Garden City is Nadine’s home away from home
She came here for love but Nadine has since fallen for Toowoomba
SHE came to Toowoomba for love but Nadine Ireland soon fell in love with the city she now calls home.
Hailing from the south-west England region of Devon, Nadine was backpacking across Australia when she answered an advertisement for bar staff at the Dulacca Hotel.
Not many Australians would know of Dulacca let alone spend months living and working in the town west of Miles.
And backpackers are expected to cruise Australia’s beaches rather than head inland.
“I wanted to experience it all,” Nadine smiled.
“I’ve seen a lot of Australia since I arrived here in April 2016.
“I’ve been from Cairns across to Perth which is a beautiful city.
“I enjoyed my time in Dulacca; the people there are very friendly.”
She had planned on staying for two months in Dulacca but after meeting her now partner Martin George, who was based in the town while working for a mining company’s environmental department, Nadine decided to stay.
“I ended up staying about five months,” she explained.
“Martin was living in Brisbane at the time but when he moved to Toowoomba to be based here I came here as well.”
After a few months searching for a job, Nadine eventually applied for the then vacant position as catering supervisor at the Toowoomba Sports Club where she has been ever since.
“I like working here, the staff are great and everyone works as a team,” she said of the Ruthven St club.
“It’s very rewarding too and they (management) really appreciate what you do.
“You get to know the customers and we get a lot of regulars, and Wednesday
It’s very rewarding too and they (management) really appreciate what you do.
night the place is packed for our trivia night.”
Nadia is heading back over the UK next month for a four-week visit to reunite with family and friends, but she will then return to Toowoomba, the city she calls home.
“I love Toowoomba,” she smiled.
“It’s a lot like my home in England. I call it my home away from home.
“It’s not too big a city and it seems everyone knows everyone else.
“Sometimes it seems like everyone is someone’s cousin,” she laughed.