Making a move from the city to regional Australia is a major life milestone that comes with all sorts of considerations and adventures. Fortunately, the Regional Australia Institute’s MOVE TO MORE initiative shares content to enable major moves to be enjoyable, exciting and to meet expectations so people can set up a life they love.
Packing up your life in the city can be very daunting, so there’s nothing more reassuring than hearing from people who’ve been through the process to give a full, unfiltered picture of what making the move can look like. Helping to ease the move anxiety is the reason we created YOU MOVED WHERE?! a podcast where we share personal perspectives from people who have made the move to paint a real picture of what’s involved. Each Series includes eight-episodes highlighting the experience of everyday Australians who’ve made the move from big, capital cities, to different places all over regional Australia.
The popularity of the podcast has meant that we are back with a THIRD SERIES! Launching this week SERIES THREE of YOU MOVED WHERE? showcases more movers with stories of rediscovery, rejuvenation, breathtaking landscapes, endless opportunities, new ventures, and bold entrepreneurialism.
In celebration of SERIES THREE, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned with the podcast so far…
We’ve heard stories from business owners, broadcasters, Broadway stars, mothers, doctors, executives, engineers, corporates, and councillors. We’ve been to cattle stations, dynamic corporate offices in tiny towns, artist studios, and neat work-from-home nooks.
We’ve perched on porches, journeyed down main drags, and we’ve been totally swept up by the vibrancy, energy, endless blues skies, and the type of sunsets that feel like they can solve all the world’s problems.
Remember Luke Prout who bucked up the courage to move back to the place where he poured his first beer, “The minute she said The Tamworth Hotel was up for sale it was just like I knew…we were going to buy it and that was going to happen. I was going to move home.”
Bonnie Carroll who could never return to her city cardboard box once she’d sampled the magic of Alice Springs, “Going to those kind of places and feeling really connected and grounded to the earth here, it makes me wonder if I’m ever really gonna be able to go back to the cardboard box in the middle of the sky in Sydney. I just think out here I can finally breathe, and I might just suffocate if I go back there.”
And Marie Dennis reminded us all to take a breath and return to nature.
“There’s a certain point where I know I’m basically home, you know, like the air changes, the smell changes and I probably shouldn’t do it but I put my arm out of the window to feel the breeze…you just smell home, like its freshness, and then there’s a sensation that goes through my body of release and calm…like there’s no built-up anxiety like in the city.”
The way people describe their regional areas is so inviting – they illustrate compelling accounts of the surrounding landscape and we’ve been introduced to so many beautiful regional environments from rainforests, to sweeping coastlines to vast outback outlooks and so much more.
“Esperance is absolutely beautiful – the waters are different colours …if you’re feeling down and you want to go for a drive, you just go for a drive and that’s your medicine. Just driving or sitting down at the front beach and just watching the waves and watching the kids swimming, clears your mind. And if it’s a really hot day you go down in the afternoon, just wait and then the breeze comes off the water – it’s just calming.” (Ngadju Elder Aunty Yvonne Green, Esperance, WA)
“The rural existence when you can stand on the back of your Ute and just look out across the horizon and see sort of the bend of the earth, like that feels like the ‘real Australia’, the romantic Australia that I’d always imagined.” (Matt Young, Blackall, QLD)
We’ve also learned about the unique benefits of small communities, as seen through the lens of people who are new to them, “I think it’s the variety and diversity of people that makes you appreciative of the melting pot of people you can find in the regions and the attitudes and the mindset that you only really find once you leave the city boundaries.” (Tim Wong-See, Albany, WA)
We’ve asked people what they’ve given up and what they’ve gained in moving to the regions, and many people agree that they’ve gained stronger connections and built networks that are much more supportive than what they experienced in the city.
Frequently people say that they haven’t felt they’ve sacrificed opportunity, that their careers have expanded and we’ve heard how some people have transferred with their existing jobs working remotely, while others who have gone into new industries and pursued new roles.
“It’s been the people locally bolstering me up that have made me want to share and continue this journey, now to the point where I do actually believe in myself and my abilities. Whereas probably a year ago it was just very much a hobby…now I’m toying with the idea that this potentially could be like my next career.” (Kayla Henley, Orange, NSW)
It’s been fascinating to hear patterns among the stories and observe similar benefits such as being able to reconnect with their family or reconnect with themselves. There is also a strong shared experience of the stars, space and the light and people described these things in a truly aspirational way.
