Maureen Carter: Ten Pounds for Paradise

Next date: Friday, 05 September 2025 | 01:30 PM to 02:30 PM

Migration is an integral part of the Australian story. We're celebrating History Week 2025 with a personal story of migration and resilience that resonates with the stories of so many others who have travelled across the seas to a new life in Australia.

In her memoir, Ten Pounds for Paradise, local South Coast author Maureen Carter writes with candour about her journey, from her childhood in Wales and family tragedy, to travelling with assisted passage to Australia in the 1960s and settling as a nervous migrant, and her new life in her adopted country.

Books available for purchase and signing.

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Ten Pounds for Paradise

Ten pounds for paradise Maureen Carter's memoir is a story of migration, family tragedy, resilience, humour and finding ‎peace and fulfilment in the natural world.‎

The eldest of four children from a working class family living in a sleepy corner of South ‎Wales, Maureen experiences the death of her mother and the shock of life with a new stepmother, ‎who was emotionally ill-equipped to deal with four grieving children.‎

In 1964, Maureen’s father decided to move his family of ten children across the world to Australia, a land of opportunity about which they knew nothing.

Maureen writes with candour about her journey through her childhood, settling as nervous migrants, life in her adopted country, and her rewarding career as one of Australia’s first mediators.

A passionate bushwalker and advocate for the environment, Maureen reminds us of the healing power of nature.

Maureen Carter

Maureen was born in South Wales but her forebears ‎are from Ireland. In 1964, her father obtained an ‎assisted passage to migrate to Australia with his ‎family of ten children. Maureen has married twice, had ‎three children, completed her education as a mature-age student, worked in conflict resolution, and had ‎adventures bushwalking and cycling throughout ‎Australia and around the globe. She lives in active ‎retirement enjoying nature on the South Coast of ‎New South Wales.‎