“THIS is so us,” Bruna Nicholson said as she welcomed a Cootamundra Herald journalist into her new home at the Cootamundra Caravan Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As new owners of the park, Bruna and her husband John are wrapped with the business venture.
John was a supervisor at Toyota in Melbourne for 18 years and Bruna was a team member for six years, and three months ago the pressure of working in the Australian manufacturing industry became all too much. Morale was at an all time low and the Nicholsons had reached breaking point.
As they passed through Cootamundra on a seven-week holiday Bruna decided then and there that it was time for a change. They made an enquiry, bought the business, said their goodbyes in Melbourne and moved to town.
The Nicholsons say that already they’re feeling the benefits of country living as they’re feeling happier and healthier.
John was 27 when he met Bruna at age 19 in Batlow and they’re still inseparable. Their three sons aged 16, 18 and 24 are living in Melbourne, working, studying and looking after themselves.
“We’ve given our boys every opportunity we can,” John said.
“It was time to move,” Bruna said, “and now we’re here on our own, we’re like newlyweds again.”
“The last couple of years at Toyota got bad, I mean, it was good money but bad working conditions,” John said. “It’s a bit of an adjustment, we find we have to be careful with how we spend our money; we’re used to having a weekly income.”
“But we haven’t regretted it, it’s the best decision we’ve made in years,” Bruna added.
“Mentally working at a caravan park is more pleasant and people-friendly, and we know that what we put into the business is what we’ll get back,” John said.
The couple has delighted in the country hospitality they’ve received from neighbours and new friends in Cootamundra.
“We’d been here three days and our neighbour introduced herself, and handed us a container full of homemade vanilla slice. You wouldn’t get that sort of welcome anywhere!”
Bruna and John and are looking to emulate that level of hospitality with the travellers who stay in the caravan park.
“We’re taking a lot of ideas; trying to accommodate the majority,” John said.
“At the end of the day we want our patrons to be happy and enjoy their time in Coota.”
Bruna reflected that travellers are the perfect customers, “if you’re travelling around Australia all the time how could you not be happy?”
The Nicholsons have a ten year plan for the business; at this stage they’re focused on understanding the industry and everyday operations of the business.
They’re thinking about introducing fire buckets in the park and John says the council is looking to improve the footpaths nearby.
John and Bruna would like to welcome residents to come and introduce themselves.
