Susan M Sedivy

Corrugated Castles Susan M Sedivy

In 1956 Margaret, aged 23 years of age, born in Birkenhead England immigrated to Australia, under the Commonwealth Assisted Passager scheme, (10 pound Poms). She had three children, was pregnant with a fourth and had a husband who was restless. Life in Australia began in a Migrant Hostel in a corrugated iron hut. The conditions were very primitive, and the food was poor, to escape this they took a job with the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service and were stationed on a remote island. Supplies arrived every two weeks by ship. Then the supply ship ran aground on the adjoining island. As her husband became increasingly restless, the relationship failed and got violent. Margaret left him and her children. She began a long difficult struggle to build a life of her own and get custody of her children. This is a true account of survival against the odds, of a refusal to be beaten. It is a document of some importance, as Margaret writes with authority, compassion and has a never-ending fund of humour and common sense.