk, so I could do some drawing and stuff.

Positive vibes and there's something else to smile about.

-Oh! Wow!

-That'll be lovely to wake up to that.

Open your blinds to that every morning.

The outdoor space is perfect for Aussie living.

This is exactly what I had in mind...

..for the house, the ideal house, to move to.

Exactly.

But that doesn't stop Wendie being picky.

It's not that big, is it?

What do you want?!

-I need to find some negative.

-No, you're not.

This is your dream, do not dare find anything negative in a house

that is as good as this.

And this IS a great house.

-Mum...

-Yeah.

-What do you reckon?

-There's two.

That was his and this is hers.

That's better.

And things just keep getting better.

-Oh, my God!

-You can see the sea.

-You can see the sea from here.

-Wow!

Sea view.

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

This house is perfect for the family

but if it's over their rental budget,

Wendie's dream could be over.

-OK. I'm going to hazard a guess at...

-Yeah.

1,000 a week.

OK.

-That high?

-That high.

I'm going to say 850 a week.

Shall we turn over and find out?

That's substantially over budget.

Our budget was at 600, this is 900 a week.

It could be beyond their means but Wendie's

not giving up on it, just yet.

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

-Definitely.

-Do you think so?

-Yeah, I'd contribute.

-You would?

-Yeah.

And if Peter's salary increased down under,

the dream house could still be within reach.

Coming home from work to this.

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

-Mm-hm.

It's been an interesting day on the property front.

House number one was on budget

but the noisy four-legged neighbour put them off.

Property two ticked a lot of boxes with its family sized pool

and stunning outdoor living area.

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

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

So when it comes to properties, will it be home or away?

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

Australia!

Undecided!

-Why undecided?

-We've been shown three properties.

Only one of them was within budget and we didn't like it.

-Fair dos.

-Understandable.

-And you voted Australia.

-Yes.

Why have you voted Australia?

I wouldn't mind living in a massive house with an ensuite

-and a pool, would I?

-Right. OK, so that would persuade you?

Well, not Australia but I wouldn't mind living in it.

-I'm not saying I'd move to Australia.

-How about you?

-I think the house is much better than what we live in now.

-Yeah.

-Why did you vote Australia, Mum?

-I've seen my dream home.

My dream home, I know it was out of reach financially,

but I'm prepared to make sacrifices in order to find a dream

property where you can come and live with us too.

Wendie may be prepared to go the extra mile to keep

Sonny on board, but Peter's sticking to his guns and his budget.

If Wendie's hopes are to stay alive, it's vital Perth can offer

good work prospects for the whole family.

In the UK, Peter is an assistant manager for a petrochemical company.

The terminal that I work in, store chemicals

and fuels for heavy industry

and part of my responsibilities is to oversee the operations.

It's a job he's passionate about and he'd find it very difficult

to give up.

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

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

Wendie is a care worker specialising in drug and alcohol problems.

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

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

I thought that I could perhaps get into helping them stay off it

and maybe steer them on the right road, basically.

Having studied art at college,

Sonny is serving an apprenticeship as a tattooist.

It's a job he thrives on.

I go home and as soon as I come home,

I can't wait to go back tomorrow.

I come to work and even stay late some nights,

stay painting and drawing after work.

Just a nice, comfortable environment with great people.

Finding the right work opportunity could be crucial in persuading

Sonny to emigrate.

I would have to definitely have a job in a decent tattoo studio,

very professional tattoo studio for me to even consider

the idea of moving over there.

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

a little bit more to come.

But as the main breadwinner, finding Peter the right job is essential.

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

then I can't see how we can make the move. It would be game over.

If he can't find the right employment,

we might have to consider staying in the UK,

which fills me with dread.

With so much riding on today,

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

First, Peter is off to a recruitment agency to get the lowdown on

potential jobs in the petrochemical industry from manager, Stuart Marsh.

There's plenty of opportunity at the moment.

