Please Help Bruce with Costs of a Visa to Stay with his Family in Australia!

There is nothing I dislike more than asking the community for financial help for my personal troubles, but with a big gulp I will swallow my remaining taters of pride and just put this out there, because, at the very least, my 3 year old son needs his dad with him (we do pretty much everything together).

My partner (Daniella) and I, along with our children (two girls now 13 & 16 and our son now 3) lived together in Ecuador for four years, living pretty much hand to mouth (at one point our local church gave us a food parcel!) from English teaching and holistic therapies work. We recently managed to finally arrange the papers to get us all out of the country (a complex legal problem had to be surmounted) and through selling all our furniture and car we were able to afford the tickets.

The priority for us was getting the children to a more stable life away from the combination of financial issues, education concerns, growing political instability and other local problems. We were aware however that moving would not be a magic bullet that fixed everything instantly. Though my partner and the children all have Australian citizenship, I don't, I'm English, so somehow I have to find almost 7000 Australian dollars (ironically it is only about one month wages here). The visa I entered Australia on only allows me three months stay and specifies that I can't work at all whilst here. If I could work here then this appeal would doubtless not be needed!

I just want to be able to start working here and supporting my family - like any other normal dad. I don't want to be separated from my family because of what is, in real terms, only a months wages here. It is very frustrating and depressing.

To be honest I am not really expecting much from this campaign, probably few people will even see it and of those even less will be in any position to donate - we live in tough times for so many people. In many ways it feels like yet another kick in the guts even having to ask for this type of help, but for my son I do at least have to ask, please help in any way you can, no donation is too small!