Like many city folk, the Sipou family once wondered if country life was for them. But they quickly discovered that life in Coleambally, which sits in the Murrumbidgee Council area, was full of incredible rewards and brimming with opportunity.
Brent and Kayla not only secured fulfilling jobs, but also found themselves more connected than ever to a warm, welcoming community.
The current cost of living has many Aussie families feeling pinched right now. For the Sipous, it was the lack of affordable housing in Sydney that prompted them to look further afield.
‘We’d been in our home for over five years when the owner contacted us wanting to raise the rent $200 a week,’ explains Kayla. ‘We’d just been through a lot of medical issues with our youngest daughter and our family was stressed and, at points, disconnected.
‘We’d wanted to move to the country for a while but with us both growing up in the city, we didn’t know where to start. And having four young kids, it was a little daunting!
‘The day after we received the notice of the rent increase, we sat down and spoke about it. We were being locked out of Sydney and would’ve had to move the kids to new schools and daycares to find affordable housing.
‘So we made the decision that it was time to just follow our hearts and take the leap!’
But the next decision to make was where to move to. ‘Brent and I figured if we were going to move somewhere so far away from our friends and family, that we should move somewhere where we at least knew one person,’ says Kayla.
Although the family had never visited Coleambally, Kayla’s cousin had settled in the town and was due to give birth to her first baby. ‘I really wanted to be a part of her life for that.’
So they made what would turn out to be the best decision for their young family and in September 2023, Brent, Kayla and their four young children moved from Holsworthy in Sydney to Coleambally in the Riverina.
The Sipou family didn’t know what to expect from their new town, but they knew country life would be very different to the city hustle.
‘We had no idea what it would be like, we just knew it would be different!’ Kayla says. ‘I think we thought it would be more isolating than it is and that there wouldn’t be much opportunity for work – but we’ve found the complete opposite!’
She says the small size of Coleambally – its headcount at the 2021 Census was 1,152 – had them worried about employment. ‘I originally thought country towns were low on work – especially somewhere like Coleambally that is so small. But almost the week we moved here, both Brent and myself were finding the complete opposite. There were amazing opportunities.’
Kayla found work at a popular restaurant in town but soon craved more consistency and found employment with CIA Tyre Service.
‘Brent was originally a stay-at-home dad but since all of our children now attend school and preschool, he also works at CIA Tyre Service. I think the customer-focused roles have given us a great experience with meeting the local community and a great introduction to Coleambally.’
The family also appreciates that employers in the area offer better work/life balance. ‘I’ve found that in Coleambally, the family/work balance is much more understood than Sydney,’ Kayla says.
‘Employers understand down here that your children come first and you seem to be not just another number. The only downside is there are limited care options for holidays and after-school hours.’
But on the flipside, you’ll typically find lower daycare rates. ‘In Sydney, we’d never have had the opportunity for both my husband and I to work due to the prices of Sydney daycare, housing and necessities. By lowering our expenses down here, it’s made us both returning to work worth it.’
But the Sipou’s found that one stereotype of country life was true: the hospitality and warmth.
‘The community has been amazing! We’ve been welcomed with open arms,’ says Kayla. ‘The local mothers’ group was a great start and being present at the kids’ school activities has helped also. The kids are involved in the local football club too, so we have a lot of exposure to the community.
‘We’ve found that’s one of the most humbling things about Coleambally: that everyone knows everyone and welcomes you with open arms!’
Getting involved with the community through volunteering has certainly helped. ‘We try and get involved where possible,’ explains Kayla. ‘Within the first few months of being here, I put my hand up to volunteer for the Coleambally Preschool committee and am now the President. And Brent is playing for the Darlington Point Coleambally Roosters.
‘Moving to Coleambally has changed our lives for the better and we’ll forever be thankful for the opportunities we’ve been given here.’
Naturally the family have missed some aspects of city life, with Kayla saying, ‘About the three-month mark, we found the hype of the move had worn off and the kids really missed Sydney.’ But it wasn’t long until they brought Sydney (at least part of it) to them!
‘In Sydney, we were very close with the Hallard family, who consist of Tegan, Nathan and their five children, so when we decided to make the big move two weeks after their daughter was born, we really felt the struggle being apart!
We had been here for three months when we invited them down to stay with us, and after spending two weeks during the January school holidays with us, they agreed that Coleambally was the place they wanted to raise their children and get ahead in life.
Within the space of three weeks, we had found them a farmhouse (only four minutes up the road from us) and had secured them work in the community! We are now back to being one (big) happy, friend family! Our children catch the bus back to their house after school for play dates, we cheer on our kids at the football games each weekend and they are just as in love with their new life as we are!’
It’s no wonder Kayla and Brent say their tree change has been ‘the best decision we ever made’.
Coleambally is one of the youngest towns in NSW, officially opening in June 1968. This small Riverina town is part of the Murrumbidgee Council area and was created to act as the hub of the Coleambally Irrigation Area.
In addition to its agricultural enterprises, Coleambally also boasts plenty of untouched natural attractions. It is home to walking trails, outdoor sculptures, and incredible flora and fauna, including some severely endangered species.
Sport plays a big role in the area as well (such as netball, football, cricket and tennis) and has a fantastic sports precinct. And, as Kayla says, ‘[Coleambally] really has that community spirit!’ Popular events include Taste Coleambally – Food and Farm Festival and the
Warangesda Festival, featuring some of the best First Nations art, music, storytelling, dance and culture.
Time to consider a tree change? Visit the Country Change Town Page or contact us for more information, we would love to help you!
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