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McGuinness Family

David McGuinness was desperate for a better future but couldn't agree with his wife Jeanette on where that might be. He wanted Australia, she didn't.

David McGuinness had talked about moving to Australia with his wife Jeanette since their very first date. But could he convince her to uproot their young family from their tight-knit Liverpool home? That was the major decision facing them in 2011.

The family lived in Waltham in Liverpool. At the time David was 36, Jeanette was 31 and the children were daughter Gabrielle, who was four, and two-year-old son Sean. Eighteen years ago David had been on holiday to Sydney and he had fallen in love with the city. Now a husband and dad of two he was convinced their future would be so much better on the other side of the world.

But wife Jeanette was reluctant to move anywhere - she was a true Scouser through and through. Any move would take her away from her big Liverpudlian family - and especially her beloved mum. But with David's carpentry business hitting hard times during the recession, even she knew emigrating might bring them a better standard of life.

But while Jeanette was torn, David had made up his mind. He was determined they should go - and now was the perfect time. There seemed to be little chance for any give either way from either of them. So as the McGuinness family sampled a trial week in Gold Coast on the east coast of Australia, it seemed that everything was at stake. The dilemma - better opportunities down under versus leaving loved ones behind - it was going to be a difficult decision for the couple to make.

So six years later it's time to find out just where the McGuinness family is.

44 minutes

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Rod Thomas

    Funbags

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Nicki Chapman
Series Producer Jacqui Berkeley
Executive Producer Paul Connolly
Production Manager Joy Hines

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