Moving to the other side of the world and starting again takes courage at any age. For Dianne, the decision to leave England and build a new life in Port Stephens has led to something she perhaps didn’t expect – a busy, connected life and a genuine feeling that she has found exactly where she is meant to be.
Having moved to Australia just over three and a half years ago, her journey to Sea Winds was the culmination of a much longer story; one that includes a career in policing, a seven year wait for an Australian visa, divorce, retirement and ultimately, the decision to make the big move alone.
Dianne’s working life began in England in 1972, when she left school to become an apprentice draughtswoman, an unusual career choice for a young woman at a time when the profession was overwhelmingly male dominated.
After completing a five-year apprenticeship and working for another few years, Dianne followed a long-held ambition and joined the police at the age of 23.
Dianne, she would spend the next 23 years in policing, specialising in alcohol licensing, before being seconded to local government. What was originally intended to be a two-year assignment turned into another 14 years of work before she retired.
Dianne purchased her home while still living in England with the help of one of her sons.
It was around this time that another major chapter of her life was unfolding. With two sons living in Australia, both Australian citizens, she and her-then husband applied for a parent-sponsored visa. Initially told the process would take around two to three years, changing visa priorities meant the wait ultimately stretched to seven.
During that time, the couple divorced. While her former husband chose to remain in England, she decided to continue with the process on her own. Her motivation was simple: family.
With grandchildren in Port Stephens, Australia offered the opportunity to be part of their lives rather than watching them grow up from the other side of the world.
When her visa finally came through, there was another challenge waiting. Her home in England had already been sold, which meant she needed to find somewhere to live in Australia from thousands of kilometres away.
One of her sons began researching lifestyle communities and inspecting properties on her behalf. Several possibilities were ruled out before a home in Sea Winds came on to the market.
The real estate agent sent her a video walkthrough, and she immediately fell in love with it. The home had been fully renovated, was ready to move into and importantly, was within her budget. Buying a home she had never seen in person was nevertheless a leap of faith.
She remembers sitting up in England in the middle of the night, transferring the purchase funds and wondering whether she was sending such a significant amount of money to the right person. Thankfully, everything went smoothly.
Dianne loves volunteering at the local Koala Hospital.
She arrived in Australia having never physically stepped inside her new home. Most of her furniture remained in England because of the cost of shipping, so she purchased some pieces from the previous owner and gradually began making the house her own.
But creating a home was only part of starting over. Arriving in a new country meant leaving behind not only familiar surroundings but an established network of friends and family. Rather than waiting for connections to happen, Dianne made a conscious decision to get out there. “I believe you can either sit back and feel sorry for yourself or put yourself out there and make connections,” she says. “Nobody is going to come looking for you.”
That philosophy has shaped her life in Port Stephens. She volunteers with the local Koala Hospital, helping to grow and maintain the eucalyptus trees used to feed koalas in care. She also volunteers with Marine Rescue, working in radio communications – a role that suits her background and her interests.
Dianne’s community involvement doesn’t stop there. Until recently she was Assistant Secretary of the Nelsons Bay Gardening Club and now remains a member. Within Sea Winds, she participates in the gardening club, the craft club and she is involved with the Residents Committee. She has even learned to play Mahjong since moving into the community and now teaches others how to play.
Through volunteering, community activities and the wider community, Dianne has built an entirely new social circle. There are friends she meets regularly, connections made through volunteering and even a theatre companion within the community. It is a full and active life – and one she has consciously created for herself.
While her grandchildren were the biggest reason for choosing Port Stephens, she quickly fell in love with the area too. “As it turns out, I landed in paradise,” she says, “I absolutely love it here!”. Although she misses her family and close friends, regular video calls make staying connected easy, and several friends and family members have visited her in Australia.
Now 70, Dianne’s days are filled with volunteering, community activities, friends and family. Looking back on the long journey to get to Australia and the challenges of starting again, she knows the move was the right one. “It’s taken me a long time to be able to say this, but I’m exactly where I should be and I’m very happy,” she says. “Life is good”.