Moving among Tamworth's burgeoning migrant population are Australian-born citizens who also came to the Country Music Capital in search of a better existence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mark Ross is one such person, having moved to Tamworth with his wife and then two young children more than a decade ago in order to escape Sydney's "rat race".
Read also:
He arrived in town without a job, but confident Tamworth would provide a more family-friendly environment than Sydney.
It did.
But it also introduced the 48-year-old to one of the great relationships of his life: South United Football Club.
The longstanding Souths committee member turned longstanding president is the latest recipient of the Leader's Unsung Sports Hero accolade.
The former centre-midfielder for Eastern Suburbs and Maroubra, in the old State League, has overseen Souths in their Premier Division debut season after linking with the Lightning - and pouring his heart and soul into them as a player, coach and administrator - when his daughter Nicola joined the club.
Nicola now plays in Souths' senior women's team, alongside her mother Toni and her father - who coaches the side.
He also coaches the Lighting's under-16 boys side, which includes his son Ethan.
The Australia Post employee said coming to Tamworth "was the best thing we ever did".
"I must admit, I miss the beaches - things like that [in Sydney]. But lifestyle wise, you can't fault it [Tamworth]."
Soccer has occupied a prime position in Ross's heart since he was a young boy. He has coached - from under-6 to senior men and women - for some 30 years.
A 4-1 last-start defeat of Moore Creek moved the Lightning within two points of fourth-placed Gunnedah with one round remaining.
"I think the coach, Justin [ Pendergast], has done a wonderful job," Ross said, "and we're finding form at the right end of the season. It's been a really good year for us."
