G'day mate, here is mine:
-1996, PPL in Brisbane(I was there in vacation) with no intention to continue further at that time. Came back in Europe.
-Feb1998, virus hit and started building hours in USA.
-June 1998, started my CPL-IFR rating and later that year ATPL. I did the final exam end of April 99. I started to send applications to different airlines here in Europe. I got an answer from a Swiss Airline(No, not the big one which collapsed
) and first interview mid june, 2nd one the 25th of June. Got the positive answer the next day and I started there...
5 days later, the 1th of July!!! 
, flying the Saab 2000. At that time I was 28 years old and I had: 230hours total time, 40hours were IFR in BE-55.
Now the airlines here in Europe are not hiring much but I recon it will change in the next 2 years. So keep up the good work it will pay up one day
... Hope it will be better soon down-under as I wouldn't mind to come in OZ to work a few years
.
See ya
Danou_71