Moving to Australia

A young Bideford postman looked out from his home at the lashing rain on Friday and commented: ‘Depressing isn’t it?’ And then he laughed.
He had good reason. For today he and his family fly to a new life in sunny Australia.

Mr John Evans, his wife Elizabeth and their sons Russell, Mark and Bruce will live in Maryborough, Queensland, a coastal town with a population of 17,000, about 150 miles north of Brisbane.

On leaving school Mr Evans learned his trade as a shipwright at Appledore shipyard before joining the Post Office at Bideford.
He later worked for a security firm in Barnstaple for a period, returning to the GPO six months ago. He was a special constable for five years.

Always keen on rowing, he was cox of the Red’s junior crew which won the West of England championship in 1955. Subsequently he joined the Athletic Club.

His parents, Mr and Mrs George Evans, 67 Clifton Street, Bideford, are thinking of following him in about 12 months’ time.

Last week the family threw a party at Durrant House Hotel at which gifts were presented to all of them.

The full Gazette article is dated 19 September 1969