Dennis and Maureen Hennessey left Liverpool, England in 1965.

Part of the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ assisted migration scheme, they left in search of a better life and more opportunities for themselves and their six children. One of those children was Elaine. Second-eldest of the group, Elaine was 12 years old when the family made the three-day journey via plane.

“Most of the people moving over here came on a ship. I don’t think there was any way my parents were spending six weeks on a boat with all us kids though!”

The family moved into a migrant hostel while Dennis and Maureen saved for their first house. Elaine says that while living in the hostel created a lot of friendships for her, she initially struggled to fit in at school, and was teased by other students for being ‘different’.

The Hennessey family lived at the migrant hostel for two-and-a-half years. It was there that Elaine began to develop a love for sewing and clothes-making, making use of what she had available to her.

Due to their tight budget and the amount of children they had, Elaine says that she always wanted more clothes than her parents could afford.

She was also after clothes that were unlike what was available in the shops at the time.

“When we moved into the hostel I wanted clothes that were different. I also always wanted more clothes than my parents could pay for, or were prepared to buy. I started hand-sewing my own clothes and it just went from there”

After they moved into their own house, Elaine’s mother bought a sewing machine, and she began making clothes more and more.

“If we were going out one night and I wanted a new skirt I’d just make one. If I needed a new top I’d make one. I was always just making clothes.”

“I was completely self-taught until I became pregnant for the first time. It was then I completed a design and pattern-making course, so I was able to make clothes for both myself and my children.”

Elaine’s hobby grew and developed, and she is now a successful self-employed dressmaker.

“I think the best part of making dresses is that you get to feel as though you’ve achieved something really good. You can look at the final product and really have a sense of achievement.”

While she has made many items of clothing over the years, she says that certain items she has created hold a special place in her heart.

“My daughter’s wedding dress was definitely one of the most special ones that I have made. I have also made wedding dresses for close family friends, and it’s so nice seeing them wear something that is exactly how they imagined it to be.”

Elaine is grateful for the opportunities that living in Australia have provided her with, and recognises that things would have been much different should they have stayed in England.

“I don’t think we would have gotten very far in life should we have stayed in England. Soon after we left our area turned pretty bad. There were gangs and violence, it was awful”

“Here we had a lot more options and opportunities available to us. Mum and Dad were able to build their own house, we could learn to drive, and we were able to finish school should we want to. I’m very thankful for that.”