Your stories
Read some of the stories submitted by other visitors to the Travelling for Love exhibition.
Stories
Elaine and Geoff | Glen, Sunnybank to Sydney | King Island
Have you travelled for love?
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Elaine and Geoff, trans-Pacific relationship, 1975
In August 1975, during my summer break from college in Idaho, USA, I flew to Queensland to join my Aunt and Uncle on a driving holiday. There were four other people on our meandering road trip from Gladstone to Cairns. One of them was a young Australian science teacher, named Geoff. I was studying science at college in Idaho and I recognised some of the textbooks on his bookshelf. On the trip north, Geoff and I had plenty of time to talk and I learnt that his trim shape came from playing rugby union. By the time we had taken the boat back from South Molle Island, I had spilled a coke on him (for the second time) and we had decided we were interested in each other in a romantic way.
There were many things about Geoff that impressed me: his collection of music tapes and his knowledge of the story behind a classical music piece, our discussions about religion and family, and the nice way he treated his mother when we stopped at his parents’ house on the journey.
Holidays end, as they must, and we promised to write to each other. I hoped he’d write, but secretly did not expect him to. When I returned to college in Idaho, a letter was waiting for me. Geoff must have written at least three times a week that semester, and I tried to write a cheerful and chatty reply on the little blue aerograms we each used. At Christmas time he came to visit. He stayed with my family for his six week vacation and we became engaged.
As my final semester began, he returned to Australia and I tacked some education subjects to my science course so that I could teach in Australia. For the first and only time in my life I marked the days on the calendar until we would be together again. Geoff was busy organising the paper work to sponsor a foreign bride and plan a wedding, but still took the time to write every day. The Australian Consulate sent a woman up from San Francisco to Idaho to interview me and determine my suitability to become an Australian resident. Not much older than myself, she warned me that Queensland was very backward. I replied that Idaho wasn’t exactly the centre of the universe either.
With my mother’s re-sized wedding dress and a veil in my suitcase, I left for Australia the day after my last college exam. We were married in St Christopher’s Chapel outside Rockhampton. The chapel was built by American service personnel during WWII and seemed a logical place for a trans-Pacific wedding. We married, by coincidence, on the day of my parents’ wedding anniversary, June 19th, 1976.
Now, two children and thirty-two years later, we have learned a lot more about each other. There were culture clashes on occasion, but nothing we couldn’t overcome. The relationship we have now is even stronger, and though I thought I knew what being in love meant when I was 20, I knew nothing. Would I do the same thing again? You betcha.
Elaine, 2008
Glen, Sunnybank to Sydney
In the mid 70s, I worked in Sunnybank Brisbane, and my true love was living in Sydney. Every Friday evening, I caught the overnight bus to Sydney, leaving at around 5-30pm and arriving around 8 am next morning. Every Sunday evening, I returned, arriving back to work at 9am, straight to work from the bus! I did this every weekend for 18 months! (bar a mere handful, when my love travelled up to me)...
Now here is the nice comfortable twist: I became good friends with the manager of the buslines. At lunchtime Friday, I phoned him, and he offered me the choice of the 2 videos to be played on every single trip, and return. I was allocated 2 seats (the one next to me was always ear-marked as a spare), the manager kept 2 large fluffy pillows at the terminal, and these were duly placed in my seats for my embarking. The best part: the trips were allocated completely FOC. Why? The busline was fascinated with my committment, and offered the free trips as long as I remained in true love. Along the journey, two of the eat-houses also welcomed me in with familiarity, and meals were also offered FOC.
The romantic ending? I moved to Sydney, where we remained together for quite a few more years, then life took over and we went our separate (and respectful) ways!
Glen, 10 Feb 08
King Island
My mum was living in Sydney trying to save money for an overseas trip, back in the late 1940s. As it was difficult to save due to a hectic social life, a friend suggested she apply for a nursing position on remote King Island – where it would be easier to save. On stormy King Island, she met Thor, a local grazier. He introduced her to the charms of island life – golf, tennis and many local "dances"! Finally, after marrying Thor and raising three children, she had that overseas trip – after 18 years not 18 months as first planned. Mum still lives on King Island at the age of 86. Thor passed away 20 years ago. Their son still runs their beef property and their two daughters (one being me) and three grandsons travel regularly back to the Island to visit home.
Anonymous
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Last updated: 17th November 2009
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