Australia

[bosco]

I paid into a few different super funds in Australia having worked a few different jobs. Just got the last DASP super payment cheque in the post last week. After admin fees, 40% tax and rediculous exchange rates it was a far cry from the jackpot I was expecting... don't get your hopes up!

[Derek B]

I thought it was taxed at 30%? F*ckin hell thats carazy!

[Wotalanger]

It is only taxed at 30% upon a departing temporary resident claim.

However if the superfund was an untaxed fund, meaning if the funds weren't taxed while the employer was contributing, then it will be taxed on departing the fund.

That is the only explanation I can think of.

[Wotalanger]

I paid into a few different super funds in Australia having worked a few different jobs. Just got the last DASP super payment cheque in the post last week. After admin fees, 40% tax and rediculous exchange rates it was a far cry from the jackpot I was expecting... don't get your hopes up!

Who was the fund?

There should be NO admin fees for just making a claim on your funds.

[Derek B]

only taxed at 30%

Lol, only 30%!!

[Wotalanger]

Well you quoted only part of what I said now Decca !

I said it should ONLY be taxed 30%, as he said it was 40%.

[thegillabbeygowl]

I got 200 Dollars back from my Super, It hardly seems worth it.

[Wotalanger]

200?? Did you do like a months work or what?

[thegillabbeygowl]

200?? Did you do like a months work or what?


Well i worked 4 hours a week putting up the stalls for Brissy market.
But i'd say in total i worked 4-5 months.
However this included 4 day weekends.;)

[Wotalanger]

You should have had way more than that though if you worked at least 4 months. Sit down with a calculator and work it out.
If it was a casual just cash in hand job, of course that doesn't count.

[BostonRebel]

Sorry; off current topic a little:

I miss Oz. Waahhhh! Girly-cry and pound my fists in frustration that I never went there sooner.

OK, I'm better now.

;)

[thegillabbeygowl]

You should have had way more than that though if you worked at least 4 months. Sit down with a calculator and work it out.
If it was a casual just cash in hand job, of course that doesn't count.


I really can't be bothered, It's been 10 months since i left.

[thegillabbeygowl]

Sorry; off current topic a little:

I miss Oz. Waahhhh! Girly-cry and pound my fists in frustration that I never went there sooner.

OK, I'm better now.

;)


You can talk about it in here without being rediculed.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Hey folks.

Me and a few buddys are planning on traveling up the east coast in the next few weeks.

At the moment we are thinking of either getting the bus ticket with multiple stops, buying a piece of crap of a car and seeling it in carins or just renting a car.

Anyway does anybody have any tips or advice for travelling up the east coast?

What stops are crucial, what is to be avoided?
Any other tips in general?

Thanks in advance.

[Steven]

Im going to be doing something similiar in late November, travelling in opposite direction,

main tip I've got so far is there isn't much between sydney to byron bay compered with what's above byron, and its a fairly long stretch,

after hearing this advice, I'm gonna fly from gold coast to sydney and avoid this stretch, as it must be at least a full days drive,

Transport is a hard one to call,
If theres a gang of ye, might be best to get a hiace/campervan,
its just me and my girlfriend, so will probably go with hop on and off the bus option,

[Wotalanger]

Well i worked 4 hours a week putting up the stalls for Brissy market.
But i'd say in total i worked 4-5 months.
However this included 4 day weekends.;)

Ah well 4 hours a week? Jesus, there's your answer so.

And I'm pretty sure you were paid cash for that job, or else you were on ABN.

[Wotalanger]

I'm in Brisbane anyway, so if any of you need any advise, where to stay, go out etc let me know.

[Steven]

wota,

you might be able to help me with this,
i applied for my taxback for last year and had some exemption of $5000 tax free,
so i got a good bit of money back,

will I have that $5000 exemption again when I apply for this years tax?

thanks boy,
Im in Brisbane too, a great city, love them outdoor bars on the mall,
heading to parklife this weekend,
tis a tough life over here,

[Wotalanger]

Not sure on the tax front to be honest Steven, taxation is not my forte!

Give Sinead at Taxback Australia a call on 1800040737, she'll answer that one for you. She's really helpful.

I'm a girl by the way!
I was meant to go to Parklife, not gonna bother now, should be good though.

Tis a tough life indeed. Loving the weather at the moment. Spring is the nicest time :p
Whereabouts you living?

[Steven]

sorry girl, with a name like wotalanger, I assumed you were a boy, oops,

some heat Monday, 35C in Spring,

Im up in Kelvin Grove, good farmers market every Saturday morning near the university, 5mins by bus to the city,
was also living in Highgate Hill, nice spot,
what about yourself?

thanks for all your help, I'll give them a ring tomorrow,

[Wotalanger]

Ya most people presume I'm a guy, but nope I'm all girl!

I'm living in New Farm the past year and a half, but before that was in Highgate Hill as well!

Ya we go to the farmers markets out there every now and again! Cheaper than the New Farm markets by a long way.

[Steven]

Have any of ye shipped stuff home from Oz?
Found a cheap company that does it?

looking to send home approx 20-25 kg's

[Derek B]

Hmm not sure if cheap companies are the way to go after hearing of a friends experience. Dropped off the boxes they wanted shipped and hopped on a plane. The company they used folded a week later without paying whatever duties were necessary, while the boxes got stopped at customs. Several months later, and only after paying another shipping fee did the boxes leave Australia!

[oul'doll]

Have any of ye shipped stuff home from Oz?
Found a cheap company that does it?

looking to send home approx 20-25 kg's


Seven Seas are the best I think. I've used them a couple of times. They'll drop however many boxes you want around and collect them when you say and they're good at keeping you informed of how long you'll be waiting for the shipment.
It's always going to be expensive and you need someone reliable.

[Steven]

thanks,

ill check them out

[Nawful_Niff]

Funnily enough Stephen, we found An Post to be the cheapest. It cost 35 euro, then 5 euro per kg of weight. Many of the shipping companies I rang were around the same price but we would have had to drop all the stuff to them, and they generally only drop to the closest airport. That An Post price included recorded delivery as well and we didn't need to fill in any long customs declarations - just a list of our items we shipped.

[Steven]

ended up costing me about 80$ for 8 kg's with australian post office,
gave loads & loads of clothes to charity shop, surprisingly did not feel good about it,

[thegillabbeygowl]

Hey POL, You'll love this.
Was talking to a lad at home over Christmas and he spent a whole 12 months in guess where?
Never left Bondi.
He even said he was proud to wear his Cork jersy.:crazyeye:

[Swoosh]

Hey does anyone know of a good website to source office jobs/IT work in Australia before you head over?

