gobbyjock

Comet Bay is a state school so any fees due would be just general contributions (e.g my daughters state school fees this year (Yr12) are about $300 - can`t remember exact amount) - then you have to pay for text books (which was another $300 this year for us)and uniform on top. State school contribution fees cover stuff like use school bus, photocopying, printing and all depend on what courses they take. Having said that there are some visa`s where they have full fee paying status such as certain temporary or bridging visa`s. My mate sends her kid to private school and she laughed when I moaned about the cost of the texts books - hers cost $700 and then she has private school fees on top plus uniform.

I use it too - if they feel rough when I bring them in I just give them a quick swipe over with the iron - makes them nice and soft again.

The tip is at Millar Rd near Baldivis/Spud Shed way, you can just flatten it put it in the car and drop it off at the tip - you will probably need a tip pass which you rental agent should have left you if renting , otherwise you get them with your rates notice. If you don`t have any give them a call 9528 8550

I don`t drive (live SOR) have been here 4 1/2yrs - it is do-able but restricts your choices as far as housing, work and schools go (you have to live near bus stop/trainstation etc, and walking to and from bus stop in the middle of summer is not a lot of fun - I sit my test next week.

I like Outback Jacks in Freo but the one in Rockingham is pretty pants - especially for service.

We like the Steel Tree at Settlers in Baldivis, the food is yum and service is good, also like Tony Romas in Perth - the ribs are .... mmmmmmmmm....sorry I started drooling there.

Is it a particular type of stain or just general??

For me I don`t mind people making informed comments, but when they dismiss such a huge area out of hand it does wind me up. I would never comment on an area NOR because I don`t live there and tbh have not spent any time up there other than the odd visit to friends in Carramar.

Look at the end of the day come over,have a look around and make your own mind up - SOR is a huge area, this gets trotted out every time someone asks someone (who always seems to live NOR and who knows a friend of a friends Auntie who once lived in Rockingham 30 years ago). It`s like saying every town in Hampshire is posh or every town in Yorkshire is poor. You have some lovely newer suburbs such as Baldivis and Secret Harbour, nearer to the city you have Succes, Murdoch and Leeming to name but a few. If he is looking at working in Henderson then living SOR would probably be easier for travelling to and from work - all depends on how much of a commute he wants to do and what sort of a budget you have.

SOR covers a huge area and most definately is not full of bogans, there is a lot of snobbery about SOR, especially the Rockingham area, and mostly from people who have never lived there, but SOR does not just include Rockingham. Come over have a good look round as many areas as you can when you get here and make your own mind up. THere is much more to Perth than NOR, SOR - the hills areas such as Kalamunda are lovely and should not be discounted off hand. Another thing to take into account is where you will be working - no point living in Secret Harbour if you will be working in Yanchep and vice versa.

I`ve managed ok - been here 4 1/2 yrs but like I said it`s going to make things much easier and open up more choices workwise, hubby is in the RAN and will be away for 6 months this year and he pointed out that If anything happens to my daughter or the dogs need to get to a vet Im knackered - thats what made me start lessons.

I don`t drive and whilst I can get around ok by public transport, it can have a big effect on other major decisions - Im limited to where I can live - need to be near bus stop & shops and work - you need to be near bus stop as walking long distance to bus stop is a pain - bloody hot in summer and can get pretty wet in winter. Going to a GP or Dentist can be awkward too, so Im taking lessons and will be sitting my test soon - if I pass it will open up a whole load of options for me. It is do able but much easier if you can drive and like I said gives you so much more options for living and work areas.

If you are talking about renting then Glenway Realty are pretty good.

I`d agree with that - what suits one kid might not suit another - Have a good look round the schools when you get here and make your own mind up. Keep in mind that there seems to be a lot of moving around in schools over here - I work at a school and am always amazed by how many times kids are moved in and out of schools, so your child won`t be the only new kid.I have friends with kids at Comet Bay, most of them are very happy with it there too - you know your kid best so go with your gut instinct.

Plenty of kids from Baldivis go to both Comet Bay and Warnbro CHS (you have a choice if living in Baldivis) they manage the trip no problem - it just means making sure you rent near a bus stop - they get a bus to Warnbro train station then another bus to either school (there is no school bus but there are public buses that go straight past both schools from Warnbro train station).

Try Kone CRanes or Kone LIfts they have offices here in Perth.

We`ve been here 4 years - hubby had visited Oz briefly with work but myself and daughter (who was 12 at the time) had never been. It worked for us - we had no pre conceived ideas about Utopia, we expected it to be different and not just UK with sunshine - keep an open mind.

Hmmmm smells like spam and chips, looks like spam and chips......guess that`s what it must be.Otherwise why would you be asking on an Australian forum about Ortho treatment in New York???

If you go in to Woolies late afternoon on a Saturday you can often pick up meat cheap.

Parkland Estate in Warnbro is nice- it`s near the top end - beach side down from Safety Bay Road. If You are looking for a new er home the Harrington Waters is just over the road and very nice, as well as being near the train station.

If you live in the catchment area state schools have to take you whether they have room or not, the private schools however can be choosy if they wish. State schools will require proof of address before they will enrol a student, so do your homework before you move into a suburb and look at the high schools your child will be eventually attending also - and remember just because a school is private does not always mean your child will thrive there.

LOL! Nope not from Port Kennedy, Singleton, Golden Bay or Secret Harbour - you must have really good eyesight.

Aah the joys of leaving the Navy and emigrating all at the same time - I remember it well mate! One thing I will say is that if he is entitled to RN pension (not sure if he`s done his 22??)make sure it is properly sorted - we had a nightmare as they cocked it up and the stress levels were through the roof, as were homeless at the time travelling round the country saying goodbye to relatives in the final week before we left. It did get sorted - the day before we flew!!

We rented in Warnbro when we first arrived, it is an older suburb, houses tend to have larger gardens than the newer suburbs. I liked living there though there are perhaps a few streets to avoid. As others have said you have the Aqua Jetty, good sized shopping centre, regular bus service, and the train station means you can travel to the city easily. It all depends on what you are after really, it`s not shiny and new as other suburbs but you do have a good infrastructure etc. I`d say have a good look round when you get here and make your own mind up.

I don`t drive either, thats why we moved to Port Kennedy, buses between Rockingham and Mandrah every 20 or 30 minutes (which also go to the train stations) 3 different shopping centres (1 medium one at the bottom of Warnbro and 2 smaller ones further down) Gps, bottle shop etc all nearby and other shops just a bus ride away. TBH life would be alot easier if I started taking lesons again but it`s not that inconvenient for me (and I`m not the only one around who`s moved from UK unable to drive)