It’s a rare but special moment when things just feel right. For Debi and Iain Goodway, that was seeing Deniliquin in the Edward River Council area for the first time.
‘When I drove over the bridge, over the Edward River, into Deniliquin, I just got a feeling. There was just a feeling about the town,’ Iain explains.
‘I don't know what it was, but it just felt right. When I drove into this place, I just thought, “This is the place.” That was just over three-and-a-half years ago. It's the best decision we've made in our lives – remembering that we even moved from another country to Australia.’
‘We ended up in Deniliquin after a long look at life in Sydney, and the noise and the toxicity, and just the general hustle and bustle and traffic,’ says Iain. ‘After we had done a few road trips into regional NSW and Victoria, we decided we really needed to move away from all of that and change our lifestyle.’
Iain and Debi worked in high-pressure IT industry jobs for decades – Iain for 45 years and Debi for 30. Their son had grown up, and they decided it was the right time for a life change. ‘We needed something different,’ says Iain. ‘We were at that stage of life.’
So, the search began for a new home… and a new career.
‘We looked at a number of businesses across NSW and eventually decided the motel-type business is what we think would offer us both things: a good lifestyle and life in the country.’
The couple looked at around 30–40 motels, but it wasn’t until they came upon the Deni Golf Resort that they knew the search was over. This was the business and the town they had been looking for.
‘I think for me, moving to Deniliquin was more of a leap of faith than it was for Iain. I call him my adventure of a lifetime because he can be extremely spontaneous about the big decisions in life,’ says Debi.
‘But there was no doubt in my mind that this was the right move for us to make as a family.’
But the big move came during the pandemic, when COVID-19 had shut down many businesses and significantly affected small towns.
‘The very first morning that we were here … half the shops were closed. There was hardly anybody on the street. We were just going from shop to shop that was open, saying, “Hi, we're Iain and Debi. We're new in town. We've bought the Deni Golf Resort.” And the first three or four people almost hugged us,’ says Debi.
‘And I just thought, “Well, I think we've done the right thing.” We've come to small town Australia, and they've just welcomed us on our first day. And that has never stopped.’
Debi says the welcoming nature of Deniliquin has played a huge role in their move. ‘That has just made our transition from big city living to country living a breeze,’ she says.
‘It's been so easy to get into the community. We've made friends. We've settled very, very easily.’
Iain agrees. ‘The biggest surprise has been the community. Not since I think I was a child, have I had such a sense of community. We've been embraced by this community virtually from the first week we were here.’
Iain and Debi have immersed themselves in country life, joining groups such as the Rotary Club of Deniliquin and the Deniliquin Business Chamber. ‘We know more people in Deniliquin that we've met in the last three-and-a-half years than we knew in Sydney after 14 years of living there,’ Iain says. ‘It's just amazing. This community is amazing … I didn't realise how good life actually was going to be.’
The couple also believe that running a business in a small, tight-knit community comes with a range of perks. Companies support each other and work together. ‘It's very different running a business in a country town because of the people,’ says Iain. ‘Working in the city with a business, you get lost. You're just another business. I like to believe that we're an important part of this town.’
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Despite his initial reservations about what small-town life might be like for a young person, Iain and Debi’s son has discovered that living in the country offers a wealth of opportunities.
‘Our son decided to move back about two years ago, and he has recently brought three of his friends from Sydney as well, because they’re all at the beginning of their careers, and the lifestyle and the cost of living is very attractive to young people,’ explains Debi.
‘They pretty much earn the same as they would earn in a city because of the stage they are in in their job cycles. But they have a lot more opportunity here. There's a lot of work. They are all gainfully employed and all very happy and involved in the community. It's just actually been fabulous to watch them grow.’
Located in the Murray region, Deniliquin is a scenic town within the Edward River Council, offering commercial opportunities within nature’s playground. ‘I think there's something to do in Deni for everyone, really,’ says Iain.
There’s the Ute Muster and The Depot, the racing club and rodeo, the South West Music Regional Conservatorium and South West Arts.
Perched on the Edward River, there are also leisure activities galore. Iain notes that river sports such as kayaking, boating, water skiing and fishing are very popular. The state forest also offers plenty of wildlife sightings and walking and riding trails.
Iain says that sports lovers are also well catered for, with quality sports fields and many local clubs.
With so much going on, it’s easy to see what the Goodway family loves about Deniliquin. Debi says it best when she tells us, ‘Absolutely 100% not leaving Deni!’
Feeling inspired to find your forever home in regional Australia? Visit the Country Change Town Page or contact us for more information, we would love to help you.
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