[00:00]
There are so many birds so many different birds. I’ve got I think
I’m like the crazy bird bath lady because I’ve got loads of bird
baths camp Aussies are relocating from capital cities to regional
Australia in record numbers. We could give you all the stats about
better house prices all the jobs on offer and higher levels of
happiness, but what’s better than hearing from someone who’s made
the move themselves welcome to you moved where the podcast where we
interview everyday Aussies with moved from the city to the country.
I’m your host a girl from Rachel Australia who moved to the city and
then you guessed it back to regional Australia this is you moved
where.
[00:55]
When you order a schooner at a pub out in woop war you don’t expect
to be served by a film and TV star unless you live in Lake Clifton
wa prolific artists Steve lekwand and peeper grandison have graced
our screens in some of the very best and most iconic shows and films
like Muriel’s Wedding underbelly Red Dog Water Rats the list goes on
PIPA Steve and their teenager Charlie decided to trade in their
Sydney lives for something completely out of the box a rural
property in wa they discussed the idea together and we’re committed
to ensuring everyone was 100% on board to ensure that Charlie was
happy to relocate in high school with a newly found freedom on their
rural slice of paradise the family wasted. No time in stepping up
their garden game and they spend their days planting foraging and
cultivating corners of their expansive backyard despite landing lead
roles in.
[01:55]
Up and coming series they remain humble and grounded so much so that
Steve has taken on a gig as the bar manager at the local pub pouring
beers to patrons who are loving the novelty of Being Served of
frothy via film star the fresh air abundance of wildlife and slower
pace of life has totally rejuvenated the family and in pippazine
words the move has made her happy as a pig and shit.
[02:29]
Paper Steve and Charlie you moved where we moved from Sydney to Lake
Clifton Western Australia people are in Steve you both grew up in
Perth before moving to Sydney did you always want to come back to
Western Australia how did that come about? Well? I didn’t
necessarily grow up here. I was born here born in Perth and my
family moved back over east or to the east my mum was West
Australian and my dad Victoria and so they settle for neutral ground
they New South Wales when I was before I started school sold it
might be two or three and I did all my full years in growing up over
there, but I always used to come back mum’s family was always over
here two brothers that her parents so we’ve come back once a year at
least once every two years and spent a lot of time here and when I
finished school instead of doing schoolies as a lot of City
folklore. You know your school leaders do.
[03:29]
I travel back to Perth for the Americas cop in 1997 and when I was a
young man. I was only to just turned 18 so I was seeking my phone
and fortune and I didn’t go back home for another two years, so I
spent a lot of time over here and so yeah, I have a voice one up to
come back absolutely and I am much more always Australian than my
husband is of course.
[03:52]
didn’t
[03:53]
per last few years of school, we’re here for me in wa and then I
moved when I was about 18 or 19 over to Sydney
[04:03]
Where I’ve been ever since like Steve always come back always come
back to visit and I worked a lot actually in wa and I’d love coming
home for the shows but every time I would come home this might sound
a bit tweet but it’s it’s true. I I never really wanted to go back
to New South Wales I had a live there. Obviously and and my friends
and a career and everything but I I just always wanted to stay like
there was a part of me that just wanted to stay if you know what I
mean getting all emotional about it but and now we’re here so it
feels right even though we’re rural now. We’re down south not in you
know the big smoke of Perth just being back here in wa feels just
feels right feels right and can you tell me what sparked the move
back to the west?
[04:53]
Was that you Charlie oh, maybe well, it was covid to a large extent
where you bought a property actually living on the central Coast
which is a halfway between Sydney and Newcastle on the on the East
Coast it’s about an hour and a half Drive north of Sydney and we’d
lived at 10 years we bought ourselves probably we lived my dad in
the northwest of Sydney to save some money we both had some good
jobs. Got enough deposit finally bought ourselves a house on the
central coast and we lived there for 10 years struggled sometimes
with the mortgage as artists. We we struggled often with we had to
sort of get the mortgage put on hold on one stage and then when
covid it was sort of a double-edged sword we lost a lot of work, but
at the same time the property of the house just Skyrocket sorry.
Yeah the price of the property and there was a big market because a
lot of people in Sydney particularly realise that they can now live
in regional areas. They have to leave you know the cramped flatten
Bondi or the city. Are you going by a nice?
[05:53]
Also central Coast beachside Suburb and and so as I say the price of
the property absolutely linked through the roof and so we thought
now could be the chance to sell-up make a fair bit of money and then
move back home and we’ll find a property which it always wanted to
do and be more be true which we are and it was a very appealing
option which we obviously talk. Am I you know since covid even
though covid was devastating for many people and people were in much
worse positions and we were we’ve been living hand to mouth all of
our lives because we’re Australian actors and that’s just the way it
works. What has worked for us any time you audition for a job you go
you used to go in as you would probably know into the Casting agent
and you would do your audition and that’s the way it is, so you’d
want to be living in the places where the big casting agents were so
you had the opportunity to get work.
