Meet Your Vendor
Hi, I’m Kellee. I was born in Perth and lived in Craigie until I was 13. I went to about four different primary schools; I was in an education support program. School was alright, but I got teased a lot, which sucked. The best thing about school was getting into sports.
When I was 13 my parents split up and I moved to Broome with my mum. I have three brothers but they stayed in Perth. Unfortunately, my dad passed away when I was 14, so my teenage years were just me and Mum. I see Mum regularly and am still close to her. I see my brothers too, but I have to try hard to stay out of the arguments between them.
I finished my last year of primary school, then went to high school up in Broome. After school finished, I did some childcare work, and also worked in a hair salon for a while. When I was 21 I moved back down to the city and got a job as a kitchen hand – I’ve been here ever since.
When I was in my early twenties I went overseas with my mum: we visited Egypt and South Africa. That’s when I got the travel bug. One of my other passions is sport – especially football (Aussie Rules), basketball and cricket. My basketball team the Lions won the final this year – go Lions! I play footy for Kingsway and hope to make it into the state team. Sport has also enabled me to travel. It’s taken me to Brisbane, Canberra and Launceston – it’s great to be able to do two things I love together. When I’m not working, music keeps me going. I listen to all sorts, but I love hip-hop and pop, anything with a good beat – along with sport, it’s what cheers me up.
I have two boys: a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old. I don’t get to see them as often as I would like, but we catch up every month. I’m working towards making things better for us, and I hope we will be able to spend more time together.
I have been selling The Big Issue for about 12 years now. My friend Jason told me about it, and I decided to give it a go. I wanted to make my own money, and learn to have good money management. I don’t like sitting around at home: I’m the type who wants to be out working, earning a living my way. Rain or shine I’m out there, usually five days a week.
Selling The Big Issue is not always easy. Sometimes people can be rude. But I try not to let them affect me – there are more good people than bad. COVID made things tougher, sales slowed down, but I keep pushing forward – I believe in working hard and playing hard.
I have a stable home at the moment, but sometime in the future I would like to move in with my partner. I want to prove to myself and others that I can save up and achieve my goals. I’m saving for a trip to Rottnest Island: I sailed past once on the Leeuwin, but I have never been there. My other big dream is to make the state footy team, and I’m not gonna stop until I get there.
Kellee sells The Big Issue in Hay Street Mall, the Arts Bridge in the CBD, and Joondalup, Perth
Interview by Jimmy Yu and Olivia Luk
Photo by Ross Swanborough
Published in ed#743
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