After COVID-19 brought an end to their 13-year venture in the live music venue business, the pair decided to look for a change.
Moving from Melbourne almost 12 months ago, Peter and Sarah-Jane found work cleaning houseboats in Echuca.
“We were looking at moving to Echuca and putting my 15-year-old twins into school there, but then someone suggested Rochester,” Sarah-Jane said.
“So while we kept working in Echuca, we were thankfully able to find a house in Rochester and haven't looked back since.”
While they changed jobs a few times in those months, as COVID-19 made it difficult for their workplaces to stay afloat, the management position came up at the caravan park.
“We just couldn't say no,” Peter said.
“The previous owners, Bruce and Eileen Kilpatrick, did such a wonderful job for the two years before us, so they gave us an amazing foundation to work with.”
Owned and operated for a little over two years by the Rochester Recreation Reserve Committee, the not-for-profit caravan park is designed to provide a warm and friendly environment while putting money back into the community.
“The money that's made through the caravan park is put towards providing great facilities for the community through the Rec Reserve,” committee chairman Brendan Martin said.
“We were lucky enough to receive a grant from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to fund some upgrades to the park, which we are three-quarters of the way through and should have them finalised by June 30.”
The team has completed two new cabins — one that caters for all-abilities — and the new camp kitchen will be open for Easter.
“We have the playground to upgrade and some landscaping works to complete the project,” Brendan said.
“We were also lucky enough to get the North Central Catchment Management Authority and Campaspe Shire on board for the construction of an all-abilities canoe launch and fishing platform, which is open to the public.”
Brendan said he was thankful for the work done by the previous managers too.
“We want to thank the previous managers, Bruce and Eileen Kilpatrick, for their fantastic work in helping to establish the park as a clean and friendly destination over the last two years, their efforts are much appreciated by the committee and also by the residents and business owners of Rochester,” he said.
While only having worked in the park for less than two months, Peter and Sarah-Jane are keen to continue this new adventure.
“It's such a wonderful place to work and live, we've fallen in love with Rochester,” Sarah-Jane said.
“It's awesome that we can all make it work while helping build better facilities that benefit the community.”
17°C