Australia, my new home

student activities at Sydney Uni. In 1968 the students began to campaign against the war in Vietnam. As I was also opposed to the war, I took part in several marches through town. It was a time of great political activity among students all over Australia and the rest of the world. The main aim was to stop the war in Vietnam. By getting involved I became more politically aware than before, and I enjoyed being part of what was to become history. I was also present at a demonstration when the Governor of NSW was pelted with tomatoes. Next day the papers were full of that incident. There were arrests, and when we marched, we were never quite sure what was going to happen to us. But I was determined to be a peaceful participant, as I did not approve of the violence of war.

Before the finals I went for two weeks to Leigh College, the then Methodist residential college, to concentrate on my studies and review for the exams. It wasn't easy to leave Alison with the four children in Lindfield all on her own, but if I wanted to pass the exams, I just had to do it. Alison came by car with the family to pick me up for the weekend. That was always a great joy for us all to be together again. I can't really say how much I appreciated Alison's support during these three long years of studying. Although George attended Lindfield Primary School from 1965, and Mark from 1966, she still had the children on her own for most of the day. Whilst I was home usually during peak hour, like bath and dinner time, she carried most of the burden. Without her support I could never have completed the studies. During my first summer holidays I had the opportunity to be attached to George Stewart, then Presbyterian chaplain at Broughton Hall psychiatric hospital at Gladesville. Our lecturer in Pastoral Theology, Geoff Petersen, said that this was the best way to learn counselling.

George taught me how to really listen to the patients. I had to write down our conversations verbatim. I had to do this as soon as possible after our talk. Then I discussed it with George and he pointed out, where I had stopped listening properly, or not followed through with the patient's feelings. I greatly enjoyed my time at Broughton Hall. One of the resident Psychiatrists even suggested that I take on a day group of psychotic teenage boys for group counselling and activities twice a week. They became used to me and related well to my non-directive leadership. I did this until the end of March, when my studies forced me to give up the group. I had enjoyed working with the youngsters and was pleased to be able to repay some of the kindness shown to me at that hospital.

During my second summer holidays I received, through Margaret Mackenzie, a position as wardsman at the Royal North Shore Hospital in St.Leonards. Margaret had come to Australia under our sponsorship. She had been a nursing friend of Alison's in England and we became good friends. My work at the hospital brought in some badly needed cash and gave me also a good opportunity to learn hospital procedures and the occasional time talking with patients. My main task was to wheel patients

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