“It’s so hard to describe the light, but it’s a mixture of the light and that glow that comes with it. But it’s also the big skies that allow for that light – it’s the feeling of space. It’s the feeling of being able to breathe. It’s things like a sky full of stars at night again.” (Giaan Rooney, Corndale, NSW)
We’ve talked to people who move by themselves, in couples, as families. We’ve discussed the catalysts and turning points, finding out the different reasons that compel people to move and how they make it work when they’ve embraced the decision. For some people it’s a rapid decision, for others it’s drawn out, some people have the chance to make the decision, others are nudged into a move due to things like work.
This series includes three special episodes…we’ve got a bonus episode to kick the series off with YOU MOVED WHERE?! Producer Grace Rouvray joining host Bec Bignell for a full series recap, a LIVE recording featuring Sunrise journalist Edwina Bartholomew and her husband Neil Varcoe, who are flipping old buildings in the bush, and a special spotlight on Katanning one of the most multicultural places in regional Australia, which includes stories from an award-winning community member supporting migrant families making the move, a new Mum who challenges old farming methods, and a man living his dreams by running a business that makes people buzz.
In SERIES THREE we hear more about the sparks that have set a move in motion including a house, a campsite, a job in a remote roadhouse, a hotel, a fight, a holiday, and a homecoming. The eight episodes feature a collection of dynamic stories shared by exceptional everyday people who have totally changed their lives by leaving the city for a life in the regions.
SERIES ONE RECAP:
EP 1 – Luke Prout, the ‘Townie from Tamworth’. After almost 20 years in Sydney the Publican moved back to where he grew up, taking the city mindset to the country.
“A lot of openminded people are moving here and not afraid to speak about their beliefs and what they feel should be important in the community. That myopic vision of 25 years ago, of having blinkers on – that’s gone, it’s going.”
EP 2 – Country born fashion designer and entrepreneur Emily Riggs found herself living and working in Melbourne until love took her to the rural town of Burra in South Australia.
“I’ve gained so much moving to the country – I’ve married my ‘hot farmer’, got two beautiful kids, I’ve got IRIS AND WOOL, that brings just so much joy, and I feel like I’ve been given this confidence I’ve never had before by living in the regions.”
EP 3 – Starring American born, Australian actor Matt Young from the Big Apple who now maintains a successful career as a performing artist in outback Blackall, Queensland.
“The other incredible thing that’s happening now that I’m regional is that I’m starting to put myself in the centre for all of my creative practice. So, I used to be an actor for hire waiting around for somebody else to come up with this great idea to jump on board and maybe get hired as an actor. Now I create things that are around me.”
EP 4 –Daniel Fletcher from metro Melbourne, never envisioned he’d wind up living in Dalby, Queensland, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m not stuck in traffic ever….I don’t have to rush out to catch the six thirty train or bus in the morning and I get that ability to spend time with my kids when they’re in those years of growing up. Plus, I’m home quickly when work is finished. I’m never going to get these years back when the kids are growing up, I hope it’s something we just never take for granted.”
EP 5 – Ngadju Elder Aunty Yvonne Green left Norseman, WA, to work in the education sector and after a long, successful career in Perth she moved to Esperance, Kepa Kurl, where her impact is as powerful as the awe-inspiring Southern Ocean that laps at her feet.
“When we have Aboriginal week, it’s just full on – everybody comes, and people don’t understand but that’s Aboriginal week in the Goldfields, all the families and all
the different language groups all get together. And all the boys are out running playing footy with all their different colours. You have to be there to see it….you see them all proud, clapping and cheering.…. and the old nanas are shouting and waving their fists.”
EP 6 – Rising up the ranks in the Australian media landscape Jacinta Reddan took a leap of faith and headed to Hong Kong where she lived and worked for 30 years before an amazing career opportunity enticed her to Cairns.
“I find on weekends I’m either snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, yesterday we went on the Skyrail up to Kuranda over the World Heritage rainforest…I’m either driving along the Atherton Tablelands or down to Mission Beach or up to Palm Cove, Mossman Gorge last weekend and Port Douglas. I mean, honestly, there is no absence of absolutely extraordinary things to do. I keep pinching myself and thinking I can’t believe that this is the part of the world that I call home.”
EP 7 – Country girl Ellie Bigwood applied for the Australian Wool Innovation Graduate Training Program which opened her up to an international city life. But when her plans were interrupted by the pandemic, she headed to the Pilbara.
“I’ve lived such a busy life and lived in so many big cities. It’s been absolutely amazing, but it’s the first time in a long time where it’s nice not having to have any obligation to be somewhere on a weekend and I’m really into my gardening and crocheting and little fun, crafty hobbies.”
EP 8 – Olympian Giaan Rooney loved her life in the city but since moving to the regional town of Corndale in Northern NSW to run a Macadamia Farm with her family she’s fully converted to the country life!
