Migrantweb.com Hostels Forum

Len

On Saturday 2 Feb, The BBC timewatch team broadcasted at program about Ten Pound Poms. They followed the journey of nine of the poms whom took advantage of the Ten pound assisted passage scheme.

Assisted passage scheme:
The Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs of the Australian Government entered into an agreement to arrange assisted passages of migrants to Australia.
The assistance usually meant that each migrant aged 19 or over, paid �10 or roughly a fortnights wages in 1947 (when originally set) towards the passage. Younger people between 14 an 19 years paid �5. and children under 14 were carried free.

I thought the program was brilliant as it gave an insight as to what it was like and brought back some very good memories for myself.

Phyl · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Len,
That programme sounds as though it was very interesting.Wish they would show it here.
We have had some interesting memories on your site lately . I was away from it for a week recently as I spent almost a week in hospital. Took off in an ambulance in the middle of the night Rolling Eyes

. I am still here though and will have to get my thinking cap going again.
I guess as I have said before to you Some of the most interesting,happy ,scary, sad, and learning,was the many years living in Commonwealth Hostels and I will never regret having had that experience,even though I pined for my family in NZ. Over those years my children had many meals with their friends in the dining room and Tony and I often had meals there too. I met some lovely people during those years and some who maybe were unhappy and so it was difficult at times in the early days , but I guess the things I learned made it all worthwhile. Smile

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Kind regards,
Phyl

Len · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Phyl
I noticed a few days ago that you hadn�t been online for awhile and did wonder what was to do? I thought maybe you�d gone on a holiday or something, hadn�t realized you had been rushed off to hospital. Hope everything is ok with you now.

I believe the program had been shown in Australia a good few weeks earlier but not sure about New Zealand. It told the experiences of nine individuals who took up the offer of cheap fairs to Aus, one of which (a farmer) became a multimillionaire having bough some affordable land up in Apollo Bay Queensland. As it turned out, the land he bought became a very popular area with tourist etc so he built homes etc.

If it�s ever on your way then it�s a must see.

Smile

Phyl · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks Len I'll look out for it in the hope that it comes here.The chap who made millions certainly played his cards right. Sadly cry

we didn't do that.
Thankyou for your thoughts. I have to live within my limitations. Lungs and allergies damaging them are a pain that's for sure.

Better go
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Kind regards,
Phyl

Steve Mc · New Member Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 6

I remember our entire family were "Ten Pound Tourists"...we came from Scotland and calling us "Poms" was asking for trouble.
As i recall, the only catch was if you decided to go "back home" then you had to repay the full cost of your fare if you went back within 2 years of your arrival.

I remember we flew over with BOAC...certainly good value for a family of 6 to get from UK to Sydney for 10 pounds.

chrisnic · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

The program is available on DVD in Australia from the ABC shop. I have a copy.

Phyl · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

Hi Chris,
What is the DVD called please. Maybe my son who lives in Sydney will buy me a copy. Would be great to see it. Thanks for the info. Very Happy

_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl

chrisnic · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

Phyl

It's called "Ten Pound POMS", subtitled "The story of invisible British Migration to Australia" (invisible?).

Chris

Len · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

A link to the ABC Shop is below.
http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=749152

Phyl · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

Hi Chris and Len,
Thankyou for the info. Guess who's getting an email from Mummy. Laughing

_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl

chrisnic · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:15 am Post subject:

Hi Phyl

No problem, happy to help. Hope you manage to get hold of a copy, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Hi Len
Thanks for finding the link and inserting it.

phil · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:13 pm Post subject: Ten pound poms

anyone see ten pound poms on bbc2 tonight ?, only found out it was on 5 minutes prior to it being shown
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phil

Len · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

chrisnic · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:13 am Post subject:

There's also a book with the same title, probably the inspiration for the TV documentary. A couple of links:

http://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&id=hOG48C875pIC&dq=ten+pound+poms&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=vExofLxx1b&sig=7Q5BTHLVm5olVptDFd-wZrArNPE&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result

http://www.gould.com.au/Ten-Pound-Poms-Australias-Invisible-Migrants-p/mch002.htm

Phyl · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Len and Chris,
My son has ordered me a copy of "Ten Pound Poms" on back order,so I look forward to it's future arrival Very Happy

_________________
Kind regards,
Phyl