Brett McDonald is a relative 'new' local to the Northern Rivers, 7-years now and counting. He loves Lismore including the real estate, the restaurants and the lifestyle. Brett shared his story with Denise Alison which started in Sydney, moved to the regional NSW town of Orange, then Melbourne and now Northern NSW.

I was born in Sydney. Mum and Dad called themselves Pitt St farmers. They were one of the first to move to Galston and buy a 5-acre lot. Everyone said they were crazy but Galston took off.

Their idea was to be self-sufficient so they had a milking cow, milking goats, chooks, ducks, geese and pigs. It was a bush block so not great for growing veggies. They were in that ’60s to early '70’s movement of getting away from the city.

When I was still very young we moved to Orange so that’s really where I grew up. They bought a small orchard and what a wonderful life I had growing up on a farm, up the mountain above the snow line. I loved it when we’d get snowed in and couldn’t go to school. It was very cold so when we have our fresh mornings here in Lismore I laugh, this is not cold.

I finished school and took myself off to Sydney the first opportunity I got and started working for Angus and Robertson in the book industry. I landed in their franchise office where I would help booksellers with their shops. One of my favourite franchisees was in Lismore.

Alex Chappel had the Angus and Robertson store here. Head office was in Melbourne and the franchise office was in Sydney so the company decided to relocate us to Melbourne in 1992 and I stayed down there till 2014. I fell in love with it. It was magic.

I went into Real Estate in country Victoria in 2005 and spent 9 years in that job before moving up here. I had a very busy business and was the number one agent in that region. I had a gorgeous property there and I thought I would never leave, then in 2012, I came to Lismore and Byron for a holiday. I thought OMG, what do I have to do to live here because this is exceptional? I already knew people here so I knew more than just the beach at Byron or the tourist level.

What really struck me was the sense of community and the depth of it, but also the sense of acceptance and the embracing of diversity. This region embraces diversity whether it’s food, farming methods or the way someone dresses. I love how there is an emphasis on sustainability and how entrepreneurship is championed around here.

It’s interesting when you are put in a position where you stop and think about what matters. When I think about what’s made my soul sing…well these are the things.

When I’m on my death bed I want to feel good about knowing how I’ve treated people and know that I’ve done the right thing, know that I’ve contributed to things that matter but also that I’ve done the right thing by the environment. I mean, even on a small personal level, just to know that you’ve done what you can. I saw that in action here in Lismore.

It took 2 years to get up here, 2 years letting go of a good life down there.

In 2014, I made the move up which was a big sacrifice because it wasn’t just letting go of the business, I was happy to do that. I knew I could re-establish over time but the friendships and a home that I’d renovated with my partner at the time. We had done a really beautiful job and it was stunning. To let go of all that was a big sacrifice but it’s absolutely been worth it. 

I met my now partner when I moved up here. He is a local artist. 

When I first came here I rented at Coopers Shoot as they allowed dogs and I had Korgis. The owner got me to sell that property and the new owners were happy for me to stay on. Eventually, they asked me to sell it for them too.

I’m living at Coorabell now with a wonderful landlord but both of us can see Lismore being home one day. The beauty of where we are though is I’m able to work all over the Northern Rivers easily. It’s an easy run to Lismore which is where my passion is for Real Estate.

We often talk about moving here because my partner works at SCU. I fell in love with The Loft restaurant. This whole town food-wise, and I haven’t discovered everywhere yet, but it punches way above its weight in food. It really does.

I was asked to sell a property in Girards Hill in John St and that house was a very beautiful Art Nouveau house and it was a joy to sell. I discovered Lismore has so much really beautiful architecture and even the mid-century brick homes some people aren’t fond of, I see the beauty in them. I bring my enthusiasm with me and pass that on to the buyers. So 6 years ago I sold the first one in Lismore. I also sold the first house in James St for over one million dollars which was a record. I work now for Raine and Horne. 

There was something that happened in my life that kind of created me (laughs).

When I was almost seventeen, I was a trolley boy part-time for the local supermarket. I was collecting the trolleys with one of those elastic ropes with the hooks on the end…an occy strap.

The hook broke and sprung back in my face. It literally exploded my eye and fractured my skull in four places. It knocked me to the ground screaming in pain.

This will probably connect with a lot of people because a lot of people would know this story all over NSW as it initiated an investigation from the Department of Labour and Industries, under the Unsworth Labour Government, where the focus was on Occupational Health and Safety, Work Cover and Workers Comp. Macquarie St sent someone from the DLI to Orange to interview me while I was still all bandaged up. The guy was so horrified he went back to Sydney and made it illegal for anyone to use Occy straps in workplaces so it never happens to anyone else….So when you do OH&S training as prescribed by NSW State Government to work in places across this state you get taught my story.

I’m constantly bumping into people on worksites who say. OMG, you’re that guy!! Ask anyone at Bunnings as they all go through that same training and they all get told my story about the kid working in a supermarket in Orange who lost his eye and that’s me. I made the change (laughs).

That happened in Year 11 so it stuffed up my education with a major head injury and it nearly killed me. I have an artificial eye so there’s my contribution to Workplace Health and Safety.”