Catherine Cole's Slipstream is a beautifully-woven memoir that captures the essence of growing up as the child of 'Ten Pound Poms' in Australia. Born to migrant parents who left their close-knit Yorkshire community to start afresh in Australia, Catherine's childhood was filled with the contrasting worlds of a small mining village in northern England and the Australian heat, beaches and cicadas. In Slipstream, she explores the humourous and poignant mix of these two worlds.
The book delves into the experiences of the British who migrated to Australia under the 'Ten Pound Pom' scheme and have since been referred to as 'Australia's forgotten migrants'. Catherine examines the appeal of the scheme, and documents the journey of these migrants as they left their homes, were sponsored, settled and built new lives in a very different terrain.
Slipstream is not just a memoir, but also a reflection on migration and its impact on individuals and communities. It offers insightful perspectives on post-war opportunity, freedom of movement and kindness to strangers. With a mix of personal stories, cultural observations and historical insights, Slipstream is a heartfelt exploration of the sacrifices made by migrants to build a better future for their children in a new land.