El Presidente Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Forgive the dalliance into retrospectivity. Seeing my dad in hospital this week had me cause to think. He is doing better by the way and thanks for all the prayers and best wishes. At 78 he has realised he is human and that his time here is finite. Dad hails from a small town about 135 kilometers south of Pamplona in Northern Spain. The second youngest of 5 children they did it tough post civil war Spain. Tougher that his father was an alcoholic philanderer who left the family when dad was 5. Small town rural Spain was tough enough in those years and tougher still with a single mother raising 5 children alone. My Aunty Isabel tells a beautiful story of her 12th birthday. No money, no hope their were no gifts to be had. Dad aged 10 and his brother Felix aged 7 left home at 4am on the morning of her birthday and ran the 5 kilometers to the next town to arrive just in time for the morning markets. They stole a bag of grain and carried it home where they sold the bag on the street. With the funds they went to the dress shop and purchased a sunflower patterned dress which they produced as her birthday present. Isabel still has that dress today. They were a close family. Dad tried to go to school but from the age of 12 his father use to hijack him to go and tend his goat herd. Dad always believed there must be something better, somewhere. At the age of 23 he was with friends in Barcelona where he saw a poster "Carpenters needed in Australia". He applied as a carpenter. I have seen dads work many times. He was never a carpenter Not knowing where Australia was he boarded a ship and away he went without telling family. 1955. The ship had more than a few breakdowns and he arrived in Western Australia 1956. He had met 2 friends on the ship. Upon landing they asked through a translator where the work was. Someone pointed North east ans said North Queensland. Cutting Cane. With a collective of 10 pounds they stole a Hillman and set out expecting to reach North Queensland by nightfall, not realising it was 6000 kilometers. They ended up worrking their way through states they did not know existed for people who appreciated hard work and paid fairly. He has never forgotten that. 12 months later they arrived in the North Queensland town of Tully. Dodge city. Versed in the post pub/bar fights, he thrived. Little English was spoken as his cane cutting team were a mix of spanish, Italians, Greeks, Turks, Czecks and a few aboriginals. He saved money and learn't english at the bar on Fridays and Saturdays. Cane Cutting was tough work in the North Queesnland heat. Snakes were plentiful, cut hands a given. In the off cane season he would shoot crocs in the far North for skins. Eventually he met my mother at a Tully dance. She was a trainee nun from Spain (Yess...Failed nun), they got married and moved to Brisbane. Growing up I have never seen two people work harder (6 days a week). Dad worked in Highrise construction always on the highest beams as they paid danger money. They purchased property after property and held them. They retired to the beach on the Gold coast. They sent myself and my brothers to private schools which they couldn't really afford at the time. They attended every one of my rugby games .....which they never quite understood. They always cheered the loudest and when mum was given the job to bring half time oranges she went all out. Half time to my embarrassment were cream filled home made desserts Good people, made good, in a country they never thought they would end up in. They love the place and took citizenship 20 years ago. Dad curses at the All blacks when they play the wallabies....never misses a Broncos Rugby League game...goes to the polls to cast his vote every election as if his vote is the most important in the world. He takes my kids on his knee and reads their report cards..."ery good Ben/Tom/Becky"...ery good. Ben reckons at 17 he is getting a bit big for the knee...but he complies. I will miss him when he does go. God bless the immigrants.
greenpimp Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 That was a great read, thanks Rob. What a story his life is.
mazolaman Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Yeah,a nice and moving story Rob. I bet you could hear similar stories from all over the world. We're all immigrants really,just depends how far back you go.
BradNC Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Outstanding history and story. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Fuzz AI Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Immigrants coming to Australia in the 50's & 60's really did it tough, especially unskilled labour. Every time one of my mates complains of work being hard, he tells them the story of how he used to chip cotton out past Armidale (northern NSW near the QLD border) back when he was a bordering student. Waking up at the butt crack of dawn, 10 hours working on 1km long rows of cotton, out in the blistering sun that would turn you (pardon the expression) "blacker than an Abo's bum", with nothing to drink but bore water and a pint of milk for lunch. Growing up the way I have, I'm bloody sure I'd never be able to handle that. I thought I was doing it tough working 10 hrs a day dismantling a warehouse (in my defence, it was summer and the temps got to about 50C inside). City kids have it too easy. Would love to see a program that got city kids out to the country to work for the summer. That'll give 'em some perspective on what real work is.