[POL]

Hey POL, You'll love this.
Was talking to a lad at home over Christmas and he spent a whole 12 months in guess where?
Never left Bondi.
He even said he was proud to wear his Cork jersy.:crazyeye:hehe , typical

[sooz1]

Hey does anyone know of a good website to source office jobs/IT work in Australia before you head over?


http://www.seek.com.au

http://www.mycareer.com.au

Good agencies to try are Greythorn and Diversiti.
They both found work for me.

[bosco]

Good advice from sooz above, plus there are plenty of agencies that can be great depending on the city in which you're looking for work. In Brisbane I got office/IT work through Hays and JuliaRoss. Had a couple of offers through Hudson and some other agency in Melbourne but there was better money and more craic in bar work.
Geoffrey Nathan are a kind of an agency of agencies... register with them and they'll pass your details to other agencies and/or find jobs through other agencies for you. Avoid getting payrolled through them though, no matter how good a gloss they put on it... it'll work out better in the long run.

[RedCityKid]

Could anyone send me a link to good information on emigrating to Australia. Have already spent a year there already and would like to go back there on a more permanent basis. Any help appreciated

[sooz1]

Loads of advice and forms and booklets etc here:

http://www.immi.gov.au/

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Here is one for you.

Where is the best place to live in sydney?

Spent a year living in Glebe which was fine, but heading back for another year and wouldn't mind mixing it up a little. The only balls about glebe was that you were talking an hour to cogee or Bondi using public transport. Other than that its perfect.

I am thinking Surry Hills direction.

Any thoughts suggestions?

[thegillabbeygowl]

Here is one for you.

Where is the best place to live in sydney?

Spent a year living in Glebe which was fine, but heading back for another year and wouldn't mind mixing it up a little. The only balls about glebe was that you were talking an hour to cogee or Bondi using public transport. Other than that its perfect.

I am thinking Surry Hills direction.

Any thoughts suggestions?


Manley but again it's far out.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Yeah, i should have specified.

I'd like to be near to the city.
Nice area- not too many Irish
Beach ideally within 30 mins or less.

[oul'doll]

Yeah, i should have specified.

I'd like to be near to the city.
Nice area- not too many Irish
Beach ideally within 30 mins or less.



Northern Beaches area is gorgeous, has amazing beaches and they aren't as crowded as bondi/coogee, and no Irish.

[scottyspud1]

I'm just about to post off all the forms to get my trade recognized,all 40+ pages of it:crazyeye:

[parrotbait]

I lived for a year on Elizabeth Street right next to Hyde Park. Brilliant location, 30 mins to beaches, 10 minutes walk in the sun to work in the mornings. Always something going on in Hyde park or the domain and loved it there. Alternatives I would suggest would be Oxford St(can get a big loud on occasion), Kings Cross/Darlinghurst or Pyrmont is a cool area. Crappy to get over from Pyrmont to the east though which can be annoying.

Stick to the city I'd say, you won't regret it!

[POL]

some interesting letters in the Indo today, lets see how great ye think Australia is now, that its officially fucked like the rest of the world.

Friday February 06 2009

Australia is in recession too. Not as deeply as Ireland, but yes, jobs are hard to come by (Letters, February 4).

As more Australians are getting laid off and having trouble finding new jobs, I am hearing 'Australian jobs for Australians' rhetoric in the media.

This is bad news for any Irish emigrant as more and more employers overlook people on the working holiday visas and employ those with no working restrictions, ie Aussies.

In better times, Irish people could work for a company here and when their six months was up (we are only allowed work for one employer for that period) they could realistically hope to be sponsored by their employer for up to four years. This is no longer the case.

Like in Ireland, companies are cutting costs, shedding and not replacing people.

Unemployed Australians have the safety net of social welfare. Irish people do not.

Those of us who have worked here are holding on tight, knowing that the prospect of getting a new job is diminishing all the time.

Unless you have a specific sought-after skill, I wouldn't advise any Irish person to come here right now.

At least at home you can get the dole.

Patrick Doyle
Sydney

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

I'll take my chances.

Was thinking of headed to northern beaches.

They any good at weekends though?

[oul'doll]

I'll take my chances.

Was thinking of headed to northern beaches.

They any good at weekends though?



Hmm, not as good as Garryvoe.

[Derek B]

I'm living in Darlinghurst which is a decent area to live, very convenient to the city and close to train line. But If you're thinking of northern sydney, I would recommend neutral bay/cremorne as an ideal place to live. No train line but it doesn't matter as so many buses pass through the area, you've several options on which to get into the CBD, and will only wait 5 - 10 mins at most. The bus only takes 10 or 15 mins to get over the bridge and never gets stuck in traffic as there's a bus lane over the bridge. Plenty of beaches closeby like balmoral and manly and some really nice parks. Not much nightlife on weekends though there are a few cool little bars in the area. Manly isn't far away and has some good bars too and a couple of nightclubs. I'd say expect to pay $15 - 20 for a taxi to city

[gozzy]

Hurry up. The place is burning down.

[ANVIL]

I tell ya lads - those sharks are getting mighty hungry.

A surfer's hand was left "hanging by a piece of skin" after a shark attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach - the second incident in the city's waters in as many days.

The 33-year-old man was pulled to shore by fellow surfers, where volunteers used an ankle strap from a body board to stem the heavy bleeding.

One witness described the surfer's hand as "hanging by a small piece of skin".

James McIntosh told local radio:"When I first got to him, he was quite white and he looked like he was about to pass out.

"He said to me... 'Tell my wife Lisa that I love her'. It was quite traumatic."

The surfer has been named by Australian media as Glenn Orgias, 33, of Sydney.

The famous beach was closed for several hours following the attack.

Experts say there have been no shark-related fatalities at Bondi for 80 years.

[Poc Fada]

Arrived out to Oz recently and the shark stories are definitely a bit off putting. One of the first things I wanted to do was strip off and run into the sea but thought twice about it when my workmates told me about that story...

Still though, nothin' like a bitta sun in the middle of winter!

[dotty]

Arrived out to Oz recently and the shark stories are definitely a bit off putting. One of the first things I wanted to do was strip off and run into the sea but thought twice about it when my workmates told me about that story...

Still though, nothin' like a bitta sun in the middle of winter!

whereabouts are ya PF?

[Coogee]

Here is one for you.

Where is the best place to live in sydney?

Spent a year living in Glebe which was fine, but heading back for another year and wouldn't mind mixing it up a little. The only balls about glebe was that you were talking an hour to cogee or Bondi using public transport. Other than that its perfect.

