Young lovers' Australia dream finally comes true
Yvonne and Michael Gomez spoke about moving to Australia when they first met, 17 years ago.
The young students were at nursing college, in the Philippines, when their individual dreams started morphing together.
“We were classmates, so we saw each other every day as friends,” Yvonne said.
“Then he borrowed my assignment, and I cried because he was still holding it when they were due to be passed up.”
Amidst Michael's attempts to make it up to her, the pair fell in love and started planning a joint future in nursing.
“Our main goal was actually always Australia, ever since then,” Michael said.
“But there are a lot of requirements and we didn’t have enough money for it, at the time.”
In the ensuing years the couple got married and moved to Dubai, where they had three children (now aged 1, 2 and 6). Life in Dubai was hectic, with Michael working in the Emergency department, and Yvonne in the Intensive Care Unit.
“We were almost 10 years in Dubai and we worked very hard there,” Michael said.
“There is not much work-life balance; it is 95% work.”
The cost of living made it difficult to save money so the pair used their annual leave, separately, to complete a one-month bridging course in New
Zealand.
An interview with Grampians Health Edenhope followed, and the couple’s dream finally came true.
“When we look back on that time, it’s been a really long journey,” Michael said.
The pair are both working in Lakeside Living care community and Yvonne’s mother has also moved to Edenhope, to help with childcare. The small rural town has met all of Yvonne’s expectations.
“We feel so welcome here, not only in the workplace but also in the community,” she said.
“The kids were always staying in the flat in Dubai, so they are so happy here. It was their first time on a slide, and they were really keen to do it again and again.”
Both nurses feel more comfortable working in a slower, more personable environment.
"Ever since I was small, I wanted to become a nurse because my passion is taking care of people," Yvonne said.
"We can spend more time with residents here and take care of them properly. At one stage all of us will need care in hospital or aged care; I treat the residents the same way I would want to be treated."
Join us in welcoming Michael, Yvonne, her mother, and their three children to Edenhope!
