Weather and medical costs are some of the reasons Marlborough families living in Australia have decided to leave "the lucky country" and return home.
Kalita Cresswell, her husband, Greg, and three children have lived in Brisbane for 7 1/2 years. Now they have sold their family home and will be returning to Marlborough for a better lifestyle.
They have more family in Blenheim, but did enjoy the winter and the anonymity of living in a city, Mrs Cresswell said.
Scorching summers, storms and some wildlife were some of the drawbacks in Brisbane.
Her husband, a builder, was working as a project manager and earning more than he would in Blenheim and they had help from the government with the first homeowner's grant, family tax benefits and the baby bonus for each child.
"We look forward to the long days of summer in Blenheim and being able to lie on the grass without being bitten by a green ant or walking in a paddock with long grass and not worrying about snakes."
The couple's eldest child started at a new school that has about 300 pupils, but is set to eventually have 1200 pupils.
"We want our children to attend schools with not so many students, so they don't become just a number," she said.
"Blenheim will feel very small to us for a while but I think we will be providing our children with the best childhood by taking them back to where we were brought up." Stacey Gerritsen returned to Seddon last year with her husband and five-year-old daughter after living in Sydney for nine years.
While the couple were earning good money, they needed it to pay for the high price of living.
"We were earning triple what we do here and still lived week to week with insurance, electricity, housing, and day-to-day living prices through the roof."
Their daughter, who was born in Sydney in 2006, was diagnosed with a rare disorder and the couple found it difficult to get assistance from the government.
"We assumed we would have some support, but we were ineligible for any medication concessions or Centrelink support because we were from New Zealand."
Back in Seddon her daughter had a fulltime teacher aide and the school and curriculum were being modified to suit her needs, she said.
"She is part of the community and included in everything. We would not have had that in Sydney."
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
Coming back: The Cresswell family, Kalita and Greg with their children, from left, Cooper, 5, Makai, 3, and Mali, 12 weeks, are returning to Blenheim from Australia.
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