Living in Canberra

[Thinus]

Hallo Almal,

Ons het lank gewag vir 'n antwoord, maar die wag was die moeite werd!! Klink of ons die regte plek gaan kies!!

Kan ek die vergelyking maak om te se Canberra is soos Bloemfontein?

Almal se dat daar baie werke is vir staatswerkers (citizens), aangesien ons DV net PR sal he, so hoe moeilik is dit dan om werk te kry, eks rekenmeester en my man in IT (unix administrator)?

Weereens dankie, hierdie inligting is baie insiggewend.

As 'n ex-Vrystater dink ek die plek is nader aan Stellenbosch (sonder die fantastiese berge) as Bloemfontein. Ons bly egter nou al amper 4 jaar hier en ek bly lekker. Die weer is regtig nie so sleg nie en as jy 'n voetslaner/fietsryer is is dit hemels - vreeslike uitgebreide wandel en fietsrylane.

Hier is nogal verbasend baie ex-RSA mense - tydens die laaste sensus was daar iets soos 1600 mense in Canberra wat in die RSA gebore is.

Ek dink die unieke kenmerk vir ons is dat dit 'n large country town is met al (of amper al) die fasiliteite van 'n stad.

Ons was gelukkig om onlangs nog 'n ex-RSA GP te kry wat by ons begin werk het (maak nou drie van ons en 4 van die 6 personeellede is ook Afrikaans) en sekere dae (soos vanoggend) was die meeste van my konsultasies in Afrikaans.

Laastens sal ek regtig bly wees as ek nie die enigste Cheetah ondersteuner in Canberra is nie - so roer jou stert en kom

Thinus

Edited February 16, 2008 by Thinus

[Voortrekker]

Het Canberra meer waterbeperkings as die res van Australie? Water beperkings is nie vir my 'n te groot probleem nie, want Windhoek het redelik gereeld water beperkings gehad.

Retha, ek weet wat jy bedoel. Ek onthou waterbeperkings maar ook van kindsbeen af. Canberra se klimaat is nogal soortgelyk aan waar ek groot geword het. Nou is ek in Vancouver, en jy weet wat dit beteken itv reën. In Oz is die hele binneland maar droog. Canberra se droogte duur nou al etlike jare, maar ek glo die beperkings is hierdie seisoen effe verslap met beter reën. Climate change is orals. Ek wens ons kan van ons water hier uitvoer in ruil vir "blue skies".

Jy doen dit seker reeds, maar indien nie, kyk na die Canberra Koerant. Ek kry die hoofopskrifte in my Inbox elke dag.

Of spesifiek die utility company Actew.

[5vannemerwea]

Hallo Thinus

Gelukkig is ons hele gesin groot cheetha aanhangers, so ons sal darem saam kan skree as die Oranje span driee druk.

Ek hoot die Saffers in Canberra kom darem so van tyd tot tyd by mekaar, hulle is maar stil op die forum veral as dit by koffie klubs kom.

Martin

[Thinus]

Hallo Thinus

Gelukkig is ons hele gesin groot cheetha aanhangers, so ons sal darem saam kan skree as die Oranje span driee druk.

Ek hoot die Saffers in Canberra kom darem so van tyd tot tyd by mekaar, hulle is maar stil op die forum veral as dit by koffie klubs kom.

Martin

VRYSTAAT!!!

Die bymekaar kom is maar redelik op klein skaal - meestal huisbraaiery. Greg is 'n ou wat so 1-2/maand e-posse stuur dat hy weer boerewors, koeksisters, biltong en droewors maak - nie te sleg nie alhoewel ek die Gungahlin slagter se boerewors verkies. Greg maak so paar keer 'n jaar 'n groot hoeveelheid en dan hou hy 'n funksie erens - gewoonlik langs Lake Burley Griffith op 'n Sondag.

'n Ander lekker ding is 'n groot braai wat so 1-2/jaar op Jan en Ilse (ex SWA) se plaas buite Booroowa (so 150km hiervandaan (afstande is baie anders - 150km word as net om die draai gesien)) - laas keer was daar so 70 mense daar en daar was skaapbraai, vlermuisies, melktert en dans met boeremusiek in die skuur. Niemand word gesuip nie (Jan is 'n baie sterk Christenmens en laat nie sulke dinge toe nie) en almal kuier net lekker saam - die oumense in Afrikaans (meestal), die jong klomp meestal in Afrikaans maar die aanhangsels is gewoonlik local so hulle verstaan net Engels en ongelukkig sal die meeste kiddies in Engels speel. Dit begin gewoonlik so teen 3NM en ons gaan gewoonlik so 11PM huistoe - dan begin die jonges eers kuier

Groete

T

[5vannemerwea]

Ek is self gebore in Windhoek en groot geword in Outjo - geboer daarso.

