Former Sydneysider Therese McKenney has found her place after moving to Hobsons Bay. She tells Goya Dmytryshchak how she made the big move as a sole parent and went on to become chief executive of Newport’s neighbourhood house.
What’s your connection to Hobsons Bay?
I moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 1985 as a sole parent with a one-year-old son after living in Sydney for about 10 years. I moved into Vernon Street, South Kingsville, and joined playgroups and got to know the area. I had no employment but did a lot of home-based crafts and sewing, which led me to neighbourhood houses, community centres, as a sessional tutor. When my son started kindergarten, I had more time to myself so looked at further employment. I gained a job at Outlets Co-operative Neighbourhood House [in Newport] as co-ordinator in 1989, although I had already been at Outlets since 1986 as a director and teacher. I recently moved from Altona to Williamstown. It’s quite a change.
What are you passionate about and why?
As I have spare time, I’ve been able to engage in many volunteering opportunities in Hobsons Bay. I have been with the Rotary Club of Altona 13 years, Newport Traders Association 10 years and Operation Recreation Inc Bayside Festival 14 years, with four years as president before the wind-up in 2011. I’m passionate about volunteering. Being part of a volunteering organisation, whether a festival, Rotary, Newport Traders Association, is about meeting people. I love my work and am passionate about people and the community.
What do you like about your home suburb?
Williamstown is alive if you want to go out and participate at various weekend events. But Williamstown can also be a sleepy hollow where you can relax in the botanical gardens, walk the foreshore, swim or ride your bike … shopping, eateries, pubs. Williamstown is a sweet place where people actually stop and talk to you.
What would you change?
It would be good if the BAE shipyard was still viable and employment sustainable. I’d like to see less higher-density development. The impact is going to be bedlam on traffic management. Some really good ideas have been presented through the Hobsons Bay City Council Newport visioning meetings and through a Newport Traders Project showing some great designs of light rail between Williamstown and Newport.
What are your favourite cafes and/or eateries and why?
When you visit Williamstown, it depends on your mood or company. Start with morning coffee at Ciccero or crepes and coffee at Embassy 97 when catching up with acquaintances. Lunch, as I stroll around alone, normally ends up at Sam’s Boatshed for oysters kilpatrick and their potato/garlic pizza bread, sipping on a Clare Valley riesling, sitting in the courtyard under the big tree, watching the world. Then meet up with friends at Pelicans for happy hour, looking across the mouth of the Yarra. Then as the sun sets we head off to El Burro for a paella or the new Mascalzone Pizzeria for bianco and rosa pizzas. For a bit of music, the Stags Head with their live bands and open mic. Also, the Stags menu is great and they serve a very good steak. With everything within walking distance, I’m sure I walk off all that has been eaten.
