Xiao Mei's Story

Equal Third Prize in the ESL Section

What do you like about living in Australia?

I had been to Australia twice in 1986 and 1989. At that time I felt Australia was a garden country and the most beautiful country. It has many beautiful gardens, fresh air and clear sky. On a sunny day you can see the sky is blue, the clouds are white and very clear. Of course it's a healthy place for everyone.

When I immigrated to Australia in 1998 I saw the population was bigger than before.

The Australian's are very friendly and kind. It's a very quiet place, no quarrelling with each other, no fighting and no car's horn noise. The weather is comfortable for everyone. It's not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter.

Now I have lived in Melbourne for more than seven years. I feel the public order, the social ethics and morals and the social security system are very good. So this country is a safe country.

Interestingly Australia is a multicultural country. It's made up of its indigenous people and immigrants about 200 different countries and areas. The state of Victoria has been recognised as one of the best culturally diverse areas in the world. One is hard put to deny the contributions immigrants have made. Of course it shows us that the Australian Government has the level of leadership and has great ability to govern.

I have been greatly touched that there is a good age care system. There is one day that I can never forget. When I had lived in Australia for 23 months, my husband and I were rather disturbed by our finances, because we didn't bring much money from China and we couldn't bring much money. Our age pension is very little in China. If we went back to China nobody could look after our granddaughter, if we stay here, we wouldn't have enough money.

One day, at that time we got a letter from Centrelink. It told us that if we had any difficulties, we could contact them.

On 29th October 2000 on the day we had been here for two year and one day, we received money from Centrelink. My husband and I were moved to tears because we thought that we had never contributed to the Australian government, we just took care of our grandchildren and helped our daughter with her housework, so they could work very well.

The Australian Government is a very kind government. We thank the Australian Government very much and we must teach our children that they should serve Australia very well and we know how to teach our grandchildren to do good things.

We also feel that every old person who lives in Australia has the best luck in the world.

Australia is a stable and democratic country with a skilled labour force and a competitive economy and it has a complete social security system, the legal system, the environmental protection, the public hospital services, the multiculturalism and the age care system.

Although the public order, the social ethics and the morals are less than before, I think maybe it's related to the quality immigration. But we believe the Australia Government can get better and better.