Neville’s Best Mate Freddie: Life, Community & Dog Walks at Fraser Shores
Freddie, Friendship & Fraser Shores: A Retirement Story with Heart
After we retired, the wife and I decided we’d look around. We went overseas and also travelled around Australia, exploring where we might want to settle. We came up this way—not really anticipating living here—but we liked it as soon as we arrived. So, we decided to stay. I've been here just a bit over 22 years.
There are a lot of older people in Hervey Bay and I suppose we’ve all got a lot to do with each other now. But everything’s a lot friendlier up here, and the weather’s so good. It was just nice to be able to come up here and retire.
After my wife passed away, my daughter said,
“Dad, you need a dog to look after.” And I said, “No, I don’t.”
But she insisted—and it was the best thing she ever did for me. Because now, I can't move without him. We go everywhere together.
I’m only popular because I own the dog! I can’t get past house after house without someone coming out to say hello to Freddie and giving him a little treat—that’s why he’s so fat. I think it’s lovely that people like him. I keep saying, “Don’t give him any more treats,” but they still do.
When he was young, he used to fit in the basket on the bike. But now he’s too big, so he has to walk. Although, I’ve got a couple of neighbours in the village with mobility scooters, and as soon as he sees one of them, he runs over and jumps in. He gets a free ride around the place—and that suits him down to the ground.
The best thing that ever happened to me was coming to Fraser Shores. The people in the village are wonderful. We’ve all got one thing in mind: we’re retired. I go to exercise classes twice a week, there are dances, and every day something is going on. The bar opens every afternoon, so you can go up from four to six and have a beer. It’s good. You see a lot of people.
Freddie, do you like living in Fraser Shores? I know you do. I love having you here too—because everyone loves you. And hopefully, I’ve got a few more years to go yet.
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