ZinZan Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 It does put in perspective of what our struggles compared to our forefathers. And every day we should be grateful it's because of them we are what we are.
Guest rob Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 That retrospective really reminds me of the bravery and challenges faced by my parents coming here in the 60's... no English, no money, no jobs. If they had the resources and luxuries that they have afforded me... wow, what a thought that would be! Good stuff.
dicko Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Yeah,a nice and moving story Rob.I bet you could hear similar stories from all over the world. We're all immigrants really,just depends how far back you go. That's it mate. Everyone gives immigrants a hard time but a generation later they are valued members of society. Thanks for sharing Rob.
LeafLover Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Cheers to your mom and dad Rob. Hope your dad makes it through his current struggles.
melies Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Hola Rob, my mom is from Spain also, from Galicia, and their story is more or less the same as yours, but they came from spain to Mexico. well not to bore you with details but you just let a tear run down my cheek hope everything is well with you and your family always
khomeinist Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Yep. Immigrants are the strongest humans. My grandfather toiled in a shite Buffalo factory. Died young. Never forget what your ancestors went through when you look at your surrounding social conditions. off soapbox
Joker Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Rob Thank you very much for sharing such a wonderful story. My father's story is very similar to your Dad's (and many other migrants). He migrated in 1958 from Italy, leaving all his family behind and arriving in Perth knowing no one. Worked hard, met his lovely wife and worked hard for a better life for his kids. I will never forget him, and am forever grateful for his love, guidance and wisdom. Bless them all
Puros Y Vino Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Excellent story Pres. Glad he's feeling better. Previous generations were sure cut of tougher cloth than current ones. I cringe when my mother recounts some of the crap she had to go through as a kid/teen/adult in Italy.
Nino Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Thank you for the retrospective, Rob. Having the same family experience/background from northern Spain to Germany I can well understand your thoughts. Sincere best wishes for your father.
bc8436 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks for sharing Rob, your father's story reminds me of my own dad. My father fled from China to Taiwan when he was 13 to escape the Communists. Our family were business and land owners, so everything was seized by the state. He started out as an unskilled laborer and eventually worked his way up and started his own business. It's tough to imagine what he had to go through all those years. Really makes one appreciate the luxuries we have in life.
benjaminbbush Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Great story Rob. My wife's parents/aunts/uncles/cousins were on the peter pan flights out of cuba when castro took over. Her grandparents came over later. The stories they all tell about how they survived are simply amazing. Makes my life growing up "poor" on a farm in SOuth WEst GeorgiA (hence SoWeGa) seem like one of oppulence. All the best to you and your dad.
beamer Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed reading that. Best wishes to you, your father, and your families.
Peter11216 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 It's a great story. Thanks for telling it. Like many people I'm fascinated by the period of Spanish history around the time just after your father was born. One of my favorite reads is Orwell's Homage to Catalonia. All the Best, Pete
thechenman Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Rob...thanks for sharing that family retrospective. A great history...your father is a very impressive guy. You mother sounds great as well. You are very fortunate to have had such hard working and devoted parents.
jay8354 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Immigrants coming to Australia in the 50's & 60's really did it tough, especially unskilled labour. Every time one of my mates complains of work being hard, he tells them the story of how he used to chip cotton out past Armidale (northern NSW near the QLD border) back when he was a bordering student. Waking up at the butt crack of dawn, 10 hours working on 1km long rows of cotton, out in the blistering sun that would turn you (pardon the expression) "blacker than an Abo's bum", with nothing to drink but bore water and a pint of milk for lunch. Growing up the way I have, I'm bloody sure I'd never be able to handle that. I thought I was doing it tough working 10 hrs a day dismantling a warehouse (in my defence, it was summer and the temps got to about 50C inside). City kids have it too easy. Would love to see a program that got city kids out to the country to work for the summer. That'll give 'em some perspective on what real work is. Screw that Fuzz, just get them to unload a 40 footer filled with charcoal in summer. That will sort them out real quick.
Erm310mce Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks for sharing Prez, it's amazing the difference in how we live even in just one generation. My Dad is also an immigrant and I tell him all the time that I'm not sure I'd have the guts to go to a new country with nothing. Amazing what they went through for us.
kcheek Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 Thank you for sharing your story Rob. It sounds like your dad did really good for himself and his story is very inspirational.
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