My Australia - First intention was a 2-year stay, then 50 years on

Yasuyo Narushima came to Melbourne in 1970 to work on a two-year contract. She meant to come back to Japan. Instead, Australia became her home.

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Yasuyo Narushima's family photo, taken at the Hyde Park in Sydney. Source: Yasuyo Narushima

In 1972, after working at the Victoria Hotel in Melbourne for 18 months, Ms Narushima left her job when she got married, and then she had four children.

When the youngest child started Year 1, Ms Narushima got offered a job as a Japanese teacher.  She was 43 years old.

Ms Narushima retired in 2007 and now spends her time both in Sydney and Bathurst, NSW.

In the audio, Ms Narushima shares her experience in Australia and tells us how Melbourne was at that time and how the Japanese community supported each other.

They will mark their 50th wedding anniversary this March.

Yasuyo Narushima in 1992, when she was working as a Japanese teacher. Source: Yasuyo Narushima

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