I am thinking Surry Hills direction.

Any thoughts suggestions?

If you want to be close to the eastern beaches and the city and away from the backpacker haunts try Bronte and Clovelly beaches...i lived in Bronte for 6 months and loved it...lots of nice little streets and only mins form Bronte beach...Tamarama beach is really nice aswell and the backpackers tend to stay away form that area....

If you want to live in the city Surry hills is pretty nice and easy to get to city and beaches. Paddington just off oxford street is also really cool and there are loads of local bars tucked away in the back streets just off oxford street.

Balmain is a really nice area aswell and great for a night out but its probably 40 mins on public transport to the beaches but if you have a car youd drive form there over to Eastern suburbs in 15 mins

[Coogee]

I'll take my chances.

Was thinking of headed to northern beaches.

They any good at weekends though?

manly is good but can be a bit rough...Newport beach hotel has one of the biggest beer gardens in Sydney...good spot but pretty far north but i think they run shuttle buses back to manly after closing...

One downside to norther beaches is that the trains dont run out there so unless you have a car you are depending on buses...also very far form city...taxi back there from city would be 50 bucks whereas eastern suburbs is only 25

[DouglasDave]

Anyone here rented accommodation for 3 months+ in Perth before?? Would appreciate any advice, tough going at the moment!

[thegillabbeygowl]

Anyone here rented accommodation for 3 months+ in Perth before?? Would appreciate any advice, tough going at the moment!


Go out to Fremantle, have a look, Fantastic city, 20 minutes train into centre.
I was there for 4 months and think about the place nearly every day a year on.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

I will be in Australia when my passport expires. Does anybody have any ideas about how i will be able to get a new one?

[Eoin]

I will be in Australia when my passport expires. Does anybody have any ideas about how i will be able to get a new one?

Are you there now??

They might not let you in if your passport isn't good for a certain amount of time.

[sooz1]

If you're already in Oz you can get one through the irish embassy.

[buds]

go to the embassy and they'll sort you out...go before it runs out

[thegillabbeygowl]

It cost me 170Dollars to get a new one and it took quite a while to get back.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Are you there now??

They might not let you in if your passport isn't good for a certain amount of time.

No, i am in Ireland now.

Will be in Oz next week and my passport is valid until dec.

[MissRedSocks]

No, i am in Ireland now.

Will be in Oz next week and my passport is valid until dec.

Oz next week..so lucky..i would love to go back,i spent a year there in 2002..had a lot of fun..good luck with it..is it a holiday or for good??

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Hey folks.
Heading up to brisbane for a weekend in a few weeks and i was just wondering if anybody could reccomend a place to stay and things to do in general.

I wouldn't mind doing a backpackers for a weekend as long as the craic was good. Don't know too much about brisbane . Whats a "must do" and obvioulsy if anyone can recommend a good spot to go out then all the better.

Cheers.

[Derek B]

Hey folks.
Heading up to brisbane for a weekend in a few weeks and i was just wondering if anybody could reccomend a place to stay and things to do in general.

I wouldn't mind doing a backpackers for a weekend as long as the craic was good. Don't know too much about brisbane . Whats a "must do" and obvioulsy if anyone can recommend a good spot to go out then all the better.

Cheers.

Heading up there this weekend myself, will let you know after if we go anywhere decent

[thegillabbeygowl]

The brother lives there, i only spent 1 month in Brisbane.
No beach in Brisbane, Surfer's paradise is just below it though.
Some good museums down Southbank and it's worth going to the market on a Sunday too.
I am only saying that as i used to put up the tents for the market
though.:mrgreen:
Good bars, Fortitude valley is where the bars and clubs are.
I stayed in a hostel over the elephant and wheelbarrow pub, ok but not great.
Bunk is also close by.

[FLATout]

Outside the Valley it can be a bit quiet- city centre can be very dead at night, all businesses.

But the Valley is good craic- spent two months there. Stayed in the Elephant & Wheelbarrow (pretty standard hostel) and then rented out an apartment.

Fine placed to stay for a few weeks but I wouldn't hang around too much.

[thegillabbeygowl]

Outside the Valley it can be a bit quiet- city centre can be very dead at night, all businesses.

But the Valley is good craic- spent two months there. Stayed in the Elephant & Wheelbarrow (pretty standard hostel) and then rented out an apartment.

Fine placed to stay for a few weeks but I wouldn't hang around too much.


When were you there?

[FLATout]

When were you there?

Lets see now... spring of 2006 I'd say, stayed for a week until I found a gaff. Moved into a nice enough apartment up the road with a load of mental scoucers, but that's another story..

Wasn't too bad a spot as ozzie hostels go.

[thegillabbeygowl]

Lets see now... spring of 2006 I'd say, stayed for a week until I found a gaff. Moved into a nice enough apartment up the road with a load of mental scoucers, but that's another story..

Wasn't too bad a spot as ozzie hostels go.


Naw, i was the year after, they were doing it up when i left.
Was there a fat grumpy bitch on reception, i also met to Welsh girl called Kelly who was there for ages .

[FLATout]

Naw, i was the year after, they were doing it up when i left.
Was there a fat grumpy bitch on reception, i also met to Welsh girl called Kelly who was there for ages .

Yeah it needed it- don't remember either of those characters; my main memory is drinking cans in the hall which you could smoke in for some reason. Happy days..

[thegillabbeygowl]

Yeah it needed it- don't remember either of those characters; my main memory is drinking cans in the hall which you could smoke in for some reason. Happy days..


Yeah, it was a shit hole actually, god i miss it.
Not the stench in the rooms though.
I did a lot worse in that hostel.:cool:

[FLATout]

Yeah, it was a shit hole actually, god i miss it.
Not the stench in the rooms though.
I did a lot worse in that hostel.:cool:

Yeah, the Valley was a good place for a bit of mischief!

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Hey.

Here is a question for ya.

I got my second year visa the dodgy way i.e i gave a farmers details when i actually didnt work the 88 days rural work. I got the second year visa and all was/is well.
I find out yesterday that a fella, who did the same as me, i know who is 7 months into his second year visa gets an email from the dept of immigration saying that they know he didnt work the 88 days and he will be deported in 10 days.
Strange, has anyone ever heard of someone being caught like that?

[Derek B]

Strange, has anyone ever heard of someone being caught like that?

Nope, and I've heard of a good few people doing that. Although I think they paid off a farmer, rather than just bluffed the details. Would be surprised that they'd check it that far into the visa, and not before approving it in the first place

[oul'doll]

Hey folks.
Heading up to brisbane for a weekend in a few weeks and i was just wondering if anybody could reccomend a place to stay and things to do in general.

