north east regional extra | September 16 - 22, 2020
nemedia.com.au
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September 16 - 22, 2020
By ANITA McPHERSON
AN energy efficient home which makes the most of its natural outlook while providing its owners with a comfortable, low maintenance lifestyle, offers plenty of ideas to others wanting to live light and lessen their impact on their environment. When John and Lucy Gannon decided to move from Melbourne, they were looking for a location which was still within reach of their extended family spread around the country and overseas. With family members in Mansfield and Melbourne, and friends who, like them, enjoy hitting the road in their motorhomes, Wangaratta’s location on the Hume Highway made practical sense. It was when John found himself requiring the services of Northeast Health Wangaratta a few years ago that Lucy had time to talk to locals and explore the rural city they now call home. When she discovered a block of land at the end of a court and saw the outlook to the Three Mile Creek, the attraction was immediate. “As soon as I saw this I knew that we could live here,” she said. “We were very particular about the orientation and wanted to face north to capture the winter sun.” John and Lucy said Wangaratta made sense for them as it provided all the services they were looking for right now, as well as everything they may need in the future. A structural engineer for over 50 years who has designed residential and commercial projects for others, John had firm ideas on what he wanted in his own home. He said in the past providing suitably sized accommodation for the couple and their nine children had always been at the forefront of his mind, but with the children now off and living their own lives, this home could be designed just for the two of them. “We’ve bought and sold about five times in our married lives and every one of those houses we’ve modified internally,” he said.
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Build a smart home ◆ HOME BOUND: Structural engineer John Gannon enjoyed the opportunity to call in his experience and ideas and create a comfortable home in Wangaratta that would sit lightly on the north facing block. PHOTO: Kieren Tilly
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ANIMAL CARE
WINE TALK
YOUR HEALTH
TECH & SCIENCE
with ROCKY
with ANITA
with SOPHIE & BELINDA
with CHRIS
Helping first home buyers, it’s what we do. WAW has been helping first home buyers in our region for a long time. We offer highly personalised service and fast loan processing that helps home buyers get into their first home sooner. WAW is a participant of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, meaning that eligible first time buyers may be able to enter the market with as little as a 5% deposit.* We offer flexible loans that are suitable for first-home buyers and for those building their dream home. We can help every step of the way.
Loan. Transact. Save. Insure. Invest. Plan
1300 368 555
wawcu.com.au
info@wawcu.com.au
*Other fees and charges will apply. View the eligibility criteria for the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme at https://nhfic.gov.au/what-we-do/fhlds/eligibility/. Standard lending criteria, fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 247298. ABN 48 087 651 787.
