We began our new life in Ashburton just over two years ago. Emigrating here from Warwickshire, with our two daughters [then aged 7 and 18 months]. I had never set foot in New Zealand. My husband, a Chartered Tax Advisor, had secured employment with Leech & Partners Ltd and had visited Ashburton for just a week [to attend an interview]. He said at the time, as a town, he felt it had our name on it and how right he was. I gave up a post as Deputy Principal of a large secondary school to come to Ashburton. Previously I worked [on average] an unhealthy 50+ hours a week which, although professionally rewarding, personally, with two young children, soul destroying.
In Ashburton we have a found a place where we can "work to live" and not "live to work". From the moment we arrived we found the people here warm, friendly and lacking in pretension. Our neighbours bought welcome cake to the house and helped us move our furniture. They have become firm friends. There is an award winning "Newcomers' Network" that is well supported and meets regularly but we have never needed to seek out opportunities to make new friends.
The town has a very strong sense of community and I was amazed at the variety of activities from the play centre to the Children's Theatre that are organised and run by the community. The pace of life here is very different because people take the tim eto talk to one another and what you have to offer the community is encouraged and valued.
The town, affectionately known as Ash Vegas, has more than enough to keep our children busy. They swim, play sport, paint, dance and act. Our proximity to Christchurch means we have access to excellent live theatre and a superb gallery.
One of our reasons for moving to New Zealand wa sto take our children out of the 'rat race' and the education system that prepares them to take their place in it. The schooling system here hasn't disappointed us. There are excellent primary shcools in Ashburton and a College that offers a brand of education based on pride in oneself and a press for achievement. It has a strong staff that I have found to be friendly and very professional.
The favourable climate of the east coast means that most weekends we can take our children on picnics to Peel Forest, Lake Hood or to the beaches close to Christchurch. We enjoy fishing and tramping, pastimes we never considered in the UK.
In August we welcomed to the world out third child - our little kiwi. We are very proud to consider Ashburton our home. Not only did we start a new life here, we have begun to really live.
Jackie Heffernan