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Record #5582
Name :
: John DIXON (1940 - )


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1940 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: May 1950
Country
: Australia

Ship
: Ormonde

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Fairbridge Homes
NotesIn 1950, J. J. Dixon, 10, arrived at Fremantle, Australia, in a group of children c/o Miss D. R. Hall, The Fairbridge School, Inc., Creagh Hall, 38, Holland Villas Road, London, England, en route to Fairbrige Farm School, Pinjarra, Australia.

In 2000, Zoran Nedeljkovic wrote of John's story and his reunion with his siblings:

"Amradale resident John Dixon is a changed man.

The story begins in January 1999, when John and his wife Wendy were returning from a funeral in Albany.

John told Wendy he had decided to begin the search for his long-lost family.

'He never mentioned it before or seemed interested to search for any family,' Wendy said.

'But he became determined to learn more about his past.'

John's parents separated when he was only three years old, and when he was 10 he was sent to Australia under the child migrant scheme.

He believed he was an orphan.

For the next six years, John lived at Fairbridge Farm orphanage in Pinjarra.

He married Wendy in 1964 and the couple have four children.

After reaching his decision to begin the search, John contacted the Child Migrant Trust in Nedlands.

Last August, John was told the trust had discovered two sisters and a brother in the U.K.

'It was one of those moments that just happens once in a lifetime,' John said.

'People think it's something that only happens to your next-door neighbour, but it can happen to you.

'I felt tingles from my toes to the top of my head.'

Wendy said the Child Migrant Trust had discovered the news only a few months after beginning the search.

'We started with phone calls to get to know each other,' John said.

'It was an exciting and beautiful time.'

This led to the Dixons traveling to the U.K. last September for a three-week visit.

'We were both nervous, particularly John,' Wendy said.

'Once we all met, I could tell John was becoming a more complete person and there were definite similarities between him and his family.'

John said the visit was 'just unreal.'

He discovered he had another sister four days before he and Wendy were to travel back to Perth.

'This wa crying-material stuff,' John said.

'No one knew of each.

'I was called 'big brother' twice in three weeks -- this was just fantastic.'

Wendy said the situation could not get any better for John.

'He now has three sisters and brother,' she said.

But the search continues.
The Child Migrant Trust has discovered that John has two more sisters somewhere in the world.

Meanwhile, the Dixons keep in regular contact with their new family and this year look forward to some international visitors on a holiday Down Under.

'I think I have dropped about 10 years off my age -- I feel great,' John Said." 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-03-15 20:17:38 / From original database

Last Updated :

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  9 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
13939 DIXON, Albert1888ENG,     Mar 1901 : Dominion CAN Louisa Birt  
13721 DIXON, George1906ENG,    , Poplar Oct 1920 : Scandinavian CAN Barnardos  
5582 DIXON, John1940ENG,     May 1950 : Ormonde AUS Fairbridge Homes  
9340 DIXON, Louisa1901ENG,     Apr 1912 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
4467 DIXON, Louisa Ellen1887ENG, SRY, Battersea Aug 1889 : Caspian CAN Barnardos  
15604 DIXON, Margaret 1910ENG,     Jun 1923 : Regina CAN Louisa Birt  
26624 DIXON, Oswald1924ENG, DUR, Lanchester Jan 1935 : Otranto AUS Fairbridge Homes  
27315 DIXON, Sheila Margaret1926ENG, DUR, Chester-le-Street Jun 1939 : Strathaird AUS Fairbridge Homes  
13013 DIXON, William1879ENG,     Sep 1896 : Sardinian CAN Catholic Protection Society