Like all good things, my time at the News is coming to an end.
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After nearly five years with the paper, it’s time to fly the coop and move on to bigger and better things.
Here through Outside The Box, we’ve had a few laughs and shed a few tears, but it’s all been about trying to put a few smiles on the faces of my loyal readers.
In all seriousness, I will miss Shepparton and the surrounding region; it’s taken a while, but this place has almost started to feel like home.
Before I depart, it’s time for one last top five list – the top five things I will miss about the ‘great’ town of Shepparton.
Giuliani’s
One word: ‘institution’.
Like all good barbers, when you visit Maude St’s dynamic father-son duo, you aren’t sure whether you’ve headed in for a trim or a therapy session.
First things first: the product is elite, with either Ralph or Tommy sure to have your hair looking a million bucks – short back and sides, mid-to-low fade and trim the top to blend it in, good night.
But the two Shepparton veterans have their ears to the ground and know what’s going on across the city at all times.
If you have to wait an hour for a cut, that’s a good thing – you simply sit in their little shrine to Essendon and Shepparton South and drink in the culture.
If you get your hair cut anywhere else in Shepparton, quite simply you are doing it wrong.
Shingo’s
Barely a weekend has gone by in my time living in Shepparton where I haven’t popped in to the town’s best kept secret.
It’s a bit hard to find the words to describe Shingo’s Lounge — great music, great drinks, great people and a great vibe somehow don’t do it justice, but I hope it begins to paint a picture.
As a Melbourne boy, this eclectic, eye-catching watering hole is about as close as I can feel to home up here in the Goulburn Valley.
I’m not going to say it’s not an acquired taste, but acquired that delicious taste I have – like all on this list, I will be sure to be back.
If you haven’t popped by this beautiful drinking spot, I certainly suggest you do so.
The Peppermill Inn
It’s probably not the most glamorous venue in the 3630, but my god does this place deliver.
The characters you’ll meet here are like nothing you’ll find anywhere else, plus with a tantalising bistro, electric sports bar, oddly themed tropical bar outside and the VIP Lounge, it’s fair to say it’s got the lot.
It was at the Mill where we first encountered what can only be described as Shepparton’s next great generation of absolute larrikins – Wil Norman, Harry Brodie, Will Pyke and their crew.
They are pretty amusing and I won't forget their bizarre style of humour in a hurry.
To my friends Genghis, Morjé and Big Red, I say this: it’s been an intense battle full of ups and downs, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
And to the great man Craigy – thanks for not kicking me out too many times, and for simply tolerating my nonsense.
Deakin Reserve
The Goulburn Valley’s home of sport is another venue I’ll never forget.
Specifically, 2018’s gloriously memorable Goulburn Valley League grand final where Shepparton toppled the great Kyabram will live long in the memory.
It was what country footy – or really sport in general – is all about; two talented teams trying to forge their place in history, a motivated underdog determined not to let what seemed an inevitability occur.
The Bears’ refusal to lie down and their magical final quarter, capped with Anthony Andronaco’s winning goals, was the most fun I’ve ever had covering a sporting event.
But it doesn’t take an all-time grand final for Deakin to be special; a quiet can in the sun on a Saturday afternoon before wandering in for a listen to the huddles at quarter-time is a privilege.
I’ll be covering sports at a few different venues now, but my heart will always be at Deakin.
Mooroopna Golf Club
Royal Mooroopna, as the course is affectionately known to us, will forever be the venue where I learned how to play the great game of golf.
It’s not quite as luxurious as Shepparton, but it’s the perfect mix of a nice course at a nice cost, while the course is also the right difficulty for someone looking to improve.
It was here I first broke 100 (99 after splitting two trees down the edge of the fairway on 18), and learned to appreciate the frustrating feeling where you literally want to murder someone is just part of the game.
Favourite holes? The par four 16th where a reliable drive and well-hit approach shot is achievable enough to dream of a birdie springs to mind, as does the 515m par five third, which lends itself to an absolutely smashed, sliced, long-bomb second.
Least favourite? That magnetic pull of the water on the par three seventh has made me want to dive in and not resurface – doesn’t matter how well you’re hitting them beforehand, you’re guaranteed to put one in the drink.
A beer on the lawn in summer after yet another triple-figure score? About as good as it gets.
Senior journalist