Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

Carol Emanuel

I am very excited to find this website. I lived inCabramatta Hostel for 1960- 1965. I have not met anyone who was on a hostel longer than my family. I was only 6 when I arrived with my mum and dad and four siblings. We arrived in Sydney on the ship 'Fair Sea' 24th May 1960 on croacker night. It was dark when we disembarked and trveled by a bus that picked up the migrants and took them straight to the hostel. There was crackers, rockets and bonfires being lit everywhere. In England I saw a docuementary telling us how welcome we were to go to Australia. When I saw the bonfires etc I thought "they really do want us'and thought the celebrations were just for us! I wrote a poem about this a few years ago (maybe I will post it one day) and gave it to my parents and they had no idea that I had thought that and had a little laugh (dosn't spoil the memory though). Seven of us when we arrived...we number around 65 now. Best thing my parents did bringing us all to Austalia. I have so many wonderful memories. Sounds terrible but I could say 'pig' in 16 languages and was quite proud of it (thats what the kids called eachother and was about as rude as we got). I would love to hear from others especially who was at the hostel the same time as me as I would like to test my memories.

Love to say more but gotta get up early.
_________________
Cheers
Carol

stormfour · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject:

Hi Carol
Welcome to the site,look forward to reading your poem,hope you find other people you knew on the hostel,I have found heaps,it has been great
_________________
Carol Myers Altona Hostel Dec 1962 - June 1964

Phyl · Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:04 pm Post subject:

Hi Carol,
We were on Cabramatta 1965,my late husband Tony Hobbs was one of the managers.
Smile

_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl

Len · Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject:

Hi Carol, welcome to the forums.

wave

Len · Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject:

Carol has asked me to post her poem.
So here we go;

A New Life for the Family

A new life for the family
Opportunities to seek
We left for Australia
With the ship �Fair Sea�

The ten pound scheme
Paid for the fare
Five children, my parents
And luggage we bare

Six weeks it did take
On the huge rolling waves
In the ships hospital
Nauseous till I gave

It was Empire Day 1960
When in Sydney we docked
To Cabramatta Hostel
All the migrants did flock

On the eve of the first night
Around about dusk
We saw bonfires and rockets
I thought the celebration was for us!

Four and a half years
We lived in a two room Nissan hut
Sharing the facilities
We all learnt was a must

Still every year without fail
We went on holidays
Had wonderful Christmas�s
Crafting memories to tell

The memories are shared
With grandchildren and great grand children alike
Our number now makes fifty three
Who could foresight?

A new life for the family
Opportunities to seek
I thank God my parents took the plunge
Sailing with the ship �Fair Sea�

Carol Emanuel 25 August 2002

Phyl · Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 12:06 am Post subject:

Great poem Carol, thankyou for sharing it Very Happy

_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl

richardhallford · Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 11:55 pm Post subject:

Hi Carol. I was on Cabrammatta for a few short months, but in 1968.
_________________
East Hills Hostel Aug 1966 to 1968. Nissen Huts 81 and 83d

Susan Gillet · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject:

Love your poem Carol. I too came to Australia with my parents and 4 siblings, (one more was born here after we left the hostel). We haven't grown quite as much as you, but we are not far off.
_________________
Resident of Altona Hostel, 1963-1965

Carol Emanuel · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for that. We number around 65 now (not exactly sure). All this has made me think about making book about our life in Australia. Where did you hail from?

Helen Stewart · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:34 am Post subject: New Member

I am thrilled to bits to find this site (actually it was my brother who found it and told me about it). My name then was Helen Black and we came from Scotland on the Fairsea in 1959 and moved onto Cabra Hostel (hut 45E). Mum Cathy, Dad Davie, siblings Moira, me, Sandra, David, Sylvia and Douglas. Carol - I believe the Black family beat your record - we were there for 6 years!! I remember your family very well, I used to go to Cabramatta swimming pool with your sister Yvonne. I remember some of your other siblings - Stefan and Lawrence, and of course your Mum and Dad. I cut my finger pretty badly one time and your Mum bandaged it for me and made me a cup of tea! My parents are still going strong - Dad is 90 now and Mum 82 and they have been married 62 years!
Hope to hear from you and anyone else who remembers us.
Cheers
Helen

Carol Emanuel · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:03 am Post subject:

How absolutely thrilling to hear from you. Yvonne was here visisting from Queensland a few days ago and we tried to find you on Facebook. Are you on Facebook. She is in the process of setting her facebook up. For some reason I am unable to post a personal email to you on this site and do not have time to work it out as I am leaving for newcastle 4.30am in the morning to visit my daughter. It is not wise to give out personal information for this post other than facebook. This is my Facebook Carol_emanuel. Yvonne is a friend on my page. Sorry i am waffling.

need to get back to my hubby who has just come home after three weeks away working before I leave in the morning. I am very excited and hope to make stronger connection soon. I rang Yvonne and read your post to her and said she will contact via this site if she can set it up or through Facebook.

Carol Emanuel · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:05 am Post subject:

By the way, your dad and mine were great friends. he will be thrilled thta your parents are still around. What state and suburb do they live in? They love travelling and may like to visit.

Helen Stewart · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:06 am Post subject:

Hi Carol,
Sorry, I haven't mastered FaceBook yet. Mum and Dad live in Liverpool NSW, in the same house they moved into when they left the hostel! My daughter, Naomi, and I are business partners in a Chiropractic clinic. She is the Chiropractor and I take care of the business end of things. We just won a business achievers award and we are thrilled to bits about that (please excuse the blatant bragging). Where are all your family living now, are they spread out all over the place? Better get back to work. Talk soon.
Cheers
Helen

Carol Emanuel · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:24 am Post subject: Mum & Dad

Hi helen

Sorry its taken so long to get back to you. I havn't mastered this website yet. Dad and Mum will be visiting the Gold Coast in June to stay with Yvonne whi is travelling around Australia with her hubby Frank and is currently in Tassie. Dad in aprticular would like to catch up with your Dad. It would be good for him as Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. She had many tests today to see if it has spread. Thursday we get the results and treatment will be based on this. Talking to your Dad will bring a cherrie moment in my dads life right now. My email is [email protected]