Former backpacker’s love story
At the age of 24, Japanese backpacker Yuka Kakiuchi applied for a working holiday visa to Australia and booked a direct flight from her home town of Miyazaki, Japan to land in Cairns. The year was 2008.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The visa was for 12 months, and the adventurous young Japanese who spoke barely a word of English, travelled on her own to a strange country believing the tropical conditions of northern Queensland would be similar to home.
Yuka learnt that while Cairns was in the tropics, there was little to remind her of home, however the plucky young woman who had initially thought she would only stay three to four months, found as time passed, she was enjoying many new experiences and wasn’t ready to return home.
After all, it was her first trip overseas and she was going to make the most of it.
While staying in Cairns, Yuka heard there were good jobs available picking mangoes in Darwin and many farmers were offering free accommodation, which gave impetus for Yuka to fly there.
She found another Japanese backpacker who had arrived in Australia on the same plane was working on the farm, and while they had not previously met, soon became friends.
In Darwin, Yuka met a young Melbourne man, Shannon Coates, who had been travelling around Australia’s north and asked her out on a date, and while a little apprehensive as her English had improved only a little, she agreed.
And the rest they say is history. Amid the heat of Darwin and picking mangoes, a relationship developed and at the end of the season, Shannon made the decision to travel down south and asked Yuka if she would like to go too.
For the next two years the couple worked during the season in northern Victoria picking mangoes and stone fruit in Cobram before returning for the season in far north Queensland.
It was around this time that Yuka confided in her parents, “I have met an Australian guy”.
“Mum was not too happy and my Dad didn’t say much,” Yuka said.
“However, after we married and went to visit them in 2012, they met Shannon and were very happy.”
Some time prior to their marriage, Yuka had wondered how she would be able to extend her visa further.
While in Darwin for the picking season, immigration officials came out to the farm and Yuka asked what she could do to remain in Australia and the suggestion was to apply for a defacto visa.
“This took a while and quite a bit of money, but then I got my permanent resident visa,” she said.
Making Cobram their home for the past seven years, they are proud parents of two beautiful sons Tyler, seven, and Toma, five, and while Yuka works in home care, Shannon operates his own garden maintenance business.
Cobram is now very much home for Yuka, Shannon and the boys, who have excitedly booked their 12-hour flight to Miyazaki in the South of Japan to celebrate Christmas with their overseas family.
Hunting business opens
Hunting enthusiasts, brothers Simon and Ben Austin, have taken their fledgling business a little further, by opening a Cobram shopfront last week.
OPTIC Hunting Gear began seven years ago in Buxton and over the years the brothers have built the business up by selling their products online — and today it is recognised by hunters throughout the region.
Younger brother Ben has managed the Buxton factory, and while offering the hunting industries best brands and products, Ben has been making specially-designed dog collars and leads and necessary equipment for hunting dogs, while Simon has worked as an electrician in Cobram.
With the business gaining considerable recognition, the time seemed right for the brothers to take the plunge and open their business at 59 Broadway St, Cobram which offers considerable off-street parking.
“Cobram is a great town and hopefully we can offer a good place with a full range of equipment for people to drop in and get what they need.” Simon said.
At the new store, customers can select from a range of outdoor equipment for hunting and care of their best mates, including dog tracking and training equipment, protective chest plates and armguards.
A special range of hitech Hikmicro thermal scopes in a range of sizes, together with knives, sheaths and gun accessories, thermal and protective clothing, hats and caps and a host of other items.
A variety of ammunition will arrive shortly.
Generally when there is time, Simon and Ben head off on a hunt for foxes, wild pigs and the occasional deer on a friend’s property in NSW or in the Victorian High Country.
“We are like most hunters, we only shoot on a needs basis,” Simon said.
The majority of hunters do the right thing for the sport, to ensure it has a future.”
OPTIC Hunting Gear is open Monday to Friday from 10am until 5pm.
If the day I dropped in to speak to Simon is any indication of how quickly word has spread during its first week, this new business should enjoy quite a following.
For inquiries phone 0400 832 519 or visit: optichuntinggear.com.au
Pavilion success
Even though the Cobram Agricultural Society was cancelled due to the floods, the pavilion was still able to host its range of activities, in cooking, art and crafts and school-aged children’s activities.
While the numbers of entries were down on previous years, it was still heartening for organisers and judges to see such wide ranging talent throughout the community.
Pre-schools in the district were encouraged to provide a display of children’s work with the theme, ‘Thank you to our Frontline Workers,’ in acknowledgement of personnel working in these services and what they did for our community during some difficult years when everyone was struggling COVID-19.
The winning display was awarded to Punt Road Kindergarten, Trikki Kidz won second place and BlueBird Pre School third.
A new category, the ‘Rich Glen Special’, showcasing home grown talent with entries required to produce a gift basket/box for somebody special to include three products from a range of home produced product categories.
The honour, together with $100 prize money, was awarded to Heather Crosthwaite.
Contributor