The Hawke family
WE had already started our tree change when we moved to Tasmania from Melbourne in 2005, after Greg finished serving 20 years in the Royal Australian Air Force.
We moved to Tenterfield in December 2009, after Greg’s dad became very ill at Murgon in Queensland, and we decided to move back to the mainland.
We wanted to continue our tree change experience and looked for a rural town where we would feel comfortable continuing with our lifestyle.
My own family lives in Maitland. Tenterfield fitted the bill being halfway between both locations.
Greg is a professional artist so location was never an issue, and I, at the time, was a full-time stay-at-home mum.
Greg picked our house for us on a week-long trip up from Tasmania. Who would have thought that the house he picked for us to purchase and relocate to was the very same house my grandmother and grandfather lived in back in the 1960s!
Twelve months after relocating, I have returned to work at Three Wishes Day Spa as a beauty therapist and Greg continues to work from home in his chosen profession as an artist.
Our three children – Olivia, Gabrielle and Patrick – attend the local public schools. They are all doing very well and are happy.
We live in a fantastic community, with great neighbours in a nice country town.
Tina Hawke
The Weatherley family
WE have always had a connection with Tenterfield, as Kevin’s father has lived here for many years.
His sister and brother completed their schooling here.
Kevin and I lived in Lismore and were committed to our careers in the motor industry until our daughter Mackenzie came along, and that’s when as parents, our priorities changed for the better.
I guess living in a city, we wanted Mackenzie to experience and understand the county/farm life and a quiet retreat for ourselves at the same time.
We would visit our family here every spare weekend we had.
Over the first few years of Mackenzie’s life, we spent so much of our time up here, enjoying the more relaxed lifestyle, meaning more quality family time together, which we believe is most important.
During that time, we got to see what a friendly and warm community it really is.
We made our decision final when I was asked by Geoff and Lib Melling to work for them in their mechanical workshop (Melling Mechanical).
So up we came in September 2010 to purchase a block of land, and are now almost in our new home.
Mackenzie has completed her first year in kindergarten and blended well with the children and teachers, and has made many beautiful friends, as she did not know anyone before school. She is now in year 1 at St Joseph’s Primary School and enjoying it immensely.
I do believe we have made a great choice for each of us individually and as a family.
Vanessa Weatherley
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