“I have been a vendor since