Why I live where I live...and love it!

Caroline at http://caroline-thesimplethings.blogspot.com/ has been showing us around her neck of the woods and she asked Why do you live where you live? So here goes.....

I was born nearly 45 years ago in the town where I live. My late father and his parents before him were born here too. It is a small country town of approx. 5,000 residents. It has been a great place to raise our two girls. We feel very safe living in this community. I can walk down the street and greet people who I have known all my life.

The air is clean and the seasons roll in giving you the crispness of autumn, the chill of winter, the freshness of spring and the heat of summer. We have been know to have 3 seasons in one week!
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The area is known as the Green Triangle (inland) and also the Limestone Coast (coastal). Even in summer, there is a bit of a tinge of green to the landscape (though not in this photo!) .

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The area is rich in primary industries like prime sheep and cattle grazing, dairy (agriculture) cropping (wheat, barley, oilseeds like canola & rapeseed, feed and seed beans, potatoes etc. and feed pastures), aquaculture, pine forests for timber and wood pulp for paper manufacturing at the KCA mill (employs some 600 people), blue gum farming (timber), rock lobster industry, vineyards (viticulture) and we have a wind turbine farm that is spread across the range just outside our town.
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(View over pine trees, with town in the distance)

There are over 130 windmills utilizing the crisp ocean breezes, generating power for SA and Vic power grids.
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Some of the main attractions and facilities in our town are our Civic & Arts Centre which is used for live performances, large functions like wedding and cabarets. The complex houses an Art Gallery which has first class local and travelling exhibits and there is an extensive library.
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The Living History Museum is a popular attraction and has the reputation for being one of the best regional museums in SA. It features Victoriana, Aboriginal, maritime and natural history displays and the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in SA.
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Our Tourist Information Centre is staffed by knowledgeable locals who volunteer their time to assist visitors. Locally crafted souvenirs and treasures from the region are on sale.
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We have a man-made swimming lake (chlorinated), open from Oct-April, admittance is free of charge and it is patrolled by lifeguards during the busy summer season. Extensive grassed areas are great for summer picnics and get togethers. A Vac-Swim programme operates in January for swimming lessons.

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We have a new Mega Playground which is enjoyed by children and adults alike. It is completely enclosed with lots of play equipment - swings, flying-fox, slides, climbing ropes etc. We have heard of people who have travelled 400kms from the Adelaide to let their children play here. There are under-cover gas BBQs next to the playground to cater for families. Also nearby is a good skate park for boards and bikes.
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Lake McIntyre, just a few kilometers out of town, is a man-made lake and home to many species of native birdlife with board walks and bird-watching hides and grassed picnic areas.
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We have a modern Hospital, Sheoak Lodge Nursing home (state of the art) and Boneham Cottage Homes for aged care. Sporting facilities are well patronized and include - 3 court Basketball
Stadium, Bowling Club, Soccer Club, Football Club, Squash courts, Cricket and Tennis Clubs, Sporting Clay Shooting club, Photographic Club, History group and active Rotary, Lions & Apex Clubs.
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The town hosts a 3 day Agricultural & Horticultural Show in early November. Horse eventing (show jumping, dressage) is a big draw card for the show, together with a huge Moto-cross motorbike feature held on the Friday night, plus an extensive fireworks display.

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A local Farmers Market operates weekly with a huge range of handicrafts and produce. There are 2 primary schools, one high school and a Catholic primary school with buses running from outlying areas. A bus also travels to the Catholic college in the nearest major city, 50 kms away - a 40 minute drive through pine forests and grazing country. You are nearly always guaranteed to see a kangaroo or two when travelling at night time.

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(Family and friends enjoying a day at the beach)

There are two fishing ports close by (22 kms & 35 kms). Both of these towns have safe, clean swimming beaches, near coastal National Parks and are accessable by 4WD vehicles and the population of these town expands over the summer months with affordable holiday rental houses being a popular form of accomodation. Both towns have good caravan parks. A seaside holiday is within easy reach and local seafood is on the menu at most eateries.
* The surrounding sand dunes offer lots of fun and recreation
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This is just one stretch of the pristine beaches close by. Cars can access this beach easily.
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This is a favourite spot of ours which is about 1 hours drive through sand dunes to get to it. It is a horseshoe shaped bay with a reef that holds out all the nasties so that swimming is safe in the shallows. You can fish from the rocks, fossick for crabs and shells, kick back and enjoy the sound of the waves rolling in.
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In our main shopping area we have: 3 supermarkets, 2 hardware stores, 1 paint shop, 1 sports store, 1 surf shop, 1 photo/scrapbooking shop, 1 electrical appliance store, 5 hairdressers (including 1 with a day spa), 2 new/used vehicle dealerships (Ford/Land Rover and Toyota), 3 fuel stations, 1 shoe shop, 1 nail salon, 2 chemists, 6 delicatessens, 2 chicken takeaways, 1 Chinese/Thai takeaway, 2 pizza joints, 3 oubs, 3 banks plus sub-agencies, 1 newsagent, 1 Community Club, a post office, police station, 5 ladies clothing boutiques, 1 Target Country store, 1 menswear shop, 1 huge laundrette, Accountants, Lawyers & Solicitors, Centrelink office, Community Health, 2 tyre centres, 3 stock agents, 5 real estate agents, 2 bargain $2 shops, 1 fabric/quilt shop, 1 wood furniture shop. Anything else we need is only 50 kms away
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(View of our main street)
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A few things that our town does not have that would be handy - a cinema & a heated swimming pool for winter use.

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Nearly all of my immediate family live in this town - My mother, 3 out of 4 sisters, 5 out of 8 nieces and nephews and their growing families, hubbys mother and his sister and her family. It is important to have family nearby and we have a strong support network because of this. I have never had to pay a babysitter to look after my children.
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By car, we are 4 hours from Adelaide and 5.5 hours from Melbourne or 1 hour by plane to either.

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Sounds like I have everything at my fingertips, doesn't it? You'd be right.

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I love living where I live!
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I hope youve enjoyed a quick trip around my area,

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Cheers - Joolz