For those of you that don't know the area, it achieved a mention in the " Top bogan towns of Austrailia" recently. While it doesn't deserve that wrap, there definitely are issues.
That aside though geographically it's an awesome place to live (unless you're a wave sailor), good fishing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing.
Have been living here for 2 .5 years since arriving from Cape Town.
Holy moly, when you see such low life on a daily basis, it really eats away at you. While it is the minority the undertone is always there. The level of dysfunction can be remarkable at times.
So unfortunately by this stage of my life I've used up all my "Let's have a kid next year credits" , I'm now effectively bound to mating successfuly in the short term.
I've met alot of good folks on the water here, but I wonder if any of them have brought up their youngsters from scratch in this area (those who live in waterfront mansions are automatically disqualified from answering).
Probaly already written too much but I've been listening to the base pump out of my neighbours stereo since 5pm yesterday and feeling slightly despondent.
Am looking for a ray of hope here folks.
Should I just move or do I stick with the area ?
Seems that raising kids here could be a step in the wrong direction.
A major earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale hit in the early hours of yesterday morning, with the epicentre in Rockingham. Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly muttering, “F**kin ell” and “Whadda c**t”.
The earthquake decimated the area causing approximately $30 worth of damage.
Several priceless collections of mementos from the Torana Appreciation Society and the Rockingham Progress Hall were damaged beyond repair.
Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed.
Many locals were woken well before their welfare cheques arrived. One resident – Tracy Sharon Smith, a 15-year-old mother of 5 said “It was such a shock, my little Chardonnay Mercedes came running into my bedroom crying. My youngest two, Tyler-Morgaan and Meeghan-Storm slept through it all. I was still shaking when I was watching Jerry Springer the next morning”.
Apparently though, looting, muggings and car crime carried on as normal.
The Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of Vegemite and 70,000 bottles of Home Brew to the area to help the stricken locals. Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, which include benefit books, Eagles jerseys, Jewellery from Priceline and bone china from Bi Lo.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
This appeal is to raise money for food and clothing, parcels for those unfortunate to be caught up in this disaster. Clothing is most sought after. Items most needed include: baseball caps, flannelette shirts, thongs and tracksuits.
Food parcels may be harder to come by, but are needed all the same. Required foodstuffs include, Cheezels, McDonalds, KFC, ice cream and cans of Woodstock Bourbon or Bacardi Breezers.
If you would prefer to donate money, 25c buys a biro for filling in compensation forms; $5.00 buys chips, battered fish, crisps and fizzy drinks for a family of 9; $10.00 will pay for a packet of Winfield Blues and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.
PLEASE do not send tents for shelter, as the sight of posh housing is unfair on the population of the neighbouring areas.
There is ample research that shows we learn from the people we surround ourselves with. If you want to be a nobel prize winner surround yourself with nobel prize winners. You WILL learn from them. If you wish to be a dope-head drunken low achiever surround yourself with the same. You WILL learn from them. Having said that, some of the most interesting and street smart (read life smart) people you will meet will come from low socioeconomic environs. The process of learning about life is accelerated and concreted through hardship.
Quite sad how the wording could apply to so many places in Australia.
Elbeau, was hoping that the parents influence could delay the nastiness. But seeing as though I have f'all experience on the topic, will adopt your thoughts as my current viewpoint. Thanks.
Walked into the local IGA last night , strode past the pram brigade. Feral A says to Feral B, "Haven't seen Stuey in a while, ? Feral B replies, thats cause he's in jail !!! These kids could not have been more than 17.
Awesome place to kite or windsurf but unfortunately even though its really naturally beautiful, it is a pretty dodgy place.
While I tried to post a constructive reply, but your ridiculous stance about how I cannot comment because I have lived in Cape Town, beggars belief. I have lived in many places and have always been allowed to ask questions of the area.
Perhaps you would be better suited to being a media censorship agent back in good old South Africa, instead of some cat murderer in NSW.
If you have not worked out by now that the equivalent of "When we's"
(for those of those that do not know that was the name commonly given to Rhodiesian white refugees is South Africa
are now in Perth and they have a pretty piss poor reputation. They come from South Africa lately and they whinge about how good things were.
You posted a cry about Rockingham. Had you been Jack Samuels from Broome and not so and so from Cape Town I would not have batted an eye lid. I have kited down at Rockingham, never had a problem. If I lived there and had a problem I would certainly not preface it with my country of origin. Is that not what you came to avoid?
Terrific Japie, now we know your views on where I have moved from.
Not particularly helpful. In future I will pretend to be so and so from somewhere, so as not to upset you.
But moving on though.
How does one manage to instill in a child that the level of dysfunction they see around them on a daily basis is not normal ?
While as an adult with a set of values forged elsewhere, I am able to identify what is out of place and avoid the pitfalls.
If you have brought kids up from scratch in such an environment, have you essentially hampered them in formulating the values they need to live a productive life ?
How much has environment affected the way your kids have discerned right from wrong ?
Having lived in Rockingham (and still doing so 33 years later) from the age of 2, can offer an answer to the title of your post. Yes it is possible to raise to good kids in Rockingham. Of the close friends I hung around with through primary school and high school the list of careers is as follows. 1. Chief of aircraft maintainence at a well known international airline. 2. Commercial airline pilot. 3. Master mariner (foreign going/unlimited) 4. Marine engineer (foreign going/unlimited) 5. Business owners (and doing well) x 3 6. Psychiatrist? 7. Bank manager who had a seachange. 8. University lecturer Of the the above 7 still live in the area and are raising good kids. These are all good, law abiding people with a moral compass that points in the right direction. 4 of the above are windsurfers. So I would suggest it is possible to raise good kids in Rockingham. I think the HOW is the more important question and this applies to kids bought up in any suburb. In my opinion parental supervision is more important than the geographical location. If they are allowed to roam around at will, then of course they are going to find trouble. Let em loose on the natural features of the area and teach them the skills (either as a parent or enrolled in a sporting/interest group) to enjoy what is freely available and I would wager money that they will turn out just fine.
where i am from in the U.K, rockingham would be considered a posh area.
