Ref. 72626-29A WROUGHTON family are swapping their cagoules for koalas and kangaroos by moving to Australia next year.

Sasha Osmond, 34, her husband Mike and two daughters, Tiffany, 15, and nine-year-old Brianna are emigrating to the sunnier climes of Melbourne in January.

The family sold their house in Lyneham during the summer and moved into rented accommodation in Greens Lane while they finalised their plans.

They have been given Australian visas because Sasha is a hairdresser, a trade that is in high demand, in the antipodean state.

"All kinds of people are in demand at the moment," explained Sasha. "If you have a trade they want, the more points they give you.

"In fact I had the same number of points as a doctor, that's how much the Australian's want hairdressers.

"None of us have been to Australia before but we are all extremely excited about the move. The children cannot wait, they are going to miss their friends, but they are treating it like a big adventure.

"We just fancied a change in lifestyle and climate, so we did a bit of research and reading, and decided Australia would be ideal."

Even the family's pet dog Iowa, an Alaskan Malamute is going with them at a cost of £4,000 more than the one-way flight for the whole family.

"We gave her away for one day," explained Mike. "But we have had her since she was a puppy and giving her away would have been like giving up one of your kids, so the next day we got her back."

Sasha has an aunt and uncle who live in Melbourne, and the family will be staying with them for a month while they get on their feet.

Unfortunately with all the rushing around, Sasha has hit upon a snag.

She currently has 100 customers in the Wroughton area but has not yet found anyone to take them on.

"Some are elderly and others are whole families and I want to find someone who might be willing to take on that business when I go,'' said Sasha.

"I have put up a few adverts and asked around and even had a few calls from interested people but I want to find the right person to take some of my best customers on."

Anyone interested is asked to call Sasha 01793 845484.

In demand

There is demand for hundreds of trades and professions in Australia including:

Gardeners

Butlers

Chefs

Bakers

Electricians

Joiners

Plumbers

Vehicle mechanics

Social workers

Doctors and nurses

Psychologists

Public relations

Journalists

Teachers

For more information visit www.immigrationcitizenship.com.au