This week’s ‘local face’ is David Barnes.
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Name: David Barnes.
Occupation: Retired engineer - specialised in water and wastewater (sewage) sytems. A great profession because there is an ongoing and continuous demand for the service. Currently chief grounds steward for Kiama Show and as senior vice-president will become show president.
Suburb: My wife Barbara and I live on Saddleback overlooking Kiama.
Hometown: I was born in the UK and spent most of my early years in the Midlands, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, then worked in Canada and Glasgow before coming to Sydney in 1976 to live in the Shire until 2001 when we bought our house on Saddleback. This began as weekends, then longer weekends and has been our main home for more than 10 years.
Hobbies: Gardening, grandchildren, rough golf (a good walk spoilt by looking for the ball) and travel. In recent years we have been fortunate to travel to interesting places including Antarctica, Namibia, Bhutan and later this year will visit Cuba while it is still off the normal tourist routes.
Fun fact about you: Have taken to playing bocce as a regular Friday evening activity. The games are noted more for the standard of sledging than the great skill in throwing steel balls. It does work up a thirst that is best met with a couple of beers.
My favourite thing about the area is: The Kiama area combines all the best aspects of Australian country towns. It has good facilities, friendly people and a great seascape, yet is only two hours from central Sydney.
What makes the area unique: The volcanic landscape in the area due to the eruptions of Saddleback Mountain millions of years ago and the local settlements which have evolved from the cedar cutting and farming origins to create a varied group of communities.