When John and Linda Gooding left their teaching jobs and comfortable life in Birmingham, England, in the early 1970s, they weren’t entirely sure what they were jumping into. What they did know was this: if an opportunity comes along, you take it—and be prepared to adapt.
More than 50 years later, the couple are still proud to call Ayr home. They've raised their children here, watched the town change, and become a beloved part of the community. And while their accents never faded, their hearts are well and truly Burdekin.
“We always felt like locals from the time we got here,” John said. “It was just whether other people saw us that way.”
The Burdekin welcomed the Gooding's early.
“I remember going to the local electrical shop because I desperately needed an iron,” Linda recalled. “I told the manager I’d come back after the bank opened, but he said, ‘Just take it now. I know who you are—you’re a teacher.’ That kind of trust wouldn’t happen back home.”
But adapting to the new culture, climate and customs of a place a couple of continents and some seas away from their home wasn't always smooth sailing.
"When we first arrived in Ayr, we wanted to explore a bit, so we started walking along Queen Street. We went one way—just cane fields. Turned around—more cane. We tried every direction and eventually just stood in the middle of the road thinking, Oh my goodness.”
Yet, through the barren streets, scorching heat, and relentless mosquito attacks, the Goodings chose to embrace their new surroundings rather than resent them.
"Through music, sport, and theatre, we've made lifelong friends,” said Linda. “We've really loved it here, and it’s been a great place to raise our kids.”
"It's the best decision we've ever made," added John. “It could have gone badly, but life’s what you make it. Be flexible. Take the leap.”
Their story is one of thousands that define the Burdekin—a fusion of cultures and characters who, over generations, have each brought something of themselves to the cane fields and coastal plains. For the Gooding's, the move was a life remade—and a decision that’s aged remarkably well.
The Gooding's made the most of their time in Australia, raising their children in what they describe as a safe, tight-knit town. Photo credit: Jacob Casha
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