Why I live where I live

I moved to from my birthplace, Ceduna, to Port Augusta in 1993 with my partner and then 3 children. Hubby had applied for a job as a Locomotive Engineer and was lucky enough to get it. This is a job that he really enjoys and the only one he knows. He, at this very moment is training to become a Driver Trainer which means he will now be training the trainees to become fully qualified Train Drivers.


Train, Port Augusta





The children were young at the time 12, 9 & 6 so this was a big change for them. I managed to get them all settled into their various schools and for many years I was running between two and three schools for drop off and pick up.


These children are now grown up 27, 24 & 21 and all have made their way doing what they want.


The eldest dughter has just returned to Port Augusta after living in Adelaide for ten years. She went to University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Law degree and is now working for a local real estate agency.



The middle child is living in Melbourne and attending University doing her honours. This child was and always will be highly intelligent. Growing up we had all sorts of behavioural problems with her but she has grown into a beautiful young person. I wish I had known what I know now to have handled the disruptive behavoiur differently, but I did the best I could with the knowledge I had. This daughter is very independant and likes doing things on her own and for herself only asking for help if really needed. She tries to come home regularly but sometimes funds are a bit tight.



Child number 3, another daughter is very relaxed. This child was not very academic but is doing okay in the outside world. She has a four year old son and is still with his father who is a very reponsible lad. They both work hard and love their animals, they have what I call a menagerie. This child has a keen interest in horses and has since about the age of 12. She is a very good rider and most of her conversations are all about horses.

In 1996 I had another child, a boy, he is now 12.

Bridge over the gulf, Port Augusta
I, myself have never really settled here. Being a shy person I have made few friends and have had some bad experiences with people. It seems if you are not a local you are not really accepted by the majority. Although there are a lot of good kind people as well. It is so hard when you are shy to try and mix. I have been involved with different clubs etc and have always felt uncomfortable and couldn't wait to go home. In my home town Ceduna where everyone knew me, it was different.

However, doing childcare in my home has been great because I have got to meet new people with similar interests and it has given a boost to my confidence. My scheme says that I am one of their best carers, so I must be doing something right. I also help new trainees by offering them to do their placement in my home. I show them what I do with my Family Day Care. This is part of the training.

Redbanks, Port Augusta

At the moment I am on a break from working and enjoying it. My daughter that was living here has now found somewhere else to live, so I am free to go back to work whenever I decide is the right time.

Whales in the gulf at Port Augusta

Port Augusta is very dry with little rain, which can be depressing at times. Even though it is winter and it has rained a little there is not much greenery. We had a frost last night with the temperature going down to zero.

With a population of around 12,000 we have a Big W, Woolworths, Coles, Target Country, Radio Rentals, Electrical Discounters, McDonalds, KFC, pizza haven, Wendy's and Hungry Jacks. Not that the shops interest me. We have nearby towns of Whyalla and Port Pirie that have more/different shops and are only 40 minutes to an hour away. Adelaide, the capital city is three hours away. There is a lot of station country surrounding Port Augusta and it is known as where the outback reaches the sea. The beautiful Flinders Ranges can be clearly seen from Port Augusta. We have a large Power Station that powers a lot of the state of South Austraia. Unfortunately also known as Port Agutta because it is not a very clean and tidy town which is disappointing. If travelling through to Perth or up to Darwin you have to pass through this town.



Although this is not the best place in the world to live, it is where I am for the moment and I accept that. Hopefully one day I will get to live somewhere else but for now I will keep on dreaming of greener pastures. Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me and I quite enjoy looking where and how other people live.

It's a beautiful sunny day here today, so I'm off outside to do some cleanup jobs while the weather is nice.

Tania