People of Perth

Many of the people in Perth are from elsewhere. Like California, Perth and WA attracts people from all over Australia and the world who want to start a new life, away and different from their old lives. Most are self starters, independent minded, and very optimistic.

There are a large group of Italians and Yugoslavians here. They were World War II Allied prisoners of war who had been captured by Australian troops in North Africa. After the war, they stayed here and started families. The Australian government was pushing hard to get people to settle out here because the war made them aware of how vulnerable they were. The Japanese had attacked and landed in northern Australia. The whole north and west of Australia was wide open to invasion and occupation.

The rest of the Australians do not understand the Italians. One day I was in the car with Trish driving to the store when we drove through this neighborhood with unusually large two story red brick homes. All of the house had balconies and patios all lined with ornate white marble railings.

"See those houses?", asked Trish. "That them Italians and Yugoslavs. Can you believe their houses? Only they put those ugly railings on those oversize houses!"

She seemed genuinely upset. She continued; "Do you know why those houses are so bloody huge? 'Cause their kids never move out. The whole damn family lives in one house, from granny to the grandkids. There must be 10 bedrooms in some of those houses. And then to make it look Italian they put those ugly porches on them. No one around here likes those houses. And they let their kids stay, even bringing their wives in to live there.

It is not just her. I've verified from other sources that many in Perth consider the Italian mega-houses to be over-the-top and bad for property values.

"But," Trish added, "They have the best grocery stores. I can get the best of anything there."

I have yet to meet an Italian here yet. We have a 2nd generation local Yugoslavian-Australian at work. North of Perth I have ridden my bike through the Italian part of the town and have seen the large Australia Italian Society Club building. There always seems to be some large wedding going on. I have to be careful. I know I have a weakness for beautiful dark haired Italian women. Hell, I married one. I'm afraid of what would happen if I met one with that Australian accent. I'd melt.

In addition to the ex-POWs, more recently there are many white South Africans who are moving here fleeing the anarchy that South Africa has become in the last 5 years. SA is very dangerous place now because crime is out of control.

I meet a lot of Brits who moved here. They are pretty cool. Aussies call them "poms", which I think is slang for pompous, as in pompous bastard. Most moved here because they were sick of the English weather and lack of opportunities back home.

There are very few Yanks. Outside of those I met at the American Woman's Auxiliary for Thanksgiving, and the two at IBM, I have yet to see one. I haven't even see an American tourist. No one knows I am American until I open my mouth, and then they seem rather surprised.