[06:45]
Then covid came along and was devastating but then the positives of
that I guess for us as it was saying about being able to move
financially with that we can auditions for anything anywhere via
self test now. I miss going into the Casting agent that that rushed
adrenaline and the excitement and they actually kind of can Direct
you in a different way if you’re moving down the wrong path you know
but but having said that now. We’re here. You know I ring when we
were thinking about it around my agent and I said what are you? What
do you think and she said well? Why not? Why wouldn’t you do it my
agent calls it by coastal. You are now buy coastal asces.
[07:24]
But you know we always wanted to get some land. It was always A
Little Dream that we’d had some land and I really wanted a minute to
cow or something like that. I don’t know that and we just you know
never thought in our 50s that we would be able to have that
opportunity to have the land to move rurally to not be in the big
smoke anymore, but the trade-off is that it’s so beautiful and
there’s wildlife everywhere and the neighbors of friendly and you
drive home and you know why you’ve driven that far because you pull
into the driveway. It takes you a while to get to your house on the
driveway and you go yeah, this is this is a dream that we managed to
realize so and then Charlie we weren’t sure if Charlie was gonna be
keen on the idea and we were walking you. Can you say what happened
for a little while I wasn’t too keen on it because it’s staying in
one area for 10 years of your life and growing up there from.
[08:24]
Play a toddler it’s kind of you have a connection to it that you
don’t want to have to get rid of you. Don’t want to leave that place
and then we were going on a walk and I said if you want to move we
should do it now and we did wow and Charlie it’s such a huge
adjustment. You know especially in high school, but what is it like
as a high school kid sort of going into a new community and having
to adjust into into that environment as a high school student it can
really differ depending on the kind of person that you are I feel
like I’m lucky enough to be able to make friends easily. I feel like
just sort of being open about yourself is the way that you’ll find
people that you’re meant to be friends with but it’s always hard.
It’s always hard not knowing people and there’s always going to be
that sense of fear that people always talk about it’s definitely
real but it’s like it’s not that hard to find friends if you’re just
sort of open about who you are it can be easier to.
[09:24]
In if you lie about who you are, but it’s always easier to make
genuine relationship, so it will in the long run. You’ll have a
better time fitting in and like being at the school in general. Feel
like that’s such valuable advice because I know that when parents
are considering on moving one of the things that they obviously want
to make sure is that their children are Gonna feel comfortable and
it’s a new environment that they’re going into so for you pepper and
Steve how did you kind of you know embrace that for yourselves was
there anything that you did or did you just lean into the fear with
Charlie and just sort of take it as it comes. We did a lot of
research into the schools. Obviously you look at the areas where you
might be able to afford where you might want to live but for us. It
was even with the school. We feel wasn’t a school there that we
thought Charlie might be I mean as Charlie’s so eloquently just said
you.
[10:24]
Depends on who you are. You don’t really know exactly who you’re
gonna meet but we had a bit of fun actually looking at schools
online. Didn’t we there was some what was that the reviews there are
some crazy reviews of schools out there right. You’ll always find.
Oh, wow. Yeah.
[10:44]
That’s cool those people have a good sense of humor. Maybe that’s
the right school and also are inclusive you know too we logged on to
one and there was a big rainbow flag right behind a bunch of kids
and we’re like yeah. That’s an inclusive school, so that’s important
to but we never would have done this move without Charlie being okay
with it. I mean I know people always get young people get
apprehensive about things and sometimes you need to try and
encourage them but we’re not into forcing.
[11:13]
Sally’s do anything where we can help it, but I think we did lean
into it together. Yeah absolutely and I think I always you know I
think we’re always near the Charlie would go okay, because he’s a
really Brazilian charismatic because that’s just said he’s very open
and and quite forthright as well and and so does attract a lot of
friends quite easily and they can sort out the good friends from the
not so good friends, so I’ll always do that that was probably going
to work out having said that the first week that we arrived from the
East before we we would sold up what we had were our possessions on
a on a train that got stop other floods and the way over to earth
and we all just sort of look at each other and said what the hell
have we just done.
[11:56]
Contain and the little space where we couldn’t get outside obviously
and there wasn’t a garden and we’d come from we’re in the suburbs,
but we still had a garden and beautiful yeah. Yeah, but also like I
think we all loved the idea of having space. Yeah, I get that and I
also think Charlie you’re advice is valuable as well for adults a
lot of people when they’re going into new environments one of the
things that they talk about in terms of the Adjustment is the
finding friendships and networks of people that they can connect
with so that openness that you talk to is a theme that comes up on
this show when people are talking about you know even as adults how
they can form new relationships and new Communities what are some of
the other ways that you’ve created networks in the the new
environment that you’re in now. Well one of the really good things.