“If I possibly can have the ability to sit down at the end of the day and watch the sunset, I feel like I go through a transformative process, where anything wrong or bad or hard just kind of dissipates watching mother nature put on a show.”
SERIES TWO RECAP:
EP 1 – Recorded LIVE at the Regions Rising event event in Bunbury we spoke to three marvellous movers – filmmaker Chanel Bowen; a proud member of the disability and hard of hearing communities, Jill Watkin Manager of the Kodja Place Cultural Centre and Tanuja Sanders an experienced engineer, entrepreneur, and olive farmer.
“It’s interesting coming as a migrant to this country – it’s literally uprooting every aspect of your life whether it is cultural, social, you basically uproot an entire fully grown tree, bring it to a completely different place and plant it and that’s where you start; from scratch again.” (Tanuja Sanders, Binningup, WA)
“Every single night just before the sun sets the Carnaby’s will do a big circle and they’ll be calling out and they’ll be crying and me and my mum will always make sure that we catch the Carnaby’s.” (Chanel Bowen, Dunsborough, WA)
“The skills that actually exist in the regions are mind-boggling and that’s what I’m finding in the work that I’m doing. There is so much talent locally and I mean Kojonup is such a small town…but we’ve got world class entrepreneurs, farmers, innovators. You name it – we have it in Kojonup and that has absolutely blown my mind.” (Jill Watkin, Kojonup, WA)
EP 2 – After pushing the pen for hours during relentless medical exams Paediatrician Bonnie Carroll, based in Sydney, decided it was time to prescribe herself a change of place and a good dose of space and pursued an opportunity for a rural placement in Alice Springs.
“More here than ever before in Sydney I’ve got time for a social life and social commitments and friends and things like that. One – because the drive is so small and then two – because it is just the open warmth of this beautiful town. You actually don’t want to miss out, you have massive FOMO all the time – all the things that you want to get to!
EP 3 – Like many of the radio greats before him, broadcaster Tim Wong-See headed from Sydney to the sticks to tread the boards at regional radio stations. Tim found himself on the opposite side of the country, landing in Albany, WA, for a gig as the breakfast show host for Great Southern ABC.
“You have this huge creative license in the regions, which is very exciting. You have stories that you know won’t get told if you don’t do the story. You’ll have things that need to be highlighted, you know, wrongs that need to be righted or things that need to be exposed or just great fun stuff that just is worth celebrating and I guess the feeling of responsibility, knowing that you’re one of the very few avenues for people to actually go to, keeps you in the job in the regions where you are, because the community relies on you for that sense of storytelling.”
EP 4 – Incentivised by their aversion to city traffic David Webb and Christy Webb jointly agreed to move to the regions after they’d initially settled in Sydney. While they were able to scale back the hectic traffic and long commute to work, they didn’t have to pair back their professional careers, with both landing ambitious gigs.
“Growing up playing a lot of sport in big cities you were involved but as a player you kind of just came and played, but out here it’s a whole day event. If it’s a home game, there’s often a function at night and it’s a function for families so everybody comes and having that together time just to catch up to chat about whatever – it’s so important. I love that aspect. It’s a whole different side of sport that I didn’t grow up with.” (Christy Webb, Hay, NSW)
EP 5 – Marie Dennis, a Birri Gubba woman from North Queensland, was born in Ayr, on Juru country, and when she headed to big smoke Brisbane as an adult, she seamlessly adapted to city life. However, as time went on the built-up walls and high-rise buildings, peak hour pandemonium and long distances from the ocean made her yearn for the saltwater, stars, and serenity.
“The moon is so much clearer in the regions, so is the stars, and, you know, we can be more aware of that than when you’re in the concrete cities, unless you actually make the effort to go out and into your yard or make space for that time to look up.”
EP 6 – Growing up in Leeton, nurse Kayla Henley headed to Sydney to study, but always felt the tug of a return to the regions so she convinced her husband Charlie that they could have the life they desired in a regional setting, and they moved to Orange where the beauty of her surroundings inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.
“My approach to making friends was quite similar to dating, I guess you just don’t have the apps in the same way. I would just say ‘yes’ to everyone that we met, I would suggest coffee dates to everyone and…I think it paid off in that I have a really diverse wonderful group of friends now, but it did take time.”
EP 7 – Australian artists Pippa Grandison & Steve Le Marqued have graced our screens in some of the most iconic films and television shows and while the prolific creative couple are used to the dizzy heights of show business, they always yearned for a rural property. So, when the opportunity arose to sell their city home, they left the bright lights behind and, with their teenager Charlie, leapt across the country to Lake Clifton.
