“We purchased a property at Samaria in 2002 with the view of long-term retiring back to Victoria, where our families were,” Pamela said.
The couple had moved to Sydney for work, some years earlier, but missed the laid-back Victorian lifestyle.
“Our tenant wanted to leave the property, so we moved back in 2006.”
Both Barry and Pamela said one of the most endearing things about Benalla was the community spirit and the volunteers, whose hard work makes it one of the best places to live in Victoria.
“I think the people of Benalla are exceptionally fortunate to have so many who are prepared to volunteer and to help, whether it be with council or other groups and service groups,” Pamela said.
“We’re both accredited volunteers, and are past presidents of Probus.
“I’m involved quite a bit in social welfare groups.
“Waminda Community House, and now the Benalla Homeless Response Group, are excellent volunteer groups.
“I support both of them as much as I can.”
Barry, who spent two years on council in Kilmore, said LGAs can’t do and fund everything, and it’s the dedication of local volunteers that make a place like Benalla so special.
“The people in Benalla do such positive things,” he said.
“And it’s important to show that to the youths.
“Obviously, we have some young people who do wrong, everywhere does.
“So it’s important to lead by example, and Benalla does a great job.
“We have proactive campaigns to keep them engaged.”
Barry pointed to organisations like Tomorrow Today, L2P and the highly successful Live4Life program as examples.
“And for people our age, we have things like U3A,” he said.
“In Benalla we have the largest U3A per capita, and it has a massive range of programs.
“I made a business plan for them a couple of years ago, and we were hoping for 200, maybe 300 members.
“But now it has over 450.”
Pamela said one of the significant changes, for the better, she has seen is that the local LGA now incorporates smaller towns like Swanpool, Baddaginnie and Goorambat.
“It used to be that you got 60km/h sign and then that was the end of Benalla,” she said.
“Those small communities work so hard. It’s incredible what Devenish and Dookie do for the Good Friday Appeal, for example.
“And we were part of setting up the Swanpool Arts Festival, which has raised a lot of money for the community.”
When asked what their favourite thing to do on a free day in Benalla Rural City, the answer was simple.
“Social interaction,” Pamela said.
“The (Aviation) museum at the airport is always fun to visit, or going out to Winton Wetlands.
“It’s an excellent lifestyle here in Benalla.”
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