I would say well about a more modern world living in a more modern
world is having technology and
[12:56]
You know I know a lot of people can be a bit skeptical about kids
always being on their phones or whatever but it really is such a
good way to be able to keep in touch with people especially just
considering a lot of kids. Just struggle so much with making friends
and sometimes just being able to ring someone up or text a friend
late at night is something that’s really important and being here
and having friends on the other side of the country that I can talk
to whenever I want is also really important to me and that is just a
really helpful way. I think of keeping those kinds of connections
going that’s actually a brilliant thought because it’s unrealistic
to think that you would move to a new place and not want to retain
those relationships and connections that are a big part of your life
to that point you’re now in an area. Where you’ve got some acreage.
What are some of the things that you love about being in your ruling
environment now.
[13:51]
Are so many on my favorites.
[13:55]
I think well to toss up between just being able to do anything you
want with the garden and so much gardening and I can’t get enough
gardening and I’ll just probably drop dead gardening but for me the
wildlife, so we’ve got the people who sold us the place had two
little dogs and they have fencing around what the cool kind of the
homestead area which is quite big still but that’s fencing yeah
about an acre with the house and then you know we can grow our
veggies and and things that we don’t want stray sheep from the
neighbor to get to all rooms and you know we have the fences have to
be a certain height to the rooms don’t jump but it’s fencing you can
see through and there are so many birds so many different birds.
I’ve got I think I’m like the crazy bird bath lady because I’ve got
loads of bitter baths now. I’m still trying to play some
strategically they’re not a long top of each other but they’re here
all the time and the ruse we’ve got this this whole mob and they
share themselves around there’s a in this area where we are there’s.
[14:55]
I guess as 20 or so properties that are about 8 to 10 acres each or
whatever and a lot of people like us don’t have fantastic fences, so
there isn’t just like you know they share themselves around but then
you see them just you know immediate outside the front door having a
drink out of a bird bath and there’s a Bubba there as well and for
- It’s just extraordinary. We’re keeping a lot of the property
Bush so that they’ve got it. Well might carve. Some little Bush walk
paths in there if you want whatever because there’s wildflowers too
and they’re all out at the moment, but mostly those parts are up the
back are left for the wildlife, and it’s it’s just glorious to think
that they’ve got a space and it’s ours and we can give it to them
then there’s the possum that eats my mother’s memorial geranium
garden that I planted for her mum died nearly a year ago now and I
thought I’ll plant this drainium data for her and this pugger of a
possum every time. It’s about to.
[15:55]
They’re not supposed to eat geraniums. You know and we’ve got a cat
that we sort of looked out open at night. So just in the homestead
areas it out of there, but just to try to scare the possum off and
one day we saw the gap following the possum across the backyard.
Yeah, they’re hang.
[16:12]
Ing out where we of the flowers. Oh look these are about to Bloom
over here come and eat these she’ll go crazy Alliance is able to do
anyway. Oh my God yeah for me for wildlife. I think what about you?
Yeah, but I just love that. I’d love the active. You know what I
mean. I am I’m 55. No spring chicken. I played a lot of sports. So
I’ve always used to being active but I sort of get the chance to to
play the score to do children. I think my body be capable of it, but
having the gardening and just moving stuff around I’m always moving
logs and stones and and then finding stuff as well, because there’s
there’s been a lot of tenants and people have owned this place for a
long time and at least beautiful Stepping Stones I’ll just digging
through some dirt one don’t found a stepping stone and like I’ve got
proper all one. This is beautiful and then on earth it went up
finding like 70 or 80 and so and then all the bricks that had these
beautiful.
[17:09]
Tones that we’ve made a stone garden out of and just that kind of
stuff yeah. Yeah that people bought sort of left up in the backpack
20 years ago it gets covered with soil and grass and every time he
finds. Oh my god. I know just what to do with that and then lugging
it around and I’m just finding that. I’m using my body a lot more.
Do you use all of your body when you’re being active on a property
you know in the garden or you know carrying stuff around and
chopping stuff and same stuff and all that just uses your whole body
and I just feels along on keeping myself active which at this age.
If you’re not on property or something else it could be very easy
just to sit around and drink a lot of b. Yeah and growing
vegetables. It’s very vegetables is good to pour Charlie we are in
the garden a lot and it’s not your bag. Is it it just it may it
makes for a beautiful garden though. We’ve done so much in the time
that we’ve moved here like there is so much. That’s been done. It’s
almost unrecognisable. How beautiful it is now.
