Kogarah Stories: I remember the time when ….

I remember the time when ….

Lillian O'Brien

I went to America in the late 60’s after I finished my University Degree in Philippines.

I was granted the opportunity to study further and took up Business Management in one of the Universities in San Francisco California. While I was in San Francisco, my friend who was working at the Canadian Consulate at the time encouraged me to apply for a teaching position in Canada, but my intention really was to Try and apply for a teaching position in Australia because it is closer to Philippines and the weather is far better than Canada. So, I applied to both hoping that one of them would offer me a teaching position.

While I was waiting for any reply, I went to New York to work for my professional year at a Jewish company –“ I. Magnin” a big famous clothing company. The work was fine and my pay was just enough to pay for my food and accommodation which I was sharing with a friend. New York City is exciting, alive in every way that is why it is called the city that never sleeps. I almost forgot about waiting for a reply and was starting to love the life in NY until one day my cousin phoned that I had two letters one from Canada and the other from Australia. I asked her to open them and so surprised know that both sent me a letter of acceptance: Canada offered a teaching position in New Found land and Australia: in Sydney New South Wales. After a careful consideration and a bit of research, I decided to accept the Teaching position offered by the Sydney Catholic Education Office and my teaching assignment was in Auburn. I was very excited, phoned the school and accepted the position. Then later went to the Australian Consulate in New York only to be told that I could not apply for a visa to migrate and work in Australia, because of the White Australia Policy ,which was still in place since Federation. I notified immediately the Mother Superior of the school (Sister Marion Corless) and explained my problem. She was very supportive of my case and asked me to wait and indicated that she would hold the position for me until I could get the Visa. The school needed teachers. This took me over two and a half years. In Nov. 1972, she phoned again to say that Australia was having a National election and was hoping for a change of government which it did get. Mr Gough Whitlam was elected the new Prime Minister of Australia. The first thing he did was to abolish the White Australia Policy. I thought, what a great and exceptional Prime Minister. I had promised myself to meet and thank this man personally if ever I got to live in Australia.

January 1973, I received a phone call from the Australian Consulate in NY advising me to bring my documentations and set an appointment date for interview for my visa to migrate and work in Australia. I was so thrilled of the news and surprised of the expediency of the process and never realised that the Principal of the school had been working with the consulate because the teaching position was waiting for me in the new school Year. I was one of the first groups of teachers from the US to get the visa to Australia.

I arrived in Australia in March 1973 on a Monday and took a taxi from the airport to St. John’s Girls High School at Auburn, and surprised Sr. Marion the Principal who was already at the school meeting the school staff for the first week of Term 1. She had already organised my accommodation just few metres away from the school. She advised me to rest for the day and to be at school for the briefing the next day and check my teaching timetable.

The 2nd weekend in Sydney, one of the Sisters phoned the Electoral office of the Prime Minister and checked the day when he was going to be available in Canberra to meet his electorates visiting the Parliament House. Sister took note of it and advised me how to take the Greyhound bus to Canberra.

I had the privileged of being with a group that had an audience with this very tall man, the Prime Minister of AUSTRALIA, a kind and approachable person. He joined us for morning tea/coffee in a room and asked us individually to introduce ourselves. I had the opportunity of thanking him in introducing his unprecedented Bill to the parliament to change the immigration laws to abolish the W.A.P. which enabled me and the rest to come and live, work in Australia.

I taught at St. John’s Girls High School up until 1990, and then moved to a boy’s school- La Salle Catholic College ( 1991-2008) then to Trinity Catholic College, Penshurst Marist College and finally to Bethany College, Hurstville ( 2009- 2013).

I retired early from teaching and now I’m doing volunteer work at the Hurstville Senior Computer Club of which I’m also a member, Tutor and Secretary of the Club.

Personally and career wise, I can honestly say that I have found success, happiness and peaceful life in Australia – my adopted home.