I wouldn't mind doing a backpackers for a weekend as long as the craic was good. Don't know too much about brisbane . Whats a "must do" and obvioulsy if anyone can recommend a good spot to go out then all the better.

Cheers.


Take a trip to Morton Bay if the weather is nice, and I believe it's in the 30s there at the moment. You can go to Stradbroke Island, good diving if you're into that.

[Steven]

Hey folks.
Heading up to brisbane for a weekend in a few weeks and i was just wondering if anybody could reccomend a place to stay and things to do in general.

I wouldn't mind doing a backpackers for a weekend as long as the craic was good. Don't know too much about brisbane . Whats a "must do" and obvioulsy if anyone can recommend a good spot to go out then all the better.

Cheers.

base backpackers is only backpackers in city and its only ok, kitchen and rooms are manky, entertainment set up is good enough,
its a small city centre, silimiliar size to cork, some good outdoor pubs on the mall, great fro watching a match, best is the pig and whistle,

I lived in brisbane for 3 months, not much happening in clubs in city, for nightlife head to fortitude valley, west end also has some good pubs, on a sunday afternoon head to southbank for market and live music from pub nextdoor, also a man made beach there, and bank to sunbathe on, was there this time last year, why the fk did i come back???
might be an idea staying in the valley,

[corkman34]

base backpackers is only backpackers in city and its only ok, kitchen and rooms are manky, entertainment set up is good enough,
its a small city centre, silimiliar size to cork, some good outdoor pubs on the mall, great fro watching a match, best is the pig and whistle,

I lived in brisbane for 3 months, not much happening in clubs in city, for nightlife head to fortitude valley, west end also has some good pubs, on a sunday afternoon head to southbank for market and live music from pub nextdoor, also a man made beach there, and bank to sunbathe on, was there this time last year, why the fk did i come back???
might be an idea staying in the valley,

Is that still rough as fuck. I did the one year holiday thing ten years ago and worked in an irish pub there and that place was fuckin scary. Full of winos and druggies when i was there and fights used to break out in the pub i worked in every half hour, and not handbags either. Guys getting bottled and glassed in the face and stuff. Witnessed some disturbing shit there. It might be different now and been cleaned up but all i remember about it is being the roughest place i ever lived/worked.

[Steven]

didn't see any trouble there myself, but it did seem like it could be a rough spot,
i remember one night passing public toilet next to mcdonalds and some fucker went for a shit in the doorway,

otto, if your heading there, id recommend ric's bar, great music, free club upstairs,

[Derek B]

Saw 2 fights in the Valley Saturday night, there were a lot of messy kids around as Parklife was on and the afterparty was there at Empire. We went to Alhambra on Friday and it's a pretty decent spot with good music.

[leftback]

am thinking of heading to australia in the new year. Am working in AIB and feel now is as good a time as any to go down under with the way things are here. Any advice as to the jobs situation down under and is there much work in banking etc..

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

A mate of mine worked in banking in Ireland. He has a few years experience but he struggled out here in Oz. He took a call centre type job for 6 months and finally he landed a good position with a bank called NAB. There are jobs but you might have to be prepared to do something not exactly ideal for a few months first.

The job situation is definitely better now in Sydney than 6 months ago anyway.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Here is a question for ye.

I am currently in year 2 of my 417 working holiday visa. It expires next April. I was half thinking of applying for a full time course to study. Can i apply for a student visa while currently on a working holiday visa?
As far as i know, with the 417 i can study for a maximum of 3 months which isnt practical for me.

If i want to study, how do i go about applying for a student visa ?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[oul'doll]

You must apply for a course that is accredited by the government. Check immi.gov.au for details. Then you sign up for a course, pay your fee, get a number, use that number to apply for a student visa, which will run for however long your course runs for, do a medical and you should get it in about 6 weeks.

[HappyMonday83]

you must apply for a course that is accredited by the government. Check immi.gov.au for details. Then you sign up for a course, pay your fee, get a number, use that number to apply for a student visa, which will run for however long your course runs for, do a medical and you should get it in about 6 weeks.

bonza!

[oul'doll]

Sweet as mate.

[HappyMonday83]

Bloody oath!

[oul'doll]

She'll be roight!

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Too easy.

[Captain Planet]

fair dinkum, throw us another bundy mate

[thegillabbeygowl]

Dingo dango drongo mate!

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Another question.

Whats the procedure for going about applying for residency?

I hear conflicting reports so i normally get spot on advice here, so ye folks might know.

Do you have to be offered sponorship first or can you just apply outright?

[k974]

you can apply for an offshore general skilled migration visa 175, used to take approx 6 months to process it did a few yrs back when i did mine, anyone after lodgind after sept 09 will now not be finalised until end of 2012, there are a couple of other options including employer sponsored, and state sponsered but these are more restrictive.

it used to be much easier a few yrs ago. i became a citizen last yr and have gone thru the full system 3month tourist, 417 working holiday, 457 sponsored x2, 175, adding a defacto to the 457 & 175, and citizenship.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Do you have to go that route?

Can you legally purchase residency for a sum. " Someone who knows someone" said you can stump up $5000 outright and get resident status .

In a bit of a quandry. Want to stay in Oz but the org i am working for aren't going to sponsor for various reasons. I have about 5 months left on the 2'nd year of my 417 so want to get my house in order. I changed jobs twice in the first year and both jobs said they would sponsor me. I turned them down !!

Just checking out my options now.

[k974]

Do you have to go that route?

Can you legally purchase residency for a sum. " Someone who knows someone" said you can stump up $5000 outright and get resident status .

In a bit of a quandry. Want to stay in Oz but the org i am working for aren't going to sponsor for various reasons. I have about 5 months left on the 2'nd year of my 417 so want to get my house in order. I changed jobs twice in the first year and both jobs said they would sponsor me. I turned them down !!

Just checking out my options now.


this isnt africa or ireland, you can give a solicitorr 5000 to do your paperwork if you want but it will have no bearing on the outcome.

my route was 417 no 2nd yr back then, 457x2 different employers, 175, then citizenship, your options are limited as there is no bridging visa on the 175 you'll have to try and get sponsorship or else but in the 175 and come back when its approved in 2012. there may be some options with the state sponsorship and college courses but i dont know anything about them.

its not as easy as it was.

[Derek B]

WHat's the story with no approved 175's til 2012? I'm on my 2nd 457 (which luckily runs until 2012), are you saying I won't be able to get independent PR for 3 more years, even though I'm eligible now? My company may be able to sponsor my PR so I assume that would get approved in a regular timeframe?