Sien uit daarna om in te skakel en saam te kuier sonder om gesuip te word!! Die Aussies kan dit nogal goed doen.

So, vir die tweede maal in my lewe moet ek 'n land en omstandighede wat vir ons boertjies lief en dierbaar is agterlaat en wegtrek. En dit a.g.v. Afrika en sy intelegensie.

Martin

[Smitte]

Net jammer die oranje span wou nie hierdie naweek driee druk nie!!!!!!!!!!

Canberra klink na 'n baie lekker plek, dit bly bo aan ons "want to be there" lys!!

[5vannemerwea]

Ja-nee, moet ongelukkig saam stem met daai een.

Ek kry nog net nagmerries oor daardie bibberinde foto, verder raak ons self al ongeduldig opgewonde om oor die see te vlieg.

Smitte, gaan ons julle by die expo sien einde Maart?

Martin

[Smitte]

Hallo 4vd Merwers,

Ja, ons sal die Pta expo bywoon. En julle?

Hoe ver is julle van PR af? Of het julle dit alreeds en werke in Canberra?

[Madelein]

Hi Martin

Ek moes daai foto insit om julle voor te berei op die ergste, dan is dit darem nie so erg as julle daar is nie. Dan is daar gluwein wat darem weer die are sal lewe gee, of 'n lekker soetetjie voor julle gaan slapenzie. Canberra het een reuse voorsprong: jy ken jou bure en jy kuier saam met hulle. Maak maklik vriende, maar dit het ek al gese.

Nou toe nou... So, van watter van der Merwe's is jy van Outjo? Ek dink ek mag jou Pa dalk ken, as ek so na jul foto kyk - ek het 2 jaar daar gebly en gewerk. As jy Outjo se winter kon hanteer, sal jy Canberra s'n ook kan hanteer. Onthou, dis nie altyd dat dit so dik sneeu daar nie, die weer was maar net laasjaar lekker omge-ellie! Die wereld is baie dieselfde as in Outjo, jy sal heel gemaklik inpas daar. Daar is nou wel nie kudu's nie, maar heelwat kangeroo's, wombats, en allerhande Ozzie gediertes wat jou groot plesier sal verskaf. Mens mag nog met hout braai daar. Nog 'n voordeel is dat jy biltong en droeewors regdeur die jaar kan maak. Jy en jou familie sal goed aanpas in Canberra - ek het, maar my ega se alie het gejeuk en dis nie 'n dorp vir 'n visterman nie.

Hoop jy het nou gemoedsrus en droom lekker drome...

Madelein

PS: so ietsie om na uit te sien vir die winter:

Gluwein

Ingredients:

4 qts. dry red wine (such as zinfandel, pinot, burgundy, etc.)

1 qt. dry white wine

1 pt. Marc (or heavy brandy)

1 c. white sugar (more to taste)

6 sticks cinnamon

12 whole cloves

1/8 tsp. allspice

1/8 tsp. mace

2 oranges

1 lemon

Directions:

Pour 6 ounces red wine from the first bottle into an appropriate glass for later quality control checks. This may need to be repeated from another bottle, at the cook's discretion. Pour the remaining wine from the first bottle into a 3 gallon pot (or larger) and begin gentle heating. As it begins to warm, add sugar and spices. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add Marc (or brandy) and all remaining wine. (Note: if there are too many quality control checks, it is frequently necessary to purchase more wine.) Heat thoroughly but do not allow to boil! Add thinly sliced lemon and 1 orange and allow mix to steep for about 1 hour over low heat. Add more sugar during this time if desired, but do it slowly and ensure it dissolves. Frequent samples are usually required during this time, again for the sake of quality control. Serve hot and garnish with orange slices. A stick cinnamon could also be used. Serve about 12-15 folks, or two quality control inspectors.

Edited February 23, 2008 by Madelein

[5vannemerwea]

Hallo Madelein

Jong, jy gee my nou sommer moed.

Ons was van ongv 1985 tot 1988 in Outjo. My pa is Cor van der Merwe, hy het Outjo ingenieursdienste gehad en later het ons net buite die dorp geboer. My Oom was die gesondheidsinspekteur - hy het later by Luderitz met 'n vliegtuig weg geraak.

Ek het my laerskooljare daar deurgebring. Dit was die beste tyd van my skooljare!!!!

Ek is bly dat Canberra en Outjo so vergelykbaar is, ek verlang nogal gereeld na my heimat!

