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12 | iNarrabri Magazine
Feature
Interview by Chris Jollow
How long have you been in Narrabri and
what was the reason for moving here?
I’ve been here six weeks. The pub’s owner
passed away and I work for his son-in-law. He
asked me if I would come up and look after
the pub for six months- but it’s going to be
more like two years!
Where did you move from?
Gloucester- down on the North Coast.
What were your first impressions?
Loved it straight away! Friendly people,
friendly shops. I just love the people and the
place. It’s a really nice, big, country town.
How is Narrabri different from Gloucester?
It’s similar I reckon. Gloucester’s popula-
tion is 2500, but 5000 in the district. With
10,000 here, I think it’s just a bigger version
of Gloucester. Different climate, of course! We
get the humid heat down there.
How have you settled in?
Great! No dramas- like I said the people just
accept you. You walk up the street and they all
say hello. You go into a shop and they all say
“Have a nice day!” It’s really nice.
I’m here by myself and I do miss my wife,
Renee, and daughter, Georgia, and her family
(Harrison’s 13).
Renee is Deputy Director of Nursing at
Gloucester Hospital and Georgia works in
Childcare at Gloucester. Georgia’s in a five
piece band that will be playing at the Tatt’s
Christmas party in December.
How long have you worked in the industry?
Probably eight years. I worked at a pub in
Gloucester and a Bowling Club at Taree. This
pub’s owner has four other pubs and I’ve
managed a few of them over the years.
I do the relief bar management and have
worked at Moree, Cessnock, Gloucester and
Narrabri.
And before hotel management?
For 22 years I worked as a lab technician in
a dairy factory. We did milk testing, quality
assurance, OH&S standards, bacteria counts,
quality testing for butter fats and proteins. The
dairy farmers got paid by what the test results
were.
The deregulation of the dairy industry meant
that the factory closed. It was too small, so
they moved everything down to Hexham, then
it moved to Wetherill Park.
We were made redundant. I worked for a
hardware store for two years, then Leading
Appliances for two years. I bought a furniture
shop and had that for seven years. When I
sold it, I was offered a job at the pub and that’s
how I started in pubs. Eight years later, I’m in
Narrabri! (Laughter)
What’s the best thing about working as a
bar manager?
Meeting new people (especially up here)...
I have always liked a challenge, and I have
found that I have a great team to work with.
And what do you least enjoy- what could
you do without?
I guess it’s still early days. (Laughs) It’s all so
new, there’s nothing I don’t like about it yet.
What’s on the agenda for the Tatt’s Hotel?
Do you have any plans?
Yes! We’ve put new poker machines in, and
are working on a new smoking area. I want
to move the TAB and make a great gaming
room. In the next 3-4 weeks, we’re getting a
big pool table for the front room. Entertain-
ment- get the young ones in! We’re in the
process of doing up membership cards, so
we’ll have membership draws and meat raf-
fles… get the pub close to where it used to
be would be the grand plan. A good working
man’s pub where everyone wants to be.
Coming into a new town, you’ve got a fresh
set of eyes. Is there anything you think Nar-
rabri needs?
I don’t think so! The shops are amazing in the
main street. I come from a furniture and gift-
ware background and the quality of the goods
you’ve got here is up with the best. Great
clothing shops… I really don’t think Narrabri’s
lacking in anything.
When people visit Narrabri, what would you
show them?
I haven’t really seen a lot myself yet, but I
believe Kaputar would be one place I would
certainly take people for a drive. I’d just take
them for a wander up and down the main
street!
Outside of work, what are your interests?
Do you have an “outside of work” at the
moment?
(Laughs) No, I don’t! I’ve had one day of golf
and that’s it! I guess my main focus for the first
six months is here and, after that, I may be
able to back off a bit. I’m open to anything-
whatever comes along.
Graham berry
Although he is away from his family, the new
Tatt's Manager feels right at home in Narrabri.
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