Tree change...I'm moving to Toowoomba

[stevo68]

G'day all,

Anyone who knows me has known I have wanted to get into goat farming (boer goats) and general farming, living off the land. Last couple of years have been a bit rough, lost my father, quit my job when I found out and then spent 2 yrs doing work to pay the bills. Being mid 40's, degree qualified and trying to find work in my old area of expertise was difficult. So I found a new passion and started studying financial planning whilst being a traffic controller and fork lift driver. I got my first job as an adviser last year.

Over Christmas I realised a few things. I wasn't getting any younger and I had stopped doing the things I love like camping/4wding, hanging with mates, spending time with the children. A big part was overcoming loss of my father and almost 3 years of dealing with will crap. Thank god for my friends and family for their support including many on here.

Soooo decided time for a tree change, a fresh start, clean slate. I was looking at it later in the year but a great job role came up which after almost 3 months of interviews and hoops to leap through, I got the job. So all going well we all should be up living up on the mountain.

We're going to rent first ( still working on areas to live), sort out kids schooling, then once settled start looking for a farm to buy. My older children who live in Brissy have done the greyhound trip up and a plus seems to be wi fi on the buses ;-).

Now with all that said, once settled in, am keen to catch up with locals for 4wding and camping. Of course when my mates are up this way they can expect Stevo on a highway somewhere waiting to tag along :-). Also up for any local info, good schools-private and public, things to do, places to see, good areas to rent both city area and acreage and any other tips. We were up there over long weekend, so we have figured out the "rugging" up deal.

Well thats it, some of what I have written probably goes along way to why I went from being a regular to an absent forumite. I am looking forward to having Stevos Inaugral Beer and BBQ Festival when I get the farm. My mates down here in the coast are already lining up, would be great to invite some new faces I may meet up that way.

Regards

Stevo

Sent from my GT-I9506 using AULRO mobile app

[waz]

Nice! Welcome. Some really nice spots around here.

[Ean Austral]

G'day Stevo,

Great to read of the move closer to that dream. I wish you best of luck and look forward to reading of it becoming reality.

Onwards and upwards ( to the mountain )

Cheers Ean

[incisor]

let me get this right...

your moving TO toowoomba at the start of winter?



interesting move!

hope it works out for you....

somehow this song is sticking in my head..

[ame="http://vimeo.com/48335996"]The Lonely Goatherd - The Sound Of Music, Sung by Julie Andrews as Wonderful Original Maria on Vimeo[/ame]

i'll have a side when your up and running....

[Bigbjorn]

You will need to join the Redneck Party. The Downs locals still think JBP was "a great man".

[weeds]

Is Towoomba big enough for you and pedro

[LandyAndy]

Dont wear the leopord skin panties whilst the goats can see you.Best your neighbors dont catch you either
GOODLUCK
Andrew

[BMKal]

Some terrible visions flashing through my mind here ..................

The song that inc posted playing in the background, and Stevo in his leopard skin attire herding goats on a mountain ..................

Best of luck to you Stevo. Good to see you back on here again. I've been through Toowoomba a couple of times and quite liked the place (except for when I missed a gearchange in an old Acco furniture truck on that bloody hill.

[Hogarthde]

Going up.... or going do...w...n..?

[Barefoot Dave]

G'Day Steve.
Congratulations on the Life change.
I strongly suggest you start with a mornings worth of chatting at the Toowoomba Visitor Information Centre.
The staff (I used to be one) and volunteers are extremely knowledgable and helpful. You will get most of your answers there.
Ok some general info.
Toowoomba has been referred to as the Retirement village without a fence due to its aging population.
A lot of mining/ gas project in the SWest mean that has probably swung away, not sure of the current demographic breakdown. This represents an opportunity for a financial planner. Younger people with a bit of money and no plan.
If you are interested in living in Toowoomba, I can PM you my experiences of different suburbs, they can can contrast greatly.
It may be a city but it is still a large country town, in its mindset.
There are substantial areas of blacksoil and 'H' class soils in and around Toowoomba that will affect house stability and cost of building.
August is a bloody shocking month. Cold Dry SouWesters blow up from NW NSW and roll up the Darling downs into town. All the cold without the snow.
Toowoomba is a School/ Uni city. As a regional centre there are a number of Private Boarding and day schools as well as State and Independant schools. Last time I counted, 25ish within 30 minutes of the city centre.
USQ is progressive and does distance Ed well.

As for Goats. Next time you are up there stay at Boerbuck country motel, about 20 minutes South at Clifton. They have been growing Boerbucks for nearly 20 years there and a few years before in RSA. Last I talked to them they were very keen in advancing the industry and I wouldn't expect them to be overly protective of 'their' patch. As paying customers, it will also make the introduction easier
I hope this helps.