By MATT NICHOLLS
PHOEBE and Sam Maroulis moved further away from work when they came to Armidale, but made the decision based on the city’s education opportunities.
The parents of twin boys, Toby and Oliver, 9, and daughter Stella, 6, packed up their home in Wellington and made the move to Armidale in January.
For Ms Maroulis, it was a homecoming of sorts.
“I was born in Armidale and grew up here in my early years,” she said.
“I went to boarding school in Sydney, though and only really came back in patches.”
The Maroulis family owns and runs an irrigation business throughout NSW, Tasmania and parts of Victoria.
Moving to Armidale was not a decision based on work, but rather the opportunities for their children.
“We looked at Armidale’s schools and that sealed the deal,” Ms Maroulis said.
“In particularly the Waldorf School, which I think is a brilliant model of education.”
Having a second airline in Rex has also been beneficial, with Mr Maroulis regular flying out of Armidale to do business around the state and further south.
“Competition has been good for the prices and makes Armidale that much easier to access,” Ms Maroulis said.
The busy mum is doing her Masters in Arts at the University of New England and is gradually meeting people and making friends in the community.
She said she was looking forward to going to tomorrow night’s Welcome To Armidale event at the Armidale Bowling Club.
Run by the Armidale Business Chamber, the free event is aimed at giving new residents a warm welcome to the city and help them network with others in the same situation.
There will be three guest speakers, including Peter Georkas, who will give advice about getting involved in the community, as well as Susan Cull and Shaun Cassidy.
The event will run from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the bowling club, with opportunities to mingle at the conclusion.
