Martha Nubia Barrientos knew there was no future for her in Colombia due to the political turmoil in the country and lack of employment, so she had to find a way out.
Her salvation came when a friend agreed to sponsor her to move to Australia in the early 1970s.
“I was born in Medellin, Colombia, South America in 1949,” Martha said.
“I grew up with my five sisters and three brothers on a farm. We didn’t have any roads, electricity and only had running water from the creek. It was a hard life, especially because my father died when I was only two years old and my mum was eight months pregnant with my little brother.”
It was under then Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s immigration policy, Martha left Colombia with her sister and her family to travel to Australia. They had to spend a week in Peru until all of the paperwork was finalised.
It was there that Martha met her future husband.
“We all arrived in Melbourne on 10 April 1974,” she said.
“It was a cold, cloudy and rainy day.
“We stayed at a government hostel in Maribyrnong for a while before I decided to move to Sydney where my friend lived.
“While I was living in Sydney, I received the sad news my mother had died in Colombia.
“It was 1975 and we hadn’t lived in Australia long enough to be able to leave on our visa.”
Martha then spent some time in Melbourne in 1976 with her sister and family; her future husband was also living with them and they became friends, before deciding to make the leap to Perth.
“We visited friends living in Perth and loved the weather so much we decided to move,” she said.
It was more than just the sun that shone on Martha and her family.
“Our move to Perth was made easier when we won $110,000 in lotto, we couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“The move to Perth happened in 1979 with our son in tow, who had been born in 1978.
“We lived in Langford and bought a Cut Price Supermarket in Westfield Street, Maddington.
“During this time, we lived in Lynwood and Cannington before building a home in Parkwood. “By then we had two daughters (born in 1980 and 1984).
“We sold the supermarket in 1984 when my husband starting his truck driving business.”
Martha has zero regrets about her life choices.
“I have loved living in Perth,” she said.
“I feel at home here. I am free. I love the clear skies, beautiful beaches, friendly people and the way of life. There is so much to enjoy here, making our lives easy and comfortable. I do miss my Colombian music but coming to Australia and living in Perth was the best decision of my life.
“I was even baptised in the Swan River. I have loved being a part of the community in Perth and am always involved with my local church. I have loved seeing the streets of Perth develop over the years but I do miss seeing the spaceship on Leach Highway.
“I am so proud to be celebrating 50 years living in Australia, receiving my citizenship in 1986.
“I have three wonderful children – my son is rigger and my daughters work for the City of Gosnells – and four beautiful grandchildren. I am so thankful for the opportunities they all have living in Australia.
“I am in my 70s now but I have had so many great memories here.”