Dankie vir jou post en die positiewe inligting en varal vir die resep, gaan dit verseker gebruik. Die biltong deel is die beste nuus nog!!!

Groete

Martin

[Madelein]

Hello

Ek was daar so die einde van '87 tot met onafhanklikheid in in '89. Ek was pelle met die Marais en Piet Kroese en ons het daardie tyd die wereld versit (rondgery en dagtrippe gery met die fiets tot by Etosha panne). Dit was jarre en jarre terug... Ek moet se, dit was my gelukkigste tyd. By die hospitaal gewerk en baie mense ontmoet. Ek mog dalk jou Pa ontmoet het, maar ek het hom nie geken nie - gedag jy's dalk iemand anders se seun...

Ek kan nie glo dis so lank terug nie!

Maar ja, Canberra is 20 stukke beter as Outjo: groter, maar tog klein, net lekker. Julle sal goed aanpas daar.

Oeps, terug werk toe, ek sal later weer chat...

M

[Smitte]

Hallo to All,

How is the crime in Canberra, as we heard that there is crime in Perth? Or is it not compared to whats going on in old SA?

Thanks.

[Thinus]

Hallo to All,

How is the crime in Canberra, as we heard that there is crime in Perth? Or is it not compared to whats going on in old SA?

Thanks.

You are joking, right?

I'll give you an example - our Neigbourhood watch drops a bi-monthly newsletter off and in it the crime stats are given for our two suburbs (Melba/Spence). In Dec-Jan (festive season when there is a lot more drunken activity and crime) there were:

3 x Assault

2 x vehicle thefts

13 x other theft

8 x Burglary - dwellings

7 x Criminal damage

This is two fairly large suburbs, one of them with a lowish socio-economic profile - note no murder, attempted murder, hijackings etc.

So yes there is crime but over two months we had less in these two suburbs than the average Pretoria (? Tshwane) suburb would have in a day

T

[Smitte]

Nee, wou net bietjie kyk wat is die Canberrans se reaksie!!

Ook verblydend om te hoor.

[Thinus]

Nee, wou net bietjie kyk wat is die Canberrans se reaksie!!

Ook verblydend om te hoor.

Nou maar toe - ons is sesntive oor sulke dinge jong

T

[Ready2go]

Hi everyone,

So chuffed that I have found folks living or planning to move to Canberra. Everyone we chat to is either going to Perth, Sydney or Melbourne. My hubby and I plus our daughter 12 and son 14 are just waiting for my IELTS results, due any day and then hopefully our permanent residence will be granted. Hubby has a job waiting in Manuka, salary of about $75000,00 pa - hope we can survive on this as we wont be bringing over very much, especially with the current exchange rate.

We have been learning all we can about Canberra and it sounds great. We live in the Hillcrest area of Durbs and was wondering to which city/town in SA you could compare it too ? My next question, my son is ADHD and does anyone know if there are special schools for kids with learning disabilities or do they just attend mainstream ?

Some posts say that all areas in Canberra are great, but are there some areas we should avoid ? Remember Im still in Africa, my family cannot wait to get out, if we are subjected to one more incident of crime we dont know if all 4 of us will make it out alive. The situation here is very bad.

Cheers,

Lin

[Karen R]

Hi Lin

I have the same questions. (Moving there in April)

All I saw of Australia was Brisbane and Townsville (Very nice!). This waiting is making me craaaazy!!

[Thinus]

Hi everyone,

So chuffed that I have found folks living or planning to move to Canberra. Everyone we chat to is either going to Perth, Sydney or Melbourne. My hubby and I plus our daughter 12 and son 14 are just waiting for my IELTS results, due any day and then hopefully our permanent residence will be granted. Hubby has a job waiting in Manuka, salary of about $75000,00 pa - hope we can survive on this as we wont be bringing over very much, especially with the current exchange rate.

We have been learning all we can about Canberra and it sounds great. We live in the Hillcrest area of Durbs and was wondering to which city/town in SA you could compare it too ? My next question, my son is ADHD and does anyone know if there are special schools for kids with learning disabilities or do they just attend mainstream ?

Some posts say that all areas in Canberra are great, but are there some areas we should avoid ? Remember Im still in Africa, my family cannot wait to get out, if we are subjected to one more incident of crime we dont know if all 4 of us will make it out alive. The situation here is very bad.