[k974]

WHat's the story with no approved 175's til 2012? I'm on my 2nd 457 (which luckily runs until 2012), are you saying I won't be able to get independent PR for 3 more years, even though I'm eligible now? My company may be able to sponsor my PR so I assume that would get approved in a regular timeframe?

any application for 175 lodged after sept 09 wont be approved until late 2011 if your on the csl list and 2012 if you not on the list so ya it could be 3yrs if you go down the 175 route. if you've worked for your employer for 2 yrs you can go down the employer sponsored route dont know if anything has changed there and i dont know much about this visa but plenty i know have gone this way and the processing time was fast less than 3 months.

the 175 is the general skilled migration visa with no employer sponsorship you dont need to have worked in australia or be sponsored to be elgible for this visa you could have applied ever before you got the 457's. you need 4 yrs work expiernece after qualification outside of australia or alternavitely 1yr in australia.

[bosco]

Hey.

Here is a question for ya.

I got my second year visa the dodgy way i.e i gave a farmers details when i actually didnt work the 88 days rural work. I got the second year visa and all was/is well.
I find out yesterday that a fella, who did the same as me, i know who is 7 months into his second year visa gets an email from the dept of immigration saying that they know he didnt work the 88 days and he will be deported in 10 days.
Strange, has anyone ever heard of someone being caught like that?

Otto, did ya hear any more about this fella? Is it bullshit or for real? Just sounds very unlikely to me!

[oul'doll]

Do you have to go that route?

Can you legally purchase residency for a sum. " Someone who knows someone" said you can stump up $5000 outright and get resident status .

In a bit of a quandry. Want to stay in Oz but the org i am working for aren't going to sponsor for various reasons. I have about 5 months left on the 2'nd year of my 417 so want to get my house in order. I changed jobs twice in the first year and both jobs said they would sponsor me. I turned them down !!

Just checking out my options now.


Your best bet is to get a student visa. You can do a 2 years course and thus get a 2 year visa. You just need to come up with the $$s to do one. You are legally only allowed work 20 hrs a week on a student visa,except during term holidays when you can work full time, but most get cash in hand jobs too. You have to just take a while to check all the courses available on the immi website, and check how many points that qualification will give you towards residency. YOu also get points for having an australian qualification so they all add up hopefully to enough points to pass the skills points test.
Don't pay an agency to get a student visa for you. It's easy to do it online. You'll get a bridging visa once you finish work to give you time to get it sorted.

[leesider]

I was thinking of applying for the 175 visa but after reading the above looks like there is no point. I already have the working holiday visa and I have a sister who is an Australian citizen now so would my best bet be to apply for the 176 visa? Anyone know if there are delays on this one?

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Otto, did ya hear any more about this fella? Is it bullshit or for real? Just sounds very unlikely to me!

Yep, was talking to yer man and all.

He got the bullet and is gone home. He said the farmer got rumbled and they chased up all visas that were gotten through him and lo and behold yer man was one of them.

I expect this to become a more common occurence over the next 12 months.

[Derek B]

Yep, was talking to yer man and all.

He got the bullet and is gone home. He said the farmer got rumbled and they chased up all visas that were gotten through him and lo and behold yer man was one of them.

I expect this to become a more common occurence over the next 12 months.

Did ye pay the farmer? My housemates brother paid off a farmer, and his application got held up while they checked it out, so the farmer they paid is giving them fake payslips to cover their tracks. Well dodgy!

[bosco]

The hoors. Well I suppose it's their country and they can make and enforce their own rules.

I got a new passport during a trip home from my first year in Oz, and the passport number on my new one is different to the old one.

I wonder could I chance applying for a working holiday visa again as a first timer? Give my new address, Irish spelling of my name, new passport number...
Sure the worst that can happen is that they'll say no. Or they'll say no, and because I tried to cheat, they could ban me for entering on any kind of visa for a time?
My only fear really is that I'd get the visa approved no hassle, but on arrival in Australia the immigration lads would see the stamps in my current passport showing I'd spent 7 consecutive months there a few years ago, would add 2 & 2 together and that would make them delve further...

[k974]

The hoors. Well I suppose it's their country and they can make and enforce their own rules.

I got a new passport during a trip home from my first year in Oz, and the passport number on my new one is different to the old one.

I wonder could I chance applying for a working holiday visa again as a first timer? Give my new address, Irish spelling of my name, new passport number...
Sure the worst that can happen is that they'll say no. Or they'll say no, and because I tried to cheat, they could ban me for entering on any kind of visa for a time?
My only fear really is that I'd get the visa approved no hassle, but on arrival in Australia the immigration lads would see the stamps in my current passport showing I'd spent 7 consecutive months there a few years ago, would add 2 & 2 together and that would make them delve further...



people keep bringing this up, your new passport is linked to the old one even tho the number has changed, when they swipe your passport at the counter they can see your old passport and every entry and exit you've made to australia,

anyone can ring up immigration has for a print out of all the entries and exits they've made to australia it'll give the time to the exact second, i had to do it i gave them my australian passport, they were able to tell me all the entries/exits i made in my life time going back to 1995 using 3 different irish passports and one australian.

each passport is linked to the previous ones.

[bosco]

Ah right. That settles it then. Thanks for the info.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Irish backpackers tempted by scam to win second year visa
In this section »
Hiroshima and Nagasaki await visit from America's presidentHizbullah rockets could reach Israel, general warnsFormer Nasa astronaut sentenced for attack€2.6bn in cohesion fund payments breached procedureAt the half-way point, Sarkozy has grounds for satisfactionFianna Fáil MEPs reject accusation of 'tribalism'SYDNEY LETTER: Australia’s department of immigration is going after those who have found their way around the rules, writes PADRAIG COLLINS

AN IRISHMAN was recently fined Aus$1,400 (€850) and expelled from Australia after being convicted of immigration fraud. Other backpackers from Ireland are under investigation for similar frauds.

The man was convicted after admitting he bought employment verification details for a second year working holiday visa (WHV) for $500.

For backpackers to get a second WHV they must work for three months in agricultural or regional work during their first visa year. Typically this involves working as a fruit picker or on a building site in a rural area.

From the time the second WHV scheme was introduced in November 2005, about 4,000 Irish have extended their stay.

But many backpackers, in their anxiety to get the visa without doing the tough work, have risked imprisonment for up to 10 years, and/or a fine of up to $110,000 by claiming they worked on a farm when they did not.

