courtneyb5

We're do I start! I've been living here for 10 years I went to school here I studied here and I've worked here, I've rented and I own a house here (big mistake)

Growth-
the council is corrupt, broke and couldn't care less about the progress or growth of the town, they have knocked back several good opportunities for this town like factories to help job and town growth, for the 10 years I've been here one small shopping Center has opened, and there has been nothing else in terms of growth or job opportunities.

Families-
there are no fenced playgrounds and many are near water ways or roads (3yo drowned just the other day near the play ground) the public transport is crappy, the hospital and health facilities are seriously lacking! You'll be sent away if you need any serious health care.

Recreational activities-
unless you like bushwalking there is nothing else to do except break into people's cars and houses, that's what most of the disadvantage youth do here anyways.

Drugs-
there is a huge ice (drug) problem and the break-ins and crime in this town reflect that.

Jobs -
Unless your a well known family who's been here for generations or rich white educated professional who's already lined up a job, good luck finding a job, as I like to say "it's not what you know, it's who you know" here. There is a large portion of people on welfare and large sections of town are housing commission.

Shopping-
And to top it off the shops are terrible, every second shop is vacant and the ones that are there it's hard to get some customer service! It's like no one even wants to sell you anything, everything from clothes, jewellery to builders, contract workers. you'll wait weeks for a quote, you won't be contacted, you will have to chase people up for months. I believe it's partly because if you are not a known family your just not a priority. And when you do buy something here you'll pay the "Armidale tax" (aka ripped off) everything is so much more expensive then it should be, they are trying to pull off this botique, unique country town thing and failing, if you want a coffee your best bet is going to maccas at least they are actually open!

Education-
I've worked at some of the daycare centres in town casually, all but a small few are bellow standard, and you will really have to do your homework to find out which ones are which. The primary schools here are quite good, but again do your homework because some are not, the high schools are similar. The une (university) is shameful, there are so many problems I could make a whole seperate post!

Politics-
National/liberal safe seat, don't expect it to change, let alone for the good. Something like 5,000 people here invalidly voted last election.

So there's ether snobby people or total bogans, and everyone in between will go nuts living here, we are moving at the end of the year and I couldn't be happier!