Cheers,

Lin

I am assuming you would want to stay Southside as Manuka is there. Unfortunately we are deep in the Northside and I do not know much about that part of town. Certainly would not be affordable to try and stay in Manuka area as that is a very expensive part of of town. Have a look at sites like allhomes.com.au and compare - there are fairly established suburbs like Lyons but there are also large areas of newer suburbs further south towards Tuggeranong. Just remember that the house rental market is very tight and the economy is generally starting to pinch here as well (as everywhere in the world at the moment)

Read this thread's past postings as to which town it compares to - I think Bloemfontein or Stellenbosch comes closest.

The degree of disability will determine what happens with your son - if not too severe they will keep him in mainstream but in the public schools you could be funded for a dedicated teaching assistant. There are various schools with units for autistic and ADHD kids but the ones I know of are all on the Northside so may not be much use for you

T

[Ready2go]

Hi Thinus,

Just received IELTS results. Was a stressfull few weeks. Just hope these visas get approved asap. Im a little concerned that you mention government funded teacher as this may be seen by the Australians as a drain on there funds. We had our medicals done early December and immigration came back with a request to have a further evaluation on my son. He just cannot keep up in a mainstream environment.

Thanks for the info about the areas. Are there any "unsafe" areas? I have heard Manuka is pricey but it seems some places North of the Lake are also ridiculous, Bruce Beloconnen etc. Maybe Gunghalin ? How are the roads from there to Manuka ? We really cant be fussy, what about caravan parks, seriously we could end up in one

Cheers all.

[Thinus]

Hi Thinus,

Just received IELTS results. Was a stressfull few weeks. Just hope these visas get approved asap. Im a little concerned that you mention government funded teacher as this may be seen by the Australians as a drain on there funds. We had our medicals done early December and immigration came back with a request to have a further evaluation on my son. He just cannot keep up in a mainstream environment.

Thanks for the info about the areas. Are there any "unsafe" areas? I have heard Manuka is pricey but it seems some places North of the Lake are also ridiculous, Bruce Beloconnen etc. Maybe Gunghalin ? How are the roads from there to Manuka ? We really cant be fussy, what about caravan parks, seriously we could end up in one

Cheers all.

Lots of kids around with ADHD, ASperger's , Autistic spectrum issues, etc. Very common to have kids with teacher's aids assigned and funded for them in teh public primary schools.

No specific unsafe areas - most suburbs are a mixture of private and public housing so conditions can literally differ from suburb to suburb

Gungahlin area (includes several suburbs) is new and still fairly expensive - travel to Manuka could be a problem although these things are all relative - you are looking at maybe 20-30min travel time one way at peak traffic.

Caravan parks are available but wil not really be a longterm option.

Just do a web search - lots of info if you use the right search terms

T

[Ready2go]

Hi Thinus

Thanx for the info, will do a search and check out south of the lake. Just not knowing anyone in Canberra is overwhelming. Some days we say to ourselves that we must be crazy to be contemplating such a move. Then reality kicks in.

I have tried to read all posts but my Afrikaans is not so hot, and hubby does translations. (born in Seychelles, second language rusty French) So bear with me folks. Do you guys get together at all in Canberra ? Can I expect to meet South africans in my daily comings and goings? We hear there are so many of us over there in Oz.

Cheers everyone and thanks for taking the time for starting this section on Canberra.

[Ready2go]

Hi guys,

Just wondering - is the weather starting to cool down in Canberra ?

Cheers

[Thinus]

Hi Thinus

Thanx for the info, will do a search and check out south of the lake. Just not knowing anyone in Canberra is overwhelming. Some days we say to ourselves that we must be crazy to be contemplating such a move. Then reality kicks in.

I have tried to read all posts but my Afrikaans is not so hot, and hubby does translations. (born in Seychelles, second language rusty French) So bear with me folks. Do you guys get together at all in Canberra ? Can I expect to meet South africans in my daily comings and goings? We hear there are so many of us over there in Oz.

Cheers everyone and thanks for taking the time for starting this section on Canberra.

We do have get togethers but only a couple of times a year - sometimes just a barbeque down at the lake, sometimes out on a farm an hour's drive away.

I would safely say that you are likely to run into an ex Saffer at least once a week - AFAIK there are about 1500-2000 of us in Canberra

T

[Thinus]

Hi guys,

Just wondering - is the weather starting to cool down in Canberra ?

Cheers

Yes it is

http://www.bom.gov.au/

T

[Ready2go]

Hi everyone,

We are still awaiting our visas. No news yet. Hubbys job in Manuka called yesterday, and they are getting desperate. Hope we dont lose this opportunity.

Great to hear that there are quite a few ex south africans in Canberra. Met a guy yesterday from Oz whose son lives in Hacketts. Assures me we are doing the right thing to leave S A. Time will tell.

Your weather seems to be getting chilly. That must take some adjusting !!

Cheers.