You have fallen into the trap of many British people. They think cause the houses are big that it is posh. It's the people who live in the area that give it its' Je Ne Sais Qui.
That said. i dont't think Rocknigham is that bad.It has it's fair share of Bogans, but where doesn't in Perth.
I know a little bit about Rockingham, but not enough to know what it's like to live there full time.
On the other hand I grew up and went to school in an area very similar and there are the odd few that cause trouble but most people went on to have pretty good jobs/careers, and I think it had far more to do with their parents than the few bad people around.
Why worry about it now anyway, you have at least 5 years to worry about this.
I don't know how you deduce my views on Cape Town from what I said. I happen to love Cape Town. What I do not like is people who come from South Africa to Australia and then grizzle about how they find it.
You will find all sorts of problems here but they are obviously not bad enough for you to consider returning to where you came from. Because that is dysfunctional, considerably so.
Japie, are there any other nationalities that you feel should not ask questions on issues that are relevant to them on this forum? Or have you got it out of the system ?
You having kitesurfed in Rham is along way from you having raised children there.
Thanks Longwinded, it is good to hear about the the way that things have turned out for your circle of friends.
Again, having no experience on raising children, I cannot judge how the mix between parental input and environmental influences will play out.
Can only anticipate that raising kids is bloody hard work, so getting the environment as good as possible must be a plus.
RockyGirl, your enthusiasm for the area you live in is clear. However if you do not mind I would like to take some more time to decide whether or not I would like to continue living here before following your request to piss off. Best of luck raising your own kids here and I hope that the reality turns out to be as clear cut as you presently perceive it to be.
Formula, constructive input, thanks. Reckon the first five years will fly though and then I'd be back to the forums trying to figure it out. So trying to get as much info as I can now.
Thanks again to all respondents and if any others can share their experiences it would be much appreciated.
No mate, no other nationalities, just any bastard who has the audacity to move to Australia from somewhere else and then ciriticise his or her choice of sojourn on a public forum stating where they had come from.
If it had been Abdul Abulbul Amir from Dubai he would have received the same serve. I am actually surprised that you have not had more negativity. Perhaps folk have grown a little weary.
If Rockingham is not to your liking perhaps you should pack up and move to somewhere that is.
That post by GL was the funniest Ive ever read on seabreeze!!
Im bringing up kids 20kms south from rockingham.
I spent ages 11 to 25 +/- around north scarborough to trigg area and my family has lived in WA for 5 generations or so.
The biggest difference I have noticed in this area compared to other parts of Perth is the disrespect for the local laws on beach use. We regularly see motor bikes blasting along the beach we have had jet skiers jumping waves within 5 meters of us as we surfed and there is always dogs of the lead running around on areas signed no animals.
This beach culture is obviously related to level of policing, the scabs to trigg area is regularly patrolled by the lifeguards but people should choose to obey the laws of society to increase the quality of life for everybody.
It has seriously made me question whether I want to continue to live here as I just don't think the beaches are safe for young kids.
As an anxious parent you might find stuff to worry about anywhere you are, maybe its just a matter of doing your best with what you have got. Educate using the best examples and role models available!
Japie you certainly have figured me out, and so quickly too.
You have just deduced that as I'm from SA I must be a racist ? You should consider having yourself cloned, that kind of intelligence must not be lost to human kind.
Oh and next time Abdul and I are hanging out I'll warn him to stay clear of this forum as I'm sure in your mind you have us both as senior members of the KKK plotting to introduce 1000's of feral cats into the country, just to make your life a misery. Thanks again for your input, you chop.
Crusher, while this was not meant to be a humorous topic, it seems to have taken a life of its own. Thanks for your advice and best of luck keeping safe on the beaches down by you.
I love it! Nothing like a verbal spray when you get rattled!
From the very outset you saw fit to bring race into the discussion and every time you click away on the keyboard you dig yourself a bigger hole. You know you stuffed up right from the start. It does not matter how intricate or creative your insults get, although the term chop may be lost on some, you are making a right wally of yourself.
That is your prerogative. Keep going. Paint a true picture of yourself.If Rham is that bad perhaps you are a good fit!
Japie, while there is nothing I like more than making new friends, I am afraid that I don't think it is going to work out. You are going to have to make friends with someone else.
Now I know it must come as a big suprise, but calling me a ****wit, racist, bastard was just starting off on the wrong foot.
And while your responses have dominated the replies, you have in no way provided any useful information in helping me determine if Rham would be a safe place to raise kids.
And all this due to me mentioning that I had come to Australia from another country. If I wish to question the area I live in and its suitability for my future plans, I will continue to do so.
Fortunately I managed to get some helpful responses and I thank the posters concerned for that.
I was brought up as a kid in Rockingham,after imigrating from pomgolia. I consider myself lucky to have been brought up there. .Now Im living elsewhere, raising 5 kids and have come to a simple conclusion that has nothing to do with where you live.The thing you will need to do is spend lots of time with your kids , rather than telling them to go entertain themselves. you have 3 great sections of coastline,some of the best boating in WA.just going out riding with them , or getting involved with their games, getting your hands dirty in the shed simply putting time into your kids, rather than spending your time working so you can pay off the mortgage quicker or possess the latest bit of bling. I consider myself lucky to have been brought up there
Japie, dont skew a general question into things that arent there & dont make assumptions without basis. it s---s me.
