We had expectations of Canberra being a pretty city by a lake, but when we were taken to Civic in the centre of town, there was nothing much there, and we all said, ‘Where is Canberra?’
I was one of 150 German carpenters and joiners chosen to come out to Australia to build houses for AV Jennings, who had a contract to build 1850 houses for public servants in Canberra. When I saw the ad, the money seemed quite good, so I thought I would work the two-year contract, save some money and then return to . . .