This work is “proved” with the provision of the Australian business number (ABN) of a farmer who has previously hired backpackers, saying you worked there too.

One story doing the rounds of the backpacker community concerns a man, since returned to Ireland, who made tens of thousands of dollars selling ABNs to backpackers desperate to get a second year visa.

Using an alias, he took out adverts on the Gumtree backpacker website under the heading: “2nd year visa, no problem.” A fee of $400 would then be required to be paid directly into his bank account once the visa was granted.

Many thought he was a farm manager, reducing the risk of a comeback should the visa application be randomly checked and denied.

He told clients that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) checked only 10 per cent of second WHV applications. These are done online to ensure details are correct.

One Irish backpacker said he was contacted by e-mail after he placed an advert on Gumtree looking for farm work which would help him get a second WHV.

“The e-mail said if I gave them $400, they would give me details on how I could get the visa without having to do any farm work,” he said.

He turned down the offer, but many others did not and may now be under investigation.

A DIAC spokesperson said: “The department has successfully prosecuted an Irish national for second working holiday visa fraud. Another case has recently been accepted by the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions and others are under consideration . . . The department has recently cancelled 32 second working holiday visas in New South Wales on the basis of fraudulent documentation, and refused many applications.”

DIAC director Deidre Russack spoke at a backpacker conference last weekend . “There’s a lot of fraud . . . they’re not working in regional areas,” she said.

“Immigration is trying to do something about it . . . There’s a lot of work going on in the department around this issue.”

Billy Cantwell, editor of the Sydney-based Irish Echo newspaper, said stories about getting illegal WHVs are passed around in Irish bars and backpacker hostels.

“It’s very disappointing that Irish nationals have been ripping their own people off,” he said.

“Word gets out that there’s a way round the rules and it spreads like bushfire. People do it without thinking of the consequences.

“It would be a dreadful shame if this led to the whole [second WHV] scheme being ditched. It would be a very heavy price to pay if it denied other people a chance to get the visa,” he said.

Despite the risks, many people continue to post on internet sites ways to fraudulently acquire a second WHV.

A forum on one Irish website discusses ways around the regional work requirement.

One poster said: “There is a scam you can pull. If you find out the ABN of a place or two that someone else worked in . . . you can submit these with false dates etc and hope for the best that no one follows them up and checks. I’ve run into a few people now that have their 2nd visa and never picked an apple or melon. It sickens me! Still though, the consequences of getting caught

I do not know. Can’t be too good.”

On another website a poster talks about those who “simply used the same ABN number that their mates had used. They all had about three really nervous days and then got it no worries”.

A DIAC spokesperson confirmed that the department is “closely scrutinising online advertisements offering fraudulent documentation for the purpose of applying for a second working holiday visa”.

Australia is expected to grant 200,000 one-year WHVs this financial year. About 23,000 of these will go to Irish people. Whether fraud affects that number remains to be seen.


There now. As i said earlier i know of a lad thats already been sent home for getting caught out. He has 1 month left on his 2'nd year visa, you would think they would just leave him but sure enough he got fucked out.

[wraddylan]

Australia is a very well place for travel.

[babybliss]

Your best bet is to get a student visa. You can do a 2 years course and thus get a 2 year visa. You just need to come up with the $$s to do one. You are legally only allowed work 20 hrs a week on a student visa,except during term holidays when you can work full time, but most get cash in hand jobs too. You have to just take a while to check all the courses available on the immi website, and check how many points that qualification will give you towards residency. YOu also get points for having an australian qualification so they all add up hopefully to enough points to pass the skills points test.
Don't pay an agency to get a student visa for you. It's easy to do it online. You'll get a bridging visa once you finish work to give you time to get it sorted.
How long does the application process take?

[joecc]

can I just jump in there a second....?
slightly off topic...

When you're visiting oz on a 3-mth tourist visa....will they ask for evidence of an outbound flight? or do they bother?

I'm not sure what country I'll be goin to after, so haven't booked anything...

ta,
joe

[corkman34]

can I just jump in there a second....?
slightly off topic...

When you're visiting oz on a 3-mth tourist visa....will they ask for evidence of an outbound flight? or do they bother?

I'm not sure what country I'll be goin to after, so haven't booked anything...

ta,
joe

They will. And if you cant provide it they will drag you into a little private room and beat the fuck out of you.

[joecc]

you'd advise buy one so?

[oul'doll]

How long does the application process take?



A few weeks. It's very straightforward. Pay for a course, get a student number, apply for visa. Do medical.

[oul'doll]

can I just jump in there a second....?
slightly off topic...

When you're visiting oz on a 3-mth tourist visa....will they ask for evidence of an outbound flight? or do they bother?

I'm not sure what country I'll be goin to after, so haven't booked anything...

ta,
joe



Not necessarily if you can show you have plenty funds to fly out of there after 3 months.

[k974]

A few weeks. It's very straightforward. Pay for a course, get a student number, apply for visa. Do medical.

wat a waste of fucking time you can only get 20hrs a week work, apply for your 175 and have residnecy. student visas waste of fucking time there is some seriour cash to be made here rather than prolonging student/backpacker life.

[oul'doll]

And you think I didn't already try that?

[k974]

And you think I didn't already try that?

why couldnt you get it? wats the point in being here working 20hrs a week if you've already been here on a 1 or 2 yr working holiday visa, after 1 or 2yrs whv i'm assuming your in your mid to late 20's isnt itime to be getting on with life rather than doing some shit course just so you can live in australia and work in subway to prolong the backpacker life!

[babybliss]

why couldnt you get it? wats the point in being here working 20hrs a week if you've already been here on a 1 or 2 yr working holiday visa, after 1 or 2yrs whv i'm assuming your in your mid to late 20's isnt itime to be getting on with life rather than doing some shit course just so you can live in australia and work in subway to prolong the backpacker life!
Maybe because she likes the lifestyle, the weather etc.

I've lived there for 2 years under the WHV and am thinking of moving back there as a student.

[babybliss]

A few weeks. It's very straightforward. Pay for a course, get a student number, apply for visa. Do medical.
Thanks Doll. Was checking out the immigration website, gotta save for the exorbitant international student fees.

[k974]

Maybe because she likes the lifestyle, the weather etc.

I've lived there for 2 years under the WHV and am thinking of moving back there as a student.

i like the lifestyle the weather thats why i'm here so long but i did my 1yr on the whv after that it was time to get a proper job make the most of the oppurtunties that are here not doing a course to stay here and work 20hrs a week.

if your doing the course with a view to getting residency at the end of it fair enough but to prolong your working holiday waste of time

[babybliss]

i like the lifestyle the weather thats why i'm here so long but i did my 1yr on the whv after that it was time to get a proper job make the most of the oppurtunties that are here not doing a course to stay here and work 20hrs a week.

if your doing the course with a view to getting residency at the end of it fair enough but to prolong your working holiday waste of time

Yeah Im planning on doing it to get residency. My goon drinking days are long over!

