For South African expat Erika Dedekind, The Village on the Downs is the perfect home away from her homeland.
Erika Dedekind moved to The Village on the Downs with her husband Charlie in 2022, and says it was a seamless transition from their Westbrook property in the Toowoomba region.
“The move was really quite easy because we were relocating within the same city. When we moved from Tannum Sands to Westbrook back in 2001, it was difficult. We had to get a new doctor, mechanic, congregation, friends—everything! But moving here, we were in the same town so it really wasn’t hard at all to adjust.”
To get to know their new neighbours, the Dedekinds organised a barbecue for the residents in their court, complete with Erika’s favourite foods from her homeland, South Africa.
“We gave our sausage recipe to the local butcher and he made boerewors for us,” Erika says.
“We also served lamb and pork, and I made a popular South African salad with wheat, peaches, and chutney. It gave our neighbours a chance to try some different types of food and allowed us to get to know each other. It was an awesome afternoon.”
Erika and Charlie visit South Africa as often as they can, catching up with Erika’s son and grandchildren, and her siblings.
“Moving to Australia from South Africa, it was very difficult for me to adapt,” she explains.
“I left all my family in South Africa, except my youngest son, who came to Australia with me. My eldest son was halfway through his final year of school, so fortunately he was able to stay with my sister and her husband while he completed his education.
“I always compare [the move] to transplanting a plant. If you dig it up and move it somewhere, it won’t blossom straight away. It’s got to settle in first, then spread its roots. Only then will it start to flourish.”
Living in The Village on the Downs, Erika and Charlie enjoy the peace of mind of being part of a secure community where neighbours look after each other.
“We are keen orchid growers and I have a miniature fox terrier. We’re really lucky to have a lady here in The Village who looks after the dog and waters the plants for us when we are visiting South Africa.
“It’s just wonderful to know that there is somebody that cares.”
Their trips to South Africa always involve catching up with loved ones with a bit of adventure thrown in for good measure.
“All my siblings, their spouses and their kids make the effort to see us. They will fly in and fly out just for the weekend, and we’ll hire a church hall and spend an entire day together. We just have an awesome time. Last time we went, my son organised caterers and they did sheep on a spit. It was fantastic,” Erika says.
“We’ll also go on safari, or we might even go to the Cape or the mountains. It’s such a wild and beautiful place.”
Asked what her Australian friends find most surprising about South Africa, Erika says, “The size difference between South Africa and Australia is astounding. South Africa fits into Queensland two-and-a-half times yet it has a population of 65 million.
“In South Africa, they don’t have vast, unpopulated areas like the Simpson Desert. There are so many incredible places to see here in Australia.”
