I was born in Egypt 70 years and three months ago. My mum and my dad, they never said a bad word to each other. I have five big brothers and one sister – I am the youngest. All of them are educated.
After school, I went to university. I have a Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics. I studied the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, chemistry and many, many things. I should have studied computers.
My big brother, he’s been here in Australia for a long time, coming here in 1966. He was the first, then another brother came, then another brother came, then a cousin, and then finally I came about 38 years ago. I liked Melbourne when I first arrived. People were kind and honest, you know.
My big brother worked as a GP, and he advised me to do teacher training. When I was in university, something was wrong with my mind, my mental health. When I came here, I said “don’t worry”. I worked as a factory machine operator at Rheem for three years.
My father, who has died now, told me, “Gamal, get married”. I was maybe 33 or 34. My brother-in-law-to-be called, and agreed that his sister and I could get married. After three years’ work, I had money, so I went to Egypt to marry my wife.
After a while, I came back to Australia and made an application to the embassy, and later on my wife came to Melbourne. When she arrived, she was pregnant. And our first son Ahmed was born. Later on, she had another baby, Youssef. Two boys. I’m honest with you, my wife, she was never happy. I’m divorced now.
I left the factory and started work as a taxi driver. I worked the night shift every day from four in the afternoon to four in the morning. It was alright being a taxi driver. I didn’t complain. I had to be positive. I know the streets of Melbourne very well. Circumstances meant I stopped driving.
Finally, my two sons grew up. They’re in their thirties. We talk on the phone. My eldest son is in Syria, he is married with two daughters. The youngest is a teacher in Egypt. I saw him when I went back to Egypt for a holiday earlier this year with my brother.
Fifteen years ago, Mark told me about The Big Issue. He was a friend, a vendor. He’s dead now. I’ve been a vendor on and off since then. I come to Degraves Street every day to spend time with people. The money I make from The Big Issue makes a difference.
I have a good attitude with the customers, I respect them. I call them young man, young lady – and they love it. The people in the shops love me for no reason. One girl, every day she comes and talks to me and brings me a hot milk with three sugars. I’m very happy.
Gamal sells The Big Issue at DeGraves St, Melbourne
Interview by Amy Hetherington
Photo by James Braund
Published in ed#725