[corkman34]

I liked the lifestyle there too when i was there years ago. But not the insects. When you can clearly make out what mood a grasshopper is in by thier facial expression is when you know you aint in Ireland anymore.

[joecc]

Not necessarily if you can show you have plenty funds to fly out of there after 3 months.

i think that's more accurate, cause when I arrived in NZ at the immigration section. He didn't ask for evidence of outgoing flight, but examined the visa, and asked if I had sufficient funds......

but oddly enough....(I flew from Kuala Lumpar to Auck) the fella at check in there, asked for details of outgoing flight from Auck...
you'd think it would be the other way round....

[k974]

i think that's more accurate, cause when I arrived in NZ at the immigration section. He didn't ask for evidence of outgoing flight, but examined the visa, and asked if I had sufficient funds......

but oddly enough....(I flew from Kuala Lumpar to Auck) the fella at check in there, asked for details of outgoing flight from Auck...
you'd think it would be the other way round....

Nz immigration is stricter than australian, the airlines arent supposed to take you there without an onward ticket unless you have a long term visa or australian/nz passport thats why you were asked in KL, i know 2 people who were refused permission by virigin blue to board a flight from oz to nz with a 1 way ticket

[oul'doll]

why couldnt you get it? wats the point in being here working 20hrs a week if you've already been here on a 1 or 2 yr working holiday visa, after 1 or 2yrs whv i'm assuming your in your mid to late 20's isnt itime to be getting on with life rather than doing some shit course just so you can live in australia and work in subway to prolong the backpacker life!


What's your problem, dick? I was working here sponsored by a pharma company and had to go home for personal reasons after 2 years, which are none of your business. It was 5 years ago I was on the whv. How ignorant of you to assume I'm trying to prolong some backpacker life. This isn't bloody easy trying to live on part-time work, but if I was at home I'd most likely be on the dole - how is that better? Here I'm learning a new skill and working towards my residency.
Judgemental fuckhead.

[joecc]

Nz immigration is stricter than australian, the airlines arent supposed to take you there without an onward ticket unless you have a long term visa or australian/nz passport thats why you were asked in KL, i know 2 people who were refused permission by virigin blue to board a flight from oz to nz with a 1 way ticket

I'm going from NZ to Oz, going by what you're saying I should be ok. As I'll be dealing with Oz immi....
If there is a prob, can't I just buy an onward ticket at airport (like the cheapest one possible?) even though I prob won't use it...

[Jim Comic]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0830/melbourne.html

[elmo2]

Not wanting to sound too negeative, but I really wasnt a fan of Australia, many of my friends and family were very happy there (some are still there) but I was miserable.

I am lucky enough to have dual citizenship to Ireland and Australia but from what I experienced I was very unhappy there. I found it quite difficult to get on with Australian people for the most part, my personality and humour just didnt gel with them. I have met pleanty of ozzies I like, but just not while I was there. I spent most of my time in Manly in sydney.

Its a great country, extremely beautiful and there are a lot of oppourtunities there but I would advise anyone going to really think about it and plan before going. The grass is always greener sort of advice. It can be very lonely and difficult to make friends from my experience.

But Just casue it didnt work for me, doesnt mean it wont work for others!

[thegillabbeygowl]

Not wanting to sound too negeative, but I really wasnt a fan of Australia, many of my friends and family were very happy there (some are still there) but I was miserable.

I am lucky enough to have dual citizenship to Ireland and Australia but from what I experienced I was very unhappy there. I found it quite difficult to get on with Australian people for the most part, my personality and humour just didnt gel with them. I have met pleanty of ozzies I like, but just not while I was there. I spent most of my time in Manly in sydney.

Its a great country, extremely beautiful and there are a lot of oppourtunities there but I would advise anyone going to really think about it and plan before going. The grass is always greener sort of advice. It can be very lonely and difficult to make friends from my experience.

But Just casue it didnt work for me, doesnt mean it wont work for others!

Maybe you're boring.:roll:

[Eoin]

I spent most of my time in Manly in sydney.


That was your problem right there. Sydney is shite.

I hear what you're saying, they can be an arrogant shower, especially Sydney-ers or whatever they like to call themselves.

I actually miss a lot of things about Melbourne though, if it wasn't so far away, I'd consider moving back.

[thegillabbeygowl]

That was your problem right there. Sydney is shite.

I hear what you're saying, they can be an arrogant shower, especially Sydney-ers or whatever they like to call themselves.

I actually miss a lot of things about Melbourne though, if it wasn't so far away, I'd consider moving back.

I was thinking the same when she/he said Manly.
I left Australia 4 years ago and am still regularly in contact with the people I met.

[Eoin]

I was thinking the same when she/he said Manly.
I left Australia 4 years ago and am still regularly in contact with the people I met.

I imagine living in Manly and judging Australia is like coming to Ireland and living in Balinasloe or Mountrath and saying teh whole country is shite.

[thegillabbeygowl]

I imagine living in Manly and judging Australia is like coming to Ireland and living in Balinasloe or Mountrath and saying teh whole country is shite.


Yeah my brother lives in Bondi, I couldn't spend a day there nevermind 3 years.
I became and Irishphobe by the end of my time there.

[POL]

go back to australia

[thegillabbeygowl]

go back to australia

Who?
You're like an oul senile man yelling in the park.

[Derek B]

I imagine living in Manly and judging Australia is like coming to Ireland and living in Balinasloe or Mountrath and saying teh whole country is shite.

Sorry lads but I have to defend Manly here...I don't nor have I ever lived there in my 5 years in Sydney, but I work that side of the city and get there on occasion...the beach is very nice and there's some good restaurants around the place..couple of half decent bars too. A short stroll around the heads you have Shelley beach which is good for a bit of snorkelling or a bbq on the communal ones there (which by the way are never manky over here when people finish with them!)

