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"Building our dream home in the country a lifestyle we could never afford in Sydney.”
"A weekend in Temora, courtesy of a local couple, was all we needed to confirm our country change’.
"Meeting locals, exploring the town and experiencing real country hospitality provided a wonderful insight into what would become our new home." Meet Jodie and Stephen Ashcroft, who have never looked back since ditching the city life in favour of life in Temora.
Sick of working endlessly to make ends meet, the Ashcrofts decided to attend the 2011 Country and Regional Living Expo in Rosehill to explore the idea of a country life.
The couple was fortunate to meet Craig and Bev Pellow from Ray White Temora at the Expo.
The family was invited to Temora for a weekend away to experience the country lifestyle, first-hand.
"We liked the Riverina region but had never heard of Temora before," Mrs Ashcroft explained.
"The Pellow’s offer of a weekend away was too good to refuse.”
Whilst in Temora we attended the air show, explored the town, looked at the schools, saw the recreational facilities and met some local families it was a wonderful insight into the community.
An employment opportunity secured the move, with Stephen being offered a job at BFB Logistics in Temora.
"They said if you can be here in three weeks to start harvest, the job’s all yours so we packed up and moved!" Having lived in Campbelltown all their lives, the couple decided they had nothing to lose.
With two active young boys, aged seven and 10 and Mr Ashcroft working two jobs just to keep the mortgage down, their life in the city was not always easy.
The family settled into Temora effortlessly Mrs Ashcroft now also works at BFB Logistics, the children are doing extremely well at school. and the family has a great social life.
"We’re thrilled with the move and after just six months in Temora we knew we were here to stay.
"We sold our house in Sydney and have now bought a small block in town where we are building our dream home.
"I would never have dreamt of having anything like this in Sydney!" Mrs Ashcroft laughed.
The family has been well received by the local community and the couple from Ray White who originally invited them to sit the town have become very good friends of the family.
"The hardest part of moving to a new place was walking down the main Street and people wanting to know who we were, in Sydney we struggled to even make eye contact with people at the shops!”
"Life is much easier now we are in Temora and there are so many great things about living in the country~ we couldn’t be happier." Mrs Ashcroft’s brother Sean, his wife Christine and their two children have also since made the 111OVC to Temora.
After visiting Steve, Jodie and the kids, they too were convinced Temora offered the lifestyle they craved for their family.
Sean, an experienced plumber left his successful business in Sydney to give his family a better quality of life in Temora.
The family has been amazed at the friendliness of Temora and how easy the move has been for them.
"He is already picking up plumbing work," said Bev Pellow, from Ray White Temora.
"No doubt, many Temora people have seen his CSR Plumbing ute around town and wondered who it was.
"Christine, who has a variety of skills including office admin, accounts and as a chef has picked up some casual work and hopes to get something more permanent soon.
"A team from Temora Shire is again at the Country Change Expo this year at the showground in Homebush.
"We are very pleased that this year helping on the Temora stand at the expo will be Steve, Jodie, Sean and Christine talking to city people about moving to Temora.
"What better way to promote our town as a great place to move to? "Weekend sunrise will also be at the expo on Saturday morning, so look out for our locals there." she added.
Temora Independent, Temora NSW
General News - page 7
