All I want for Christmas is to see my daughter Ava
Dad returns from Oz for reunion
A Wishaw dad gave his family the ultimate Christmas gift - by returning from Australia after more than two years down under.
Jamie Campbell works in the building industry in Perth but managed to get home for the holidays to surprise sevenyear-old daughter Ava and mum and dad Lorraine and Colin.
He made the trip from Oz with girlfriend Chloe and recorded two videos for Facebook which showed him surprising Ava by picking her up at Newarthill Primary School and his mum at her home in Netherton.
Jamie, 29, said: “I speak to Ava almost every day on Facetime but it was great to go to the school and surprise her.
“Although we talk all the time I still felt nerves going to see her but her reaction was amazing.
“My mum was made up when she first saw me. It was her first time meeting Chloe as well.
“She had to phone my dad Colin when he was at work to say that we had turned up.
“We had a really big celebration afterwards even though both of us were really jet-lagged.”
After an enjoyable Christmas catching up with family and friends, Jamie is heading to Liverpool to meet Chloe’s family for the first time.
And while he will be returning to Australia in the new year, Jamie is already looking forward to welcoming members of his family to Oz in 2017.
He added: “Going out to Australia was a big opportunity for me because there wasn’t a lot of work here.
“It is hard not seeing Ava and my family but that is the price you pay.
“Ava is coming out next year with my mum and dad and I’m looking forward to that already.
“We’ve had such a great time since we have been back; it has been great catching up with everyone.
“It’s like I’ve never been away.”