the family from Wollongong fighting to make both daughthers equal

My name is Evelyn. I live in Wollongong about 90 minutes south of Sydney. I’ve been married to Peter for 36 years and we have two daughters, Emily, 31, a lawyer and Sarah, 25, an accountant.

I grew up in England, and emigrated to Australia in 1973. I met my husband in 1968 while studying for a degree in Biological Sciences at university in the UK. I wanted to teach, so I completed a Diploma of Education in primary school teaching and taught in the north of England and in London for a year before making the move to Australia. We were among the last of those who were known as ‘ten pound Poms’, as that was the price we paid for the flight from England.  We came to Australia to join my parents and sisters who had emigrated here in 1971.

Peter and I had very simple wedding with family and the few friends that we’d made in the 11 months since our arrival in Australia. In was in a church (like everyone did in those days) in Wollongong, with a Pizza Hut shaped roof and the minister was happy for me to omit the ‘obey’ in the ceremony! I travelled to the church in my sister’s orange Datsun 120Y, with a plastic hand-held fan to stop my make-up melting in the heat! The reception that followed was in my parents’ rumpus room!

Peter and I like to think of our family as a very close one…. Continue reading →