There's quite a few terminals near Perth or

if you're really looking to live in Perth and work a bit more

remotely, there's certainly opportunities further afield.

It's a great start for Peter.

Across town, Wendie's touring a rehabilitation centre with

manageress, Wendy Shannon.

Will her prospects be as encouraging?

-Are there job opportunities though that there are...

-I think there is.

I think what you offer and your experience

would actually suit a senior role.

A senior role would more be developing programmes

-and things like that and mentoring staff?

-Yes.

Yes, I already do that in the UK.

I think your background would be very suitable for that

and I think at that level, there is even more opportunities

because it becomes a narrower pool.

Looks like Wendie's return to university has paid off.

Back at the agency,

Peter's getting an answer to the all-important question.

I'm confident you could achieve a salary of around 100,000 plus

-benefits for you.

-Really? 100,000, that equates to about 65, £65,000?

I'd say that's right.

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

-Wow.

-Fantastic news for Peter.

As a potential senior councillor,

will Wendie's figure be as optimistic?

-It's between about 68,000 to 74,000.

-OK.

That's between 40 and £45,000 a year.

How would that fit with the work?

That's very good, actually. That doubles my salary.

Both Peter and Wendie have discovered their skills

will bring them significant earning power in Australia.

But before they can share their great news, there is

an unexpected turn of events.

They've just discovered Sonny can't be included on the family visa

as he's over 18 and a wage earner.

With the dream potentially in tatters,

Wendie and Sonny seek urgent advice from migrant official, Florence.

If you're not part of the family because you're not dependent,

then they become permanent residents and you're still in England.

But could he register for a visa independently?

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

and live in Australia,

then tattoo artist is not on the schedule of occupations list.

Wendie's stunned.

If Sonny isn't eligible for his own visa,

this could be the end of the road. But there still might be hope.

If it was possible for you to be dependent, which means,

basically, that you'd be studying and not earning money of your

own and you're dependent on your parents, then you could be included.

Wendie's dream now hangs on Sonny's willingness to give up the job

he loves to become a student again.

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

That's not what Wendie wanted to hear.

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

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

If I did look about Australia a bit more and did feel like I did want

to move here, then it'll definitely be something I would consider, yes.

OK.

Looks like the move could still be a possibility.

With a huge sigh of relief,

Wendie and Peter meet to vote on working Australia.

-Australia.

-Australia.

After a day of intense highs and lows,

Wendie's face says it all but now the pressure is really on to

persuade Sonny that emigrating down under is the best move he can make.

Wendie still has a huge battle on her hands

if she's to get the whole family to commit to Australia.

For her, the move is about a better life, so can a day out

Aussie-style bring Sonny closer to the idea of emigrating?

The Williamsons are spending the day at Lancelin,

one of the biggest sand dunes in Western Australia.

It's a chance to spend quality time together

and to gather their thoughts.

It's a special moment, really, for us to spend time together and having

this opportunity to see Australia as a family unit is very special for me.

It could be our last time together as a family.

The day seems to be going down well with everyone.

I'm getting a bit older now so I'd sooner be out with my mates

than hanging out with my mum and dad, so, it does make a nice

change and I've really enjoyed it.

If I'm honest, it's filled me with excitement.

There's a lot more to do here in Australia.

Me and my brother can go surfing, try that

and body boarding or something and we can always do this again, as well.

But for Wendie, enjoying a day with her family is a painful

reminder of what she stands to lose.

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

where we either stay together as a family or whether we leave

Sonny behind in the UK.

The ideal situation would be for Sonny to come over

on his own accord.

I'm not saying he never will

but I just don't think the timing is right for him.

So has a taste of all the Aussie lifestyle can offer

had any effect on Sonny?

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

I do have a battle going on in my mind about what

I want to do at this moment in time.

I think today has opened Sonny's eyes in terms

of the type of activities and the kind of lifestyle we could

have if we moved to Australia.

But in saying that, I think

Sonny still has unfinished business in the UK.

