Store’s friendly faces
TOUCH OF TOOWOOMBA: Athlete’s Foot, 11am, yesterday
Lorraine Halpin
I WAS born here in Toowoomba and lived here until the age of about 30 when I left to go to the Gold Coast.
I was just looking for opportunity, I suppose.
And when I was down at the Gold Coast I came across the opportunity of owning my own business, through people who wanted to open the Athlete’s Foot in Toowoomba.
So at that stage I put my hand up and I came back and opened this store here in 1989, and I’ve had it ever since.
At the end of the day, Toowoomba is a big country town and I found by coming back here, to when I was away, I just found out a lot of friendships can be made here.
It’s a great town for business and also for community – especially in Toowoomba here we can get really involved in our community.
Melita Simpkins
I WAS born and raised here. I’ve lived here most of my life.
I did move away and spent about four years overseas in America and Europe. I was based in Chicago, working as a nanny. Then we travelled around Europe.
And I’ve travelled to South Africa and New Zealand as well. I got married, and I’ve got two kids who go to school here.
Toowoomba has been good for me and the kids. Obviously it’s a smaller community. The kids enjoy school here. I’ve got one in primary and one in high school.
It’s got a nice community feel and the kids have good friends here.
What’s one thing I like about Toowoomba? I probably like the size of the place, not being too big but being close to other cities and destinations.
Matthew Shepherd
I HAVE lived in Toowoomba of all my life. I was born and raised here.
I completed high school at Centenary Heights, and graduated last year.
I got into business at uni but I deferred that for next year because I wanted to take a gap year and work and just enjoy life a bit.
That’s why I looked for work, got a job here at Athlete’s Foot, which is awesome, I love working here.
And so my plan at the moment is to then go to uni next year and study and do that and see where life takes me.
What do I like about Toowoomba? I just like the fact that Toowoomba is home.
The people here are fantastic. They all care about you and it’s such a good community and such a healthy place to be in.
Juan Goosen
I’VE lived in Toowoomba for about 10 years. I’m originally from South Africa actually.
Why did we move? Just a lot of like, you know, all the violence and everything that was happening over there.
My dad’s been a farmer his whole life, so, especially on the farms, it was just getting a bit wild, and my dad didn’t really see a future for us.
He always said if they didn’t have kids they would have stayed, but just for us mainly, we moved, so that we could have a better future. And Australia is just one of the best places to have better opportunities. It was a big sacrifice for my parents. That was amazing.
I finished school at Christian Outreach College two years ago.
My plan is, hopefully next year I want to move to Sydney. I want to go to Hillsong College. I want to become a pastor one day.
My family’s been Christian their whole lives and having a relationship with God and Jesus I just really felt a calling.
I just really felt that pull to further my studies and my skills.
I guess I’ll see what happens and see how far it takes me.
What’s one thing I love about Toowoomba? My church, Christian Outreach Church. That place is amazing.
We live here ‘cos we love it!