Venture Southland

I was ready for a new adventure in life. Little did I know how big it was going to be. I had worked for a transport company in the UK for 39 years. I had gone from the bottom to the top and the opportunity had arisen to take early retirement. Having always planned a long holiday touring New Zealand, I went to an expo just to see what I could learn about New Zealand to prepare myself for that holiday.

Sue Morrison-Bailey at the Venture Southland stand talked with me and said I should forget the holiday and come to Southland and ‘live the life’. Sue took my name and number and said ‘she knew a man’. Thinking nothing would come of it, I went home to plan the holiday. Two weeks later I was talking to Gordon McDowall, owner of McDowall Freight, a New Zealand national freight company. A week after that, I was offered employment with his company. Gordon said, “The job starts in nine days can you make it?” Well, the answer was yes and nine days later I was in Southland at my new desk. It’s been a brilliant move – the country, the way of life, the people, and the job.

The whole experience is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. After seven months in New Zealand, I visited friends and family back in England for Christmas. When I got there I couldn’t wait to get back home to New Zealand. I don’t think anyone – on their own or with a family – would regret coming here for a moment.