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

to take that away from him.

All I can do is show him how lovely Australia is

and hope that he makes the decision to come with us.

Has Sonny seen enough today to keep his mum's dream alive?

Based on lifestyle activities today, we're voting for...

ALL: Australia.

It's a clean sweep.

In spite of his doubts, Sonny's given the thumbs up

to Aussie lifestyle and Wendie's dream lives another day.

-We've had such a good day today.

-It's nice to have a family day out.

-Compared to England.

-Be together.

Nice to have a family day out all four of us together.

-Having fun together.

-Yeah.

A unanimous vote for the Australian lifestyle is great news for Wendie

but can they actually afford it?

The Williamsons plan to rent in Perth but they need to get

a good price for their home in the UK to fund the move.

They think it's worth £135,000.

We sent round two local estate agents to

give their professional evaluations.

Nice, bright entrance way. A welcoming entrance to the property.

Great bay window letting plenty of light in.

Original fireplace has been retained to give an extra feature to the room.

Nice open plan reception room with a separate dining area.

-Very well presented. Nice and modern.

-It does look good there.

It looks modern.

Another well presented room.

Quality kitchen, looks like it's been recently refitted.

Good-sized garden, easy to maintain.

It's a nice garden, easy to manage, isn't it?

We've had some decent barbecues there, haven't we?

-Oh, he's going upstairs.

-Creaky stairs.

-Good-sized bathroom.

-Well maintained.

-Spacious second bedroom. Nice and neutral.

Good bit of light coming in. Not a bad room.

-No rubbish on the floor.

-That's unusual, Sonny.

-A bit of a small room.

-It is a small room.

It's a guest bedroom, I would say.

Fitted wardrobes which is ideal for the smaller bedroom.

It's a good-sized master bedroom.

The bay windows let plenty of light into the room.

Additionally, the way they've got the wardrobes helps to create

the illusion of space and gives plenty of storage facilities.

In the present market conditions, I would look at placing this

property on the market between 135 and £140,000.

For a quick sale, £125,000.

-We said that, didn't we?

-In the current market conditions,

I would value this property at 145,000.

-For a quick sale, I would recommend 130,000.

-Yeah.

-Sounds exactly what I would think.

-Yeah.

I think the house was reasonably priced, realistically priced.

The valuations are encouraging

but what about the cost of living in Australia versus the UK?

We've prepared a comparison of costs.

How does the weekly shopping bill add up?

-Butter?

-Yep.

-£1.45.

In Australia, it's £1.68. It's only slightly a bit more expensive.

-Leg of lamb, £15.

-In the UK?

-£9 here.

-That's surprising, isn't it?

-Do we really eat all this in a week?

Yes, we do.

£85.73 per week worse off in Australia.

I could make our shopping bill cheaper if I wanted to,

which is probably what I would do if we come to Australia.

I would shop around and try and get the best deals.

Maybe so, Wendie, but how do the bigger numbers add up?

The couple decide to do their sums based on the second property

they saw.

Rent, don't pay any rent back in the UK, but here,

-monthly, would be £1980.

-OK.

-That sounds a lot, doesn't it?

£1980 a month.

-Doesn't it?

-That does sound a lot.

-That sounds crazy.

It's a huge amount of money, but in Australia, their combined

salaries after tax could provide an increase of almost £21,000 a year.

That's like having another wage coming in the house, isn't it?

That's the difference. We'd be so much better off living here.

That sounds promising but with such a massive rental outlay,

can they make the books balance?

That will leave us with £3028.

-There you go.

-So we're better off by £24.

-There you go.

It's not much but enough for Wendie.

You haven't calculated it wrong.

You've done it right and we're going to be better off in Australia.

Wendie seems sure,

but have the figures been enough to convince Peter?

-Australia.

-Australia.

We're going to be better off financially here.

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

Yeah, it came as a shock to me as well.

I was expecting to be in negative equity once I calculated it all up.

-But we're £24...

-Better off a month.

-Better off a month.

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

-I'm sure we will.

With the finances in the black, just,

Wendie's dream is still on course but she's not home and dry yet.

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

wrench for him, so watching messages from loved ones back home

could be the toughest challenge they've faced so far.

-Hi, guys.

-Hiya, guys.

-Hi, Wendie.

-Hi, Peter.

-Sonny and Reece.

-BOTH:

-Hi, Pete, Wendie, Sonny and Reece.

-Hi, Sonny.

Wendie is extremely friendly. She's got a lovely, bubbly personality.

She's quite passionate about the work that she does

and she makes coming to work quite pleasurable, really.

Pete is a real hard worker and, yeah,

he's always got a story to tell. He's always a good laugh, isn't he?

They are just a lovely family, really.

-Sonny and Reece, beautiful.

-They're very family orientated.

They do a lot together, as a family.

-Sonny is an interesting person...

-Interesting?

Got a very interesting personality.

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

-He's always good for a laugh.

-Funny, like.

-Everything he says has to be a joke.

-He's got no shame, either.

-He just does outrageous things. Anything.

-Yeah.

She's always talked about going to Australia from when she was young.

As long as I can remember.

This isn't something that's come out of the blue.

-This is a long-term plan.

-It's not a whim.

I'd be really sad to see Wendie go, I really will, but happy on the other

hand because I know it's something that she really wants.

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

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

Peter, miss coming up to visit.

Obviously we won't be able to get to Australia so often.

To lose him, it would be heartbreaking for any of us

-because he's such a close friend.

-I'd be devastated.

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

I'm getting a bit of a lump in my throat.

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

I know there'd be a lot of people that will miss you

and we certainly will. We love you and we wish you all the best.

I know it's a difficult decision for you to make but if you do decide,

or if you decide to stay, we're going to love you no matter what.

Take care, God bless.

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

and really want you to stay but then again,

if Australia is the right thing for you to do,

then you should go for it.

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

We love you so much, so live your dream.

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

it's the right decision for you to make and I miss you,

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

I didn't think I'd be upset.

I know how upset she would be if you did come and for us to make,

you know, ask you to make that decision...

We're forcing that upon you in one respect.

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

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

It's going to be difficult for us, Sonny, as parents,

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

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

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

-He hasn't made a decision yet.

-Have you?

-I think he has.

-Yeah.

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

-Yeah.

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

Can I?

Messages from loved ones back home push Sonny into a decision

and Wendie's worst fear has become a reality.

As the final vote approaches, she is faced with a heartbreaking decision.

Will she choose to chase her dream of a better life down under

or will the pain of leaving her eldest son behind

be too much to bear?

I did think that bringing everybody to Australia would...

Australia would sell itself.

Yes, I did think that

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

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

I know the distance if he needed me in an emergency,

it would be a 26 hour flight.

My mum's approach to me has changed quite a lot. I think she's...

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

because she's been kind of saying to me,

you're coming to Australia, I'm not leaving you here.

But after watching the friends and family video,

I think she kind of realised what I've got to leave behind.

Sonny's decision has deeply affected everyone.

I was upset with my brother that he didn't want to come over here

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

I would consider in all aspects of what I've got in the UK,

what possibly could be out here for me

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

But it seems Wendie has finally made up her mind.

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

So what will the final turn of the cards

mean for the Williamson's future?

-Australia.

-England.

-Australia.

-Australia.

-UK. Yeah? You're not coming then?

-No.

I've got too much to lose in England.

Do you think seeing that friends and family DVD brought it home to you?

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

-Made it clearer?

-Yeah.

-You're not saying never, never, though?

I'm not saying never, no.

It's been a hugely emotional week for the Williamson's.

Australia has lived up to all of Wendie's dreams but the decision

to make the move down under is a heartbreaking moment for everyone.

As Sonny and his family face their new futures on opposite

sides of the globe, we wish them all the very best of luck.