[18:09]
So, I think it’s really important not going to appreciate the work
that you guys do well. Thank you very much. If I haven’t done any of
them myself.
[18:18]
absolutely
[18:21]
something really special about knowing that when I was when I was
younger when I was a when I was little if you were told me that
we’re gonna be living here. I would have been so happy because I
always loved nature and I love the biggest space is I loved fields
and I love the idea of living on a property so there’s something
really confident about knowing that this is the kind of place. I’ve
always wanted to be I think that’s why I really love about it. I
relate to everything that you’ve all said because it’s a familiar
story for us and I have to say the space and the work that comes
with that is actually something I didn’t consider because we had
lived in apartments. Previously like you’re saying and I just didn’t
appreciate just the work and the incidental exercise that you get
off that which is an added benefit that I sort of hadn’t considered
that you’ve described perfectly now you mentioned before that you’re
Australian artists and I have to say I’m a shameably that I am a
huge fan of both.
[19:20]
Feel work people and Steve in honor of mural’s wedding my husband is
also a huge fan. We have named our chooks after characters in
Muriel’s Wedding like Peter van arkl we’ve got Mr hefflop and Betty
we made a conscious decision not to call when Nicole out of respect
to you can also
[19:44]
how she’s going to behave this is but that’s why we love Nicole so
much to be honest, but can you both just give me a bit of a snapshot
of your career until now and then we’ll also talk about your career
within the regions but to start with I’d love to hear from you what
your career has involved. I started out. I was kind of I was doing
telly and film and Theater at the same time and when I when I hit
New South Wales I got a lucky break in terms of working for the
Sydney theatre company I was very very green and I’ve been doing a
couple of other things to let TV and films but then I you know made
my way into this audition and landed that and kind of just took off
and kept working and worked and worked a lot, but then there were
periods where I didn’t work and I did other jobs as most actors will
do I sold wine on the telephone which was a very popular side job
for those of us and in all of this comes in Muriel’s Wedding came
along and
[20:44]
All you know six months later. There’s no job so I’m back to doing
whatever other jobs that I can do in the meantime. You know and
that’s been the way it’s gone you know there’s been periods where
there’s been loads of work and all different things where I’ve
earned good amounts of money and then other jobs where I’ve done it
for the love. You know and but I’ve been very very lucky that it’s
been filmed tele and Theatre and Music Theatre for me and singing in
Bounds all the way along so it’s been there’s been a good variety
for me and as you older when things slow down sometimes it can be a
bit scary because it feels like there’s longer between jobs and I
guess that’s what kind of was happening toward the end and you start
thinking okay well, what are the creative strings are there to my
bow and I’ve done it before but you kind of get a bit tired and you
go all. I don’t know if I’ve got that. Hope that there is something
just around the corner. You know they guess the corners the blocks
get longer or something like that, but I have to say I’ve been very
very lucky and had a so fast.
[21:44]
Not over it’s kind of getting a new lease here. It’s been
tremendous. I hope that answers your question without you know it’s
fantastic, because it’s nice to paint a picture of what the artist
does you know because often people just see you on screen, but don’t
necessarily know the story of the path that you’ve taken and so that
perfectly gives a great understanding of all the different things
that you’ve been involved in and also the idea as well. I think
people think that you might star in a film like Muriel’s Wedding and
then living a match in on Sydney Harbour they do it what they say
for you at school well usually, it’s why are you going to this
school? You must be like that you must Mansion all of those kinds of
things which is just you have to laugh at the momentously, but you
know it just a lot of people just don’t understand how it works a
lot of people really don’t understand how much a lot of artists
actually struggle with finances and it’s it’s actually really
interesting to see.
[22:44]
There are so many people who don’t have that same worldview and it’s
a good thing to be able to educate other people about I reckon and
Charlie has that influenced has it influenced your aspiration or are
you interested in following in your parents footsteps? I’ve always
said that seeing the industry has sort of given me more insight into
how it actually works. I hear a lot of people saying that they want
to be in the industry. Just because they think that Fame is
something that’s amazing to have but I feel like I get a perspective
on the hardships that are involved as well. It’s something that I
obviously my life has been influenced by it and it’s an industry
that I really admire and it’s not necessarily something that I
wouldn’t want to be involved in among other things but I also feel
like I’m lucky to be able to make an informed decision on what I
want to do. That is such a good way of looking at it and especially
when you’ve got two parents that are artists as well and Steve what
about your experience in.
[23:44]
Industry once it been like for you. Well. I now am the manager of a
part of the duty manager of a country cut I’m not far from where we
live it’s about a 20-minute Drive I’m on a salary for the first time
in my entire life and it’s the most bizarre feeling every week.
