Meet Your Vendor
I was born in Sydney, and I’m still a proud NSW Blues supporter. But I spent my childhood from five or six years old in North Queensland, in a little town called Ayr. Growing up, it was a usual childhood: get up, go to school, come home, muck about, be home before the streetlights turn on. The old-school way. I’m old-fashioned, old‑school values. I have a lot of respect for old things.
There was a lot of sugar cane in Ayr and my stepfather used to drive the harvester, so I’ve seen how they grow it, how they burn it, how they harvest it and how they mill it. When it comes to sugar cane, I’ve seen it all.
I have an older brother, an older sister and a younger sister. We grew up together with my mother. She separated from my father when I was only a couple of months old. Growing up, I found out he was abusive, an alcoholic. Growing up with a single mum, I appreciate everything she’s done. I just don’t talk to her much. The only person I really do talk to is my older sister, one of those sisters that worries, that cares about me: I let her know that I’m safe.
In high school I used to do Air Force Cadets, the best three years of my life. I was 16 when I left school – I graduated Year 10 and I worked cleaning warehouses. I was hoping to still do Cadets and work, but unfortunately my job didn’t finish until the same time Cadets started and I didn’t have the time. I was on and off working different jobs. For years I worked for Major, where you can get your HR licence to drive trucks; I used to work at Empire furniture; I used to wash boats.
I was trying to start my own boat and caravan cleaning business. It was a skill that I picked up really quickly: I’ve got magic fingers, and wanted to do it as a business. It’s always the dream, and as much as I still want to do it, there’s the money you need to do it. I need a licence and a car.
I can’t complain though, The Big Issue is the longest job I’ve had ever. I’ve been with The Big Issue since Hamish and Andy, which would be Ed#542, eight years ago. Income from The Big Issue gives me more money than the public trustee. I’ll have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner! I’m very approachable, easy to talk to: customers mean a lot.
Everyone’s gotta have hopes and dreams and you might as well dream big. I’ve always had a fascination with space. I love Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe: shows like that make me wanna travel. I’m saving for a car, working towards a business and hoping to leave the planet on an interstellar ship. My advice is work hard and don’t be a Grinch.
Gary sells The Big Issue at Oxley, Springfield Central and Ipswich Station, Brisbane
Interview by Lorna Frost
Photo by Barry Street
Published in ed#744
Want more of The Big Issue?
Subscribe to The Big Issue magazine to enjoy powerful journalism, stories from our vendors, and more — all delivered straight to your door.
Subscribe now.