“It’s so beautiful and there’s wildlife everywhere and the neighbours are friendly and on the drive home…you pull into the driveway, and it takes you a while to get to your house down the driveway and you go, ‘yeah, this is this is a dream!’” (Pippa Grandison, Lake Clifton, WA)
EP 8 – Acclaimed author and Executive Editor at Mamamia, Holly Wainwright, grew up in Manchester, lived in London and then jumped down under to Sydney. However, she was enticed out of the city on family holidays where the experience of a regional lifestyle inspired her to move permanently.
“I’ve become this insufferable person who grows vegetables… last summer my parents were visiting from England and we (me and my Mum) as a sort of joint project put in veggie beds out the front of our house, and I feel like for the first time in my life, I have this hobby and I love it and we grow everything, and now I’ve got another one and I’m planning two more and I so love that!
ROLLING OUT SERIES THREE….
Episode 0 – What Have We Learnt From 3 Series!
Launch date: Thursday May 23
In this BONUS EPISODE Host Bec and YOU MOVED WHERE?! Producer Grace talking about the learnings and highlights of the past two series. They make some interesting observations and discuss the similarities that have emerged from all the guests; the sky, sunset, the space and the time you get back.
EP 1 – Melinda O’Donoghue, Mooree, NSW
Launch date: Thursday May 30
This episode features bridal fashion designer Melinda O’Donoghue who makes exquisite wedding dresses from her home in Moree. Women fly from all over Australia to work with her and the esteemed designer even hosts them in her home and travels across country to help them into their dresses on their big day.
EP 2 – Emma Jackson, Cape York, QLD
Launch date: Thursday June 6
A broke backpacker Emma took a job at a remote roadhouse which ended up taking her from the city of Manchester to station country in Cape York at the top of Queensland. Jampacked full of high stakes stories such as extracting a three-metre python off her 14 year old son, collecting mail from the air strip on her property and using her RFDS defibrillator to resuscitate her neighbour.
EP 3 Spotlight on Katanning (WA)
Launch date: Thursday June 13
The shire of Katanning in WA has become one of the most multicultural places in regional Australia. This episode puts a spotlight on the town and we share several stories that explore why people have moved and what their experience has entailed. Featuring interviews with Katanning Deputy Shire President Liz Guidera, Moolay La Toh, Alep Mydie and Maeve O’Brien,
EP 4 Edwina & Neil // Live Episode – Carcoar, NSW
Launch date: Thursday June 20
We recorded this interview live with Sunrise journalist Edwina Bartholomew and her husband, also a journalist, Neil Varcoe at the Regions Rising Summit in Canberra. Despite not having a great deal of hospitality experience the couple purchased the Victoria Hotel in Carcoar, New South Wales to refurbish it. Just like their careers (journos-come-regional renovators) their move from the city is more of a hybrid model than the standard ‘up ‘n move’.
EP 5 Perin Mulcahy, Cranbrook, Astrid Volzke, Darkan, WA
Launch date: Thursday June 27
Astrid Volzke was a press photographer in Perth for The West Australian, the state’s top newspaper. Perin Mulcahy worked in marketing for the Maritime Museum in Fremantle, one of WA’s premier cultural organisations. Both women loved their jobs, and their big city lives but they found themselves in regional Western Australia living in towns with less than 300 people, working in jobs they knew nothing about.
EP 6 Ellie, Davie and Violet Moorhouse, Dalgety, NSW
Launch date: Thursday July 4
This couple were staunch city slickers with no experience of regional living but when they laid their eyes on an old homestead built on the banks of the Snowy River their lives were set to change forever.
EP 7 Caroline Rannersberger // Tourism Town, Bruny Island, TAS
Launch date: Thursday July 11
Visual artist and curator Caroline Rannersberger lived in Europe, a high-density place oozing with culture and studied in Vienna a city known to inspire many however, life took Caroline to breathtaking Bruny Island. The place has become a hashtag hotspot thanks to gram-worthy pictures of the dramatic landscapes, and exceptional Tasmanian produce but for permanent residents like Caroline the extreme conditions and island life logistics are part of their everyday life.
EP 8 Rika Hamaguchi: Broome, WA
Launch date: Thursday July 18
A descendant of the Yawuru, Bunaba, Bardi and Jaru people in the Kimberley Region, Rika Hamaguchi was plucked from her hometown of Broome to train as a professional dancer over east. She was offered a place at one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies Bangarra Dance Company and spent many years touring all over the world. After 13 years in Sydney, she felt The Kimberley calling and made the move back to Broome.
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to You Moved Where?
on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for updates