There’s exactly the same amount of money exactly the same day as
went in last week on the same day and it’s remarkable I’ve never
experienced it before but I’m really enjoying that I haven’t been in
the industry for 30 years one of the hardest things is and just sort
of touching on what we spoke about just a moment ago. Is that a lot
of people obviously recognize me? What done 20 odd movies and some
of being quite successful, and they say aren’t you the guy from this
in that and this why are you working in a pub? Surely? You could be
retired and a millionaire with all that money you were and they
assume because they’ve seen you on screen in a film that you must
have got paid at least a million dollars per movie. You know that’s
just the white works because all I read at the American tabloids and
so I often three or
[24:44]
On the dial, I have to explain yeah sure go blah the acting and
that’ll have him given up on it pippin’ on just just did a TV show
together a TV show together playing husband and wife yeah, we just
got back from Derby yeah. Yeah, we can’t really tell you too much
about it at the moment, but so we’re still doing it. It’s also great
to have that salary income as well and so I’ve always done stuff in
between jobs. It’s almost easy to talk about the stuff. I’ve done in
between then the actual acting jobs that I’ve had our life driven
cabs of look off at 30 or 40 different jobs of as I sold wine or gun
all sorts of unspeakable things from a money. You know and then so.
[25:19]
It’s a good opportunity to remind the audience that’s listening that
it’s really important to support Australian shows and films because
contrary to popular belief not everyone is walking around with bags
of money and how good is holiday pay when you’re working at job. You
don’t even realize that we don’t you know that things are holiday
pay and super great to get what you could get them in a in a
tradition more traditional job, but like you know the
resourcefulness that you have to have to keep your head above water
within an industry where everyone gets to enjoy the fruits of your
labours actually. It’s a lot a lot harder than what they think but
the thing that can help is always supporting Australian film and TV
by going into the cinema or making sure you support it online and
streaming in those sorts of things I now want to talk about the area
that you’re living in West Australia where you are now. Let’s talk
about the water of West Australia in the regions.
[26:19]
Can you describe to me just how wonderful and this I feel like I’m
putting words into your mouth. I absolutely.
[26:27]
Project
[26:29]
describe obviously a close to the ocean and just the bodies of water
you’ve got Lake Clifton the thrombolite. Can you explain that to me
and to the audience and look I mean, I’ve always been quite bias
about the Western Australian coastline coming from here and growing
I was a real you know beachgoa. I love beach. I spent hours and
hours at the beach on my own reading books. Just lying this
swimming. That’s all I did really to be honest in many friends and
but it’s the color of it and the freshness and it’s nice being back
to the long stretches too because you know particularly in New South
Wales and East Coast there’s a gorgeous or the cliffs and hills and
things like that here. It’s long and flat but yes, then we have we
have been to see the thrombolites couple of times and that lake is
extraordinary large large bodies of water and then the estuary on
the other side and they’re so well protected at
[27:29]
This stage down here. Hopefully they will remain that way national
park, and I think that’s where a lot of the you know that amazing
bird life comes from true. We have those that are just hanging here,
but they also are coming off the water and just the air the air is
fresh and for me it sits extraordinary. It’s I don’t think I could
live inland. I’ve I need that I need to feel that breeze and then
sometimes. I just want to drive to the beach because we’re actually
as a crow flies. We’re really close. We could walk, but where we sit
we have to either go north or south and then across the national
park to the coast so probably takes us 15 minutes to to drive, but
that pesky like clifton’s rotten or what?
[28:15]
Just to go and sit and watch the sunset over the ocean again. It’s
kind of warms my heart really is is the best way I can describe it?
I feel quite lucky that you know that I can’t really add to that but
we are surrounded by year three quite amazing bodies of water with
the estuary like Clifton and the ocean which is still yet to be
explored to its full potential I suspect but every year and a lot of
that has just been yes spent head down bump up doing doing the gun.
I found my nice spots to have swims, but it seems to be a solo
activity for me.
[28:52]
But there’s lots of mud peps to be caught was a widing to be
coordinating as well which we haven’t sort of explored. I’d love to
get a boat on the assailing boat or a little tinny and just start to
explore it a bit more, but there’s a lot of Life On The Water here
people have you know there’s a lot of as you say the cramming and
fishing and there’s a lot of water activities that go on Daniel
Island growing up in Perth I used to go out with a boy who had a
speed boat and with the water skiing every weekend. I was always on
the river. Just so used to to having that kind of recreational life
and it’s the same down here so pretty pretty lucky. It’s paradise
and you’ve talked about space nature water and those sorts of things
that are pretty good ingredients for creative inspiration when
you’re in an environment where you’ve got Direct contact with those
things as artists. What has the experience been like for you since
arriving to the regions.