Fair enough Eoin if you'd prefer Ballinasloe to this -
http://www.thegreenpages.co m.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shelly-beach-manly-sydney-small.jpg?39a4ff
http://www.stevearnoldphoto .com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Manly-2.jpg

;-)

[thegillabbeygowl]

Hummm.

http://www.visabureau.com/australia/news/04-10-2011/rate-of-irish-emigration-to-australia-staggering.aspx

[Derek B]

Ahem..
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/sydney-voted-the-worlds-number-one-city-20111013-1llrh.html

[thegillabbeygowl]

I was looking at some of the facebook pics of The Tea Gardens on bookface and laughing at the state of the muckers.
Then I spotted my brother in the photos.:D

[Beaty]

I was looking at some of the facebook pics of The Tea Gardens on bookface and laughing at the state of the muckers.
Then I spotted my brother in the photos.:D

Haha - the last time I was in the Tea Gardens I was on a major bender.

I mean major.

B

[Beaty]

Ahem..
http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/sydney-voted-the-worlds-number-one-city-20111013-1llrh.html

It's good to visit yes.

But would I live there? Noooooo....

B

[thegillabbeygowl]

Haha - the last time I was in the Tea Gardens I was on a major bender.

I mean major.

B

Haha, that place was one of the reasons I ran out of Sydney.
I've just spotted his GF, 2 neighbours and my first cousin as well.:oops:

[POL]

a mucksavage hellhole full of drunken sunburnt Irish boggers in GAA jerseys like Sydney is a better city than somewhere like New York or Berlin??? FFS :lol!:

[delzer]

a mucksavage hellhole full of drunken sunburnt Irish boggers in GAA jerseys like Sydney is a better city than somewhere like New York or Berlin??? FFS :lol!:

Maximum reppage.

[Beaty]

Maximum reppage.

I dunno, New York has a lot more appeal to me.

Bar the 'Harbour', and a few half decent beaches, SYD can get pretty mindnumbing.

Love Penrith, Paramatta and of course Redfern...

B

[Eoin]

I dunno, New York has a lot more appeal to me.

Bar the 'Harbour', and a few half decent beaches, SYD can get pretty mindnumbing.

Love Penrith, Paramatta and of course Redfern...

B

Sydney was the last place I visited in Australia, and I can safely say it was the worst. Awful place.

[Coogee]

a mucksavage hellhole full of drunken sunburnt Irish boggers in GAA jerseys like Sydney is a better city than somewhere like New York or Berlin??? FFS :lol!:

in fairness if you avoid the 4 or 5 bars that crowd frequent then it is a cracking place to live. Not that difficult in a city of over 4 million people

[Coogee]

Sydney was the last place I visited in Australia, and I can safely say it was the worst. Awful place.

why did you dislike it so much Eoin. I lived there for 3 years and loved it. Once you stay away from Bondi Junction and the CBH and a few late night hell holes in the city its a great spot...dozens of great beaches, great weather, nice cafes and restaurants, good nightlife and a great city for sport..if it wasnt so bloody far away from friends and family back home i would have stayed there

[Eoin]

why did you dislike it so much Eoin. I lived there for 3 years and loved it. Once you stay away from Bondi Junction and the CBH and a few late night hell holes in the city its a great spot...dozens of great beaches, great weather, nice cafes and restaurants, good nightlife and a great city for sport..if it wasnt so bloody far away from friends and family back home i would have stayed there

After living in Melbourne I just found it a bit meh tbh, I was only there for a week, and I was ready to leave after a couple of days. People were arseholes, was way more rushed than Melbourne as well and didn't think the restaurants/cafes were a patch on it. Spent a few days in Coogee which was nice, but again, I was ready to leave after a few days.

Your last comment there is how I feel about Melbourne.

[Coogee]

After living in Melbourne I just found it a bit meh tbh, I was only there for a week, and I was ready to leave after a couple of days. People were arseholes, was way more rushed than Melbourne as well and didn't think the restaurants/cafes were a patch on it. Spent a few days in Coogee which was nice, but again, I was ready to leave after a few days.

Your last comment there is how I feel about Melbourne.

fair enough..i suppose i kinda felt the same about Melbourne as i only spent a few long weekends there i remember thinking id miss Sydney's beaches if i moved there

[Beaty]

why did you dislike it so much Eoin. I lived there for 3 years and loved it. Once you stay away from Bondi Junction and the CBH and a few late night hell holes in the city its a great spot...dozens of great beaches, great weather, nice cafes and restaurants, good nightlife and a great city for sport..if it wasnt so bloody far away from friends and family back home i would have stayed there

You even took the place a a username ;-)

Cute.

B

[Coogee]

You even took the place a a username ;-)

Cute.

B

not my favourite suburb of Sydney but not a bad spot all the same and its where i first lived there so i suppose i have a soft spot for the place. Bronte,Clovelly and Tamarama just down the road are far nicer and manage not to attract to many backpackers

[thegillabbeygowl]

not my favourite suburb of Sydney but not a bad spot all the same and its where i first lived there so i suppose i have a soft spot for the place. Bronte,Clovelly and Tamarama just down the road are far nicer and manage not to attract to many backpackers

My brother lives in Coogee.
You hear about the ice cream incident?

[Coogee]

My brother lives in Coogee.
You hear about the ice cream incident?

i didnt.i left Sydney in 2008...tell on

[thegillabbeygowl]

i didnt.i left Sydney in 2008...tell on

You left in 08, it happened in 08, interesting.

http://www.news.com.au/news/iconic-pub-dished-up-faeces-to-diners/story-fna7dq6e-1111117854530

[Coogee]

You left in 08, it happened in 08, interesting.

http://www.news.com.au/news/iconic-pub-dished-up-faeces-to-diners/story-fna7dq6e-1111117854530

o yeah i remember hearing about that now...used to go into the CBH for the 5dollar steak on a thursday night...you'd cook it yourself on the bbq..decent feed in fairness...it used to be a great spot around 2005-2006 but it got very rough in 2007/2008..always trouble there

[thegillabbeygowl]

o yeah i remember hearing about that now...used to go into the CBH for the 5dollar steak on a thursday night...you'd cook it yourself on the bbq..decent feed in fairness...it used to be a great spot around 2005-2006 but it got very rough in 2007/2008..always trouble there

Yeah, was only in there once back in 07, seemed like a nice spot.
I lived in Kings Cross for 2 months, now that was a nice spot.:lol!:

[Coogee]

Yeah, was only in there once back in 07, seemed like a nice spot.
I lived in Kings Cross for 2 months, now that was a nice spot.:lol!:

jesus i had some messy nights there...the main strip is a seedy shithole but there are some pretty cool bars and clubs tucked away in the backstreets...Paddin gton was a great area for pubs...some class pubs tucked away in the middle of quiet residential areas

[thegillabbeygowl]

Well I told my whole local the sorts that hang out in Bondi.
Probably not the best idea seeing as half of them have lived/live there.
Had to be done though.