Ten pound Pomx

Gosh that's awful. I do remember signs in windows of boarding houses saying 'No blacks, No Irish' here back then. Such discriminating times including in SA then too.

Another personal reflection : friend who accompanied me daily on the bus {see above} was looking for a more suitable position. There was one such available in our company, so I was suggested she come for an interview.
Answer from personnel chief "we doan want anymore of your South African friends heya". Fairly typical in our experience

Suzykyoo is the drama true to life as you remember it? Australia must have seemed such a striking contrast to the UK. I can understand why people might have taken up the offer but also why they were so unhappy there. What an upheaval and dislocation of life. I bet your extended families were glad to see you home again.

I went out as a £10 Pom to get married and the programme brought memories flooding back. People here are given such a rosy view of Australia but we were treated then as second class citizens. Was so glad when we returned home after a couple of years and would never go back.

Currently watching and enjoying it - onto episode 3 or 4.

Aveline

They could easily do a whole series and look at how several different families got on and where they are now. Would be fascinating.

There have been films, documentaries, about the orphans sent out to Australia, about the orphanages where some children, including Australian children, were sent, about Aboriginal and Island children removed from their families (the Stolen Generation and happening still recently), about £10 POMS, racial tensions etc.

This series can't hope to cover all the topics, it will merely skim the surface of too many subjects and because of that, it could leave a feeling of dissatisfaction.

They could easily do a whole series and look at how several different families got on and where they are now. Would be fascinating.

Yes, I’d rather have had a good documentary too. I don’t remember ever seeing one advertised on this subject.

Like Musicgirl, I think I'd have preferred a documentary on the subject. Likely to be very interesting. I think the BBC have missed a trick here.

CountessFosco

May I just point out that visiting or going on holiday is not at all akin to actually living in a place - Oz or anywhere else. One tends to view the country through tourists eyes, whereas the daily living experience is vastly different.
Our 5 years, 8 months and 14 days were the unhappiest of our lives.

Yes of course you may, it's an interesting observation.

Visiting for a quarter of the year every year for nearly 20 years is not the same as living and working there full-time, of course, but it does give an insight, especially if you become part of the local community.

I'm sorry you didn't like it CountessFosco and hope you managed to settle back here. Some people find they're unsettled if they stay, unsettled if they return, torn between both places.

Just finished episode 1. Didn't enjoy it and wondered for whom it was meant to be entertaining. Or educating.

I didn’t like it at all and will not be watching it again. I would have found a documentary far more interesting - a few years ago I read a really good book on the subject. My aunt, uncle and two cousins and my mum’s best school friend were ten pound poms in 1963/4. All went on to lead happy lives down under.

I’ve watched all of the episodes and saw it as a mildly entertaining piece of entertainment.

May I just point out that visiting or going on holiday is not at all akin to actually living in a place - Oz or anywhere else. One tends to view the country through tourists eyes, whereas the daily living experience is vastly different.
Our 5 years, 8 months and 14 days were the unhappiest of our lives.

Oo forgot the Blue Mountains. Wonderful place.

I've only been to Sydney and Melbourne cities but have also been to the Dandenongs and Hunter Valley. Loved it all.

Aveline

I do like the setting though. Probably because I like Australia.

I think the Australia I know is perhaps not Atypical, not "city" Australia populated by British immigrants, Aveline.

Callistemon,

Did you look at the link?

Do you ever?

It isn’t true, playing into stereotypes that people like to think are true

I agree that it is playing into stereotypes.

Don't be aboriginal. Don't be anti-monarchy
I know a lot of republicans, few monarchists.
I know some aboriginals too, neighbours of family, school Mums, friends of the family.
😲

It was a cruel country and has made hard and brusque australians

Not all are hard and brusque. Some are lovely, just like anywhere.

And still today.

Don't be aboriginal. Don't be anti-monarchy.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-65642975

I do like the setting though. Probably because I like Australia.

If I had to rate this drama I’d give it a 5 out of ten.. Although the acting is good I found the storyline at times quite unrealistic and not at all gritty, more like a B side on a 45 record

Sounds bad CountessFosco and you'd already be quite used to racism in SA. Good on you for trying though.

Normally a lurker, simply had to respond to this. We were not 10£ poms, but went to Oz in 1986 after leaving SA. Worst thing we ever did. We were appalled at the racism towards Asians [called derogatory names], Aboriginal people [ditto]. We were desperately unhappy there and spent the next five years trying to go elsewhere which we finally achieved.
Personal example : every morning, a friend ex-SA and I boarded the same bus to go to work. Whereas there were many white locals strap-hanging daily as the bus was full, there was always one place empty, and this was next to a "full blood" aboriginal as they are termed. As we noted this on a daily basis, said friend and I determined to take turns in sitting next to him, which we did. He never spoke to us, but after ca. one month half-turned with a very shy smile. Strap-hangers smirked and looked down their noses at us. This is from personal experience of living in Perth - perhaps it is better "over east" as it is termed there.