[29:51]
A meats given it a whole new lease if that’s the right way to say
it’s but interestingly my mother as I mentioned before died recently
and that’s made a big difference as well to who I am as a person and
how I approach my career in my creative Pursuits sometimes. It holds
me up another times. I’m even free up then. I ever imagined I could
have been if that makes sense but
[30:21]
coming home and living here in this beautiful place where the
pressure is off us to a certain extent to be paying the mortgage
every week and when’s the next meal coming from having that pressure
taken off and be as you say in a in a space that is good for
thinking and feeling and you daydreaming and all of that. I think
it’s been fabulous and it’s made me feel braver in a way. It’s I
think that that big change when you make a big change in your life
when it’s little bit scary but your brave and you’re going this is
what I want. I’m going to do this. I think I know it affects it
opens you up to possibility and if you can keep that kind of channel
open. There’s no end to what you can do apart from the saying no, so
we don’t want you for that job, but I’ve branched out into areas
that I really wanted to branch out into now that I was too scared to
do before and I can’t say that that’s 100% because of where we live
but I certainly think a large.
[31:21]
Is go outside to breathe the fresh air or anything okay? What am I
gonna do today? And what do I want to do with the rest of my life?
We’ve done this. We’ve made a change. Let’s let’s make it work and
I’ve always wanted to be a director and since I’ve come home. I’ve
directed about direct my third piece and then also TV jobs have come
along and the play with black Swan and just I think if I started
happening so for me personally. It’s been it’s been wonderful. I
kind of thought I was I was petering out but it seems no I’m a
really excited about to direct a musical for Whopper and I can’t
wait because they’re gorgeous the people of gorgeous there so kind
of happier than a pig and shit at the moment to be honest except for
the fact that I’m parent menopausal and heading into menopause, so
I’m completely and uncomfortable most of the time but really quite
happy.
[32:21]
That he fantastic and it’s just so much.
[32:27]
run out into the
[32:28]
clothes on and scream and no one is you so there’s another good
thing ladies feel like that needs to be our trailer for The episode
the whole series actually fantastic. I was also going to yes Steve
what would you like to collaborate on that? What’s it been like for
you? I’m just happy where I am. I never really taken my career that
seriously doesn’t always thought of luck you know and every time I
get a job log over really they’re going to pay me to do that fine.
That’s fine. That’s why I’m just as happy running guitar or I am on
set of a big TV show doesn’t really make much difference to me on
I’m pretty much find a way to be happy whatever I’m doing wherever I
- I’ve certainly never had any desire to be famous in any way
shape or form. So you know I’m sort of happy to be where I am as a
as I think I know you but it’s his daughter. You know they just
Sophie and an autograph kind of thing you know having been friends
with.
[33:28]
Famous people with just a crap Idol typically live your life having
said that since we got over here maybe because there hasn’t been any
pressure as Pictor said the work is sort of been coming in fairly
that three weeks after I got here. I went back to Sydney to shoot
the lead in the film then we did the play for Black Swan then we
played husband and wife and two TV shows you can stand with touring
the play for Black Swan again next year and pips done and all this
directing in insight. I just wants to pressures off and you don’t
really care. It doesn’t matter as much that seems to be when it all
starts to come flooding in you know that’s Murphy’s Law absolutely.
[34:02]
And it’s great like you said with self-testing and technology and
new ways of working that you can actually still have a very dynamic
career from in places that are outside the city when I move back to
the country one of the things that I had to adjust to was my
impatience when ordering coffee because I have a bit of a tendency
to tap my foot because my flat white wasn’t coming out as quickly as
it would in Sydney and I had to learn to accept that there was a
good conversation to be had and it really didn’t matter if my flat
white was ready in 25 15 minutes because the conversation was way
better than my need to get it quicker. What are some of the things
that you’ve been educated about since getting into the sticks or
things that you’ve had to adjust to that. You didn’t expect this
might sound a little bit silly, but I actually find that. There are
when I’m talking about.
[35:02]
Primary School to other kids over here because obviously they’ve had
a different experience in primary school the the years actually
worked differently. I’m pretty sure they have like prep, but you’re
still not really sure but one of the things I noticed and I’ve been
Interstate a few times and this is always a big difference is that
you know the popular game tag that all kids play is called different
things all over the country the I call it tip but nobody here knows
what tip is they say tag and I also know that in Melbourne I think
they called it tiggy and nobody knows what that is, so that’s one of
the that’s one of the biggest differences that I’ve noticed on it
very good and what about you Steve have you know does anything
different in the pub? It’s a massive difference because I’m policy
quite a few clubs around the country and and it is it is very much.
We’re in a time. It’s Perth time. It’s like listen times like have a
bit of a yarn. How you’re going. How’s your day been much been up to
I’ll have a beer please as opposed in Sydney
[36:02]
Is going to excellent and you’ve had so for both sides of the bar
you saw the gonna get familiar with that as you say about ordering
your coffee. It’s you know that they can if you’re in a rush some of
the pump is are going to want to have a bit of the yarn about the
weather and about their sheep and their you know the car that broke
down last week in short some period of time before they finally ask
for their beer time is and then this country time or City time you
go country time and they’re talking shapes and that does take a lot
of getting used to but it’s great it makes you slowed out it brings
you up right down. It makes you stop stop and slow the Roses as they
say because there’s no other choice and then that becomes part of
your DNA as well a
[36:50]
Member of mine who lives actually come from birds as well, but lives
in Victoria and has a house in Melbourne and also Farm where she
runs and she breathes cattle and I talked to her quite a bit and I
stay with her when I’m in Melbourne and told her we were moving here
and so that I really want to get a miniature Cowell to you know and
all the things that I really want to do but then got to go away for
work here and there. So, what do I do when when we’re when we’re
away I mean this animals. It’s not just like a dog you can put into
a kennel. You know or stay with your sister this does the large
animal with Hooves and things like that chick.
[37:34]
Dude chickens, how do you cope and she said neighbours that was it?
She’s like neighbors. I’m like oh, but they’re in and she said you
wait you tell them you’re gonna go away seriously what happens and
true enough. We just as I said we went up to Derby to shoot this
telly show and we’re away for quite some time and before we left we
said to Keith next door. Just bumped into Keith who walks around
with his deaf and blind dog with a cup of coffee or a beer depending
on the time of day and his silk row covered in flowers and he coming
down the street hey.
[38:13]
It and you know you’ve got at least a 10-minute conversation, so if
you were timing and walk before the sun went down, then you stuffed
said all we’re going away for a period of time even all right then
well. I’ll do your bins and your mail and what are you doing about
this and that I’ve had an asked hadn’t said anything and and like
for me. That’s at the part of what you what you started talking
about with the impatience with the slowing down people care about
people. I’d say that for everyone. There are some people. Who’ve
moved down here because they don’t want to talk to anyone ever wa
wait a while isn’t that what it stands for that when I was growing
up here but now that I’m back. I don’t drink coffee so I you know
get bagger as well. I think I’ll probably that person that most
people in Sydney wanted to avoid because oh god and then I’ll forget
what I’m saying halfway through but it is it’s a it’s a nice way to
live.
[39:13]
Because that human connection is so important at the end of the day
where all just trying to get through life and hopefully enjoy it as
much as we can and being kind to each other and looking after each
other makes things much much easier and it seems to come quite
Naturally in the country one of the things that we’ve that. We
always do is we try and bust a myth in this episode Steve pepper and
Charlie we would like you to bust the myth that you can’t find a
good Indian Italian Japanese restaurant in the sticks. Can we get
good food that has a variety of cuisines outside of city centre
well, you don’t want me to say there is direct hotels are very good
menu and the service with a vile is outstanding seven days a week
and look the chef. There is really good but
[40:08]
It seems to be for me anyway, if you’re talking about in the sticks
down here where we are. There’s some great pubs. They’re like says
his power but that’s where if there’s a couple of pubs where you
know you it’s just pub Fair there’s I think there’s nothing exciting
but there are some pubs and there is a variety and the produce is
fresh and local and that makes a big difference you know if you’re a
meat eater like I am the produce down here and also the fresh
veggies and all that kind of things so yeah, but we we’ve got the
lazy crab. Just up the road and we go there a little bit too. Oh and
of course not to get in there half hour drive 25-minute drive from
Mandurah and the foreshore so you can but that’s not yeah here isn’t
no that’s not sticks but it’s not far from our sticks like you said
the foreshore on the floor bit further away, but I would say if you
were.
[41:08]
Thing to go and find more diverse food. I would it’s a good place to
go out to eat. I think a lot of the Good Food is around that area I
think that would probably the first you would go if you wanted to
find more diverse food. There’s Bunbury bunbury’s. Got yep great.
That’s really good. Yeah, Bunbury Scott flight stuff and added to
that you can also create delicious food at home as well because you
can grow your own veggies like you discussed. That’s like you’re
making a salad or something and you got like I need Chile and it’ll
lime I need some rocket. I need an onion I get so excited and even
capsicum, whatever I’m like. Oh my god. I just got to the garden
with my basket. I built from scratch a brick herb, bit just outside
the back doors. He’s such a man. That’s I’d like to ask Charlie you
gave some grated advice.
[42:08]
Around a couple of different things like how we can make friends
when we move to a new place outside the city and also how we can
retain our friendships and relationships once we’ve moved do you
have any other tips for people particularly younger people that
might be moving that you’d like to share today well. That’s actually
really tough actually because I feel I’m I’m pretty solitary and I I
sort of have always said that. I just sort of want to get through
these years. I understand that they’re important, but I feel like
through a lot of people especially people who struggle with fitting
in which I have always related to it’s hard because sometimes you
don’t find the advice that you’re looking for but I’ve always said
because I’ve had a lot of friends who have moved schools like what
you have to do is just you just have to make sure that you’re being
totally authentic and try not to worry and try to remember that
things that happen in school aren’t gonna matter in five.
[43:08]
Time the mistakes that you make are apart of who you are and a part
of growing up and maturing as a person and the whole social
hierarchy that seems so important to you all through high school
will totally dissipate when you get out into the real world, so it’s
really important to remember that and just be an authentic person
and remember that most things just don’t really matter at the end of
the day.
[43:32]
From the hospital then was out you’re amazing that that is just the
most thoughtful comment I feel like I mean that is such valuable
wisdom for anyone pretty much actually in any situation, but in
particular for people that are moving adults and children. So thank
you for that people are in Steve did you have any tips for parents
that are going through the move with high school children that you
would like to impart. We’re really lucky with Charlie and I guess
the way that we have tried to pair it Nobody’s Perfect that would be
the first thing. I would say do you gonna make mistakes people are
going to get upset you know moving is a tumultuous time, but we’re
lucky jellies are great communicator but always has been and we’ve
tried to keep that open I think from my point of view. I would say
to to continue that to keep the lines of communication open to
listen.
[44:32]
To your young person, they know themselves better than anybody else.
There will be times when they struggle really badly and you might
feel guilty that you’ve taken them to a place and they don’t want to
be there and they hate you and they hate their life and not saying
that that’s what you have said Charlie but those times will pass if
if in the beginning everybody’s up for it. I we wanted to as a team
do it and if Charlie wasn’t into it. We wouldn’t because it’s a big
thing to do. It’s a different way of life. You are asking your kid
to live far away from a hustle and bustle and it’s it can be a bit
isolating so listen and allow and see what they need what will make
them. Enjoy it hear. What can you do together to see that? It is a
beautiful way of life and be patient. I think now that with just
listen, but really listen. You know sometimes. It’s sort of you know
just fine you’re there but to really listen and engage which which I
think we both try to do a
[45:31]
In jellies, very easy to engage in that regard, but also and that
looks some people may say that we’ve given Charlie to too long
leash. I’m I disagree. I think you know that’s ever parents need
different ways some kids probably not a short relation necessarily
tricky children like children because I think they often have a lot.
There’s a lot more going on that you will hardly discover if you
listen and let them burn themselves that like shades absolutely it
does I think there’s that inkling to always patronize like kids from
Toddlers through to high school, but it actually really tends to be
the reversed as an out where you learn more from them that you could
ever have imagined like we had today Charlie you just offered so
much invaluable insight that I know will be super helpful to
everyone listening and we would like to end as we always do with a
one sentence pitch. So you can do this we’ll go from each of you and
it’s just a quick punch.
[46:31]
Pitch to say to anyone listening that isn’t already compelled from
that brilliant interview to move to the regions. Why should someone
move to regional Australia fortune favors the brave. I think you
know I mean it’s seems like such a massive thing on paper but once
you get the ball rolling and you get in it and amongst and you
arrive at your destination. It is 100% worth it. Get out of the city
get into the sticks. They’re one with nature and your family it is
our real.
[47:04]
I can’t say anything after that maybe you could sing it feel free.
[47:14]
Get on country feel what it’s about why like First Nations people
that they know the country. They are of the country and I think
being in the country. You really start to understand what it means
to respect the Earth and take your spirituality from it and Charlie
what about you? I reckon if you’re thinking about it, then you
should absolutely go for it and especially if you’re a younger
person and someone like me and you know that this is something that
you’ve always thought about it’s definitely gonna be right for you
and at the end of the day. You’re definitely gonna love it.
[47:48]
You moved where is made on the land of the binjarra people we would
like to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
as the traditional custodians of the land and pay respects to elders
past and present this episode was produced by grace with audio
production by Adair shepherd and hosted by me Beck beignell. The
podcast is brought to you by move to Moore and the regional
Australia Institute make sure you follow us. Wherever you get your
podcast because on the next week’s episode you’ll hear stories like
this. There are a million stories to be told in them in a regional
which is why so many Australian Hawks are set in the regions. Don’t
worry anyone my new book is not and Laura it is not I think that we
don’t want to get run out of town or anything moved to more is
supported by the Australian Federal Government and if you head to
the website moved to more.com.au.
[48:48]
You can find a wealth of information that will help you make the
move at move to moore.com.au you can search almost 2,000 regional
towns and cities to find your favorite regional destination and in
the same place find your dream home and job.
