Vendors

I grew up in the Byron Bay area. Did I enjoy school? Yes and no. Things turned around for me when I did some leadership camps. One of the biggest things I learned is that you don’t need to be a full-on out-there person to make a change. You don’t have to walk on fire…

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The best thing about selling The Big Issue is when someone buys off you. It’s good because I’ve got regular customers. I use the money to buy groceries and things I need.

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I love music. I saw all the bands you could think of in the 60s and 70s: Paul McCartney, John Denver, Suzi Quatro, the Doobie Brothers, the Hollies, the Bee Gees, Manfred Mann, the Kinks.

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I’m the eldest; I have three younger brothers. Mum was told she couldn’t have children, but she proved them wrong – she had four boys! We lived in Acacia Ridge in the 50s, Mum and Dad started their oyster business in our garage.

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I was born in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. We had a big family: my mother had eight kids. But we were a really poor family. When I was young I had a mental illness, and had a difficult life. I finished school really early, when I was 14 years old. I liked school,…

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I’ve been with the Women’s Subscription Enterprise for 10 years this year – it’s my longest job. Just through working at The Big Issue, I’m totally changed and everything’s so much better. I was in a drop-in centre, at Lou’s Place, and they asked me if I wanted a job, and I said yes. I…

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I was born in the UK in Surrey. I came to Australia when I was really little. I still love the old country – it hurts my heart that I missed out on all my cousins, my grandparents, my uncles – but I’ve been in Melbourne my whole life. I had a really happy childhood,…

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I’m a New South Wales boy who’s called Perth his home for the last 20 years. I was born in Goulburn and spent my childhood and school years there and in Yass. I’ve had a good childhood, hanging around at the pool in Yass, playing lots of rugby league, touch footy and cricket. I worked…

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You’re not going to believe how many brothers and sisters I’ve got. I’m the youngest; I’ve got three brothers and four sisters. I was born with the cords around my throat and couldn’t sit up until I was one year old, couldn’t walk by myself until I was two. I went to West Ipswich State…

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It’s a really good thing The Big Issue. People come and buy it and they’re all big smiles. People come up and ask how I am, where I’ve been. People read it and love it and it’s something that will give them a boost.

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