TOUCH football and surfing opportunities have lured a Scottish couple to live and work here – at least temporarily.
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Keen touch football players and surfers Rowan Chillingworth and Frankie Alcock are on an Australian working holiday.
They headed north from Victoria in search of warmer weather and research into touch football competitions led them to Port Macquarie.
They liked the surfing here too.
“It’s quite renowned for having high-level touch football, especially in summer, and it’s one of the only places with good competitions during the winter,” Miss Alcock said.
The couple got a taste of Australia during the Touch World Cup at Coffs Harbour.
Miss Alcock remained in the country and Mr Chillingworth went home and later returned to Australia.
The pair hopes to live and work in Port Macquarie.
“We like Port Macquarie,” Miss Alcock said.
“It’s pretty laid-back.”
Their accommodation choices included Ozzie Pozzie Backpackers/Port Macquarie YHA which they found to be helpful in developing links with the community.
The backpacker accommodation has received development consent for consolidation and alteration work.
Ozzie Pozzie Backpackers/Port Macquarie YHA owner Richard Bock draws on his own travel experiences when it comes to the Waugh Street backpackers.
“It’s just great to have everyone coming through, enjoying their stay and having a good time,” he said.
The challenge is luring more backpackers to Port Macquarie en route to Byron Bay.
“Once they get here they stay or they extend their stay,” Mr Bock said.