Ten Pound Poms (And A Recipe For Life)

I was baking a cake in the kitchen one Sunday afternoon in the aged care facility when a woman came up to me whom I had never met. Introducing herself as Emma, and looking up at my name badge, ‘You must be Michael!’

‘That’s right’, I replied. ‘You’re English, aren’t you! So am I,’ she said with a smile that went from one side of her face to the other. Emma informed me that she and her husband had been Ten Pound Poms in the late 1950s.

We sat down with a cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake freshly baked from the oven. I could tell Emma was eager to share her tale of how she came to live in Australia.

Emma recalled that it all started in 1959 when she was newly married to Graham and living in a small pokey-rented one-bedroom flat in East London.

The constant rain and cold weather were depressing; the landlord ignored the dampness and mildew in the flat. The final straw came when her husband Graham lost his job as a carpenter in a local joinery firm.

Both decided to make a fresh start in Australia, advertised in the Sunday papers as the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Four weeks flew by, filled with tearful farewells to family and friends. With hearts full of anticipation, they travelled to Southampton to embark on their grand adventure aboard the impressive ship. Bad weather made the voyage rough, and Emma was overwhelmed by the intense heat.

Finally docking in Melbourne after a gruelling six-week journey, they were both exhausted. A bus took them to their first home; the initial accommodation was similar to army barracks, which were very hot with no air-conditioning and few facilities. Emma was not impressed and had second thoughts about their decision to move to the other side of the world.

Graham was very enterprising and went out the next day, bought a newspaper and found a job as a carpenter in Geelong. The following day, they moved into a two-bedroom furnished flat with a fridge. Emma made the flat homely and started looking for work, eventually finding a job as a cleaner for a wealthy businessman in town.

Her employer found out that Emma was an accomplished cook and cake maker and introduced her to a top restaurateur; this is where she made her career as an independent celebration cake maker for the rich and famous of Melbourne.

Able to fit work in between having three children and running her own home, the work became very lucrative, with Emma earning double Graham’s wages, jokingly saying this caused a little tension between them.

Her love of baking and creative cake decorating became a large part of her world. When Graham retired from work, they moved closer to their eldest son in Gerringong, New South Wales; unfortunately, Graham passed away a year later. Emma was seventy-five and was lonely and decided to come into residential care for companionship and safety.

We compared notes about the quality of the chocolate cake I had just made, which she told me was very tasty. She agreed to help me with one of her recipes next time I was baking.

Emma added that moving to Australia was the best decision she had ever made and had no regrets, telling me her recipe for life was similar to that of a cake.

“You start with a blend of love and laughter, add family and friends and mix all ingredients. Stir in memories and joyful feelings until blended well. Add equal parts of work, play and family celebrations, then sprinkle with time, thankfulness and gratitude, and share with the ones you love.”  

Emma told me of a quote by Maya Angelou that she always recalls, which has been her mantra in life.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”