Opportunity knocks
Donna Anderson
MY family moved around all over Queensland when I was a child because my father worked for the railway.
We moved to places such as Rockhampton, Quilpie, Oakey, Pittsworth and Warwick.
I remember there was a sandstorm the night before we moved from Quilpie. We found sand throughout all the boxes when we were unpacking.
After about 18 months of moving around, my father got transferred to Toowoomba and decided to stay here.
I have lived in Toowoomba for the past 47 years ever since.
Toowoomba and the surrounding areas are nice to live in.
The people who live here are lovely and the temperature never gets too hot.
I live with three of my grandchildren who I look after when I am not here at the op shop - which keeps me busy.
In my spare time I do enjoy reading and knitting which I find relaxing.
My mother taught me how to crochet and knit about 50 years ago.
Shirley Cherry
I HAVE lived in Toowoomba and the surrounding areas for all my life.
I like the city, weather and the people. It has been a great place to live.
My parents raised their family in Toowoomba and I got married and raised my family here too.
My husband and I bought a farm at Oakey and lived there for 35 years.
We grew lucerne and ran cattle at the farm.
My husband and I sold the farm and bought a piece of property out at Geham.
It is lovely where we live now. I like having a little bit of space to myself.
It’s our own little retreat on a hill with a beautiful view.
It’s lovely country out there.
My husband and I each tend to our own gardens.
He has a huge vegetable patch which he loves.
I tend to the pot plants, roses and flowers.
It’s nice to be able to go out and look at the roses and the flowers.
Cheryl Devonshire
MY husband and I moved to Toowoomba from Victoria 37 years ago to be closer to his family.
Toowoomba was a great place to raise my family. I was able to send my children to a good Christian school.
The city has changed a lot in the past 37 years. It used to be a lot smaller and less frantic.
I do enjoy living in Toowoomba because it’s the combination of town and country.
In my spare time I enjoy going camping and bushwalking with my family.
It’s nice to be able to spend time with my family in the peace and quiet.
The last place I went bushwalking was in northern Sunshine Coast which was lovely.
I do miss the old Toowoomba. It was peaceful living back then.
You were able to have a friendly chat to your neighbour over the fence back then.
I still talk with my neighbour. He will collect the mail for us when we go away and we do the same for him.
It’s nice being able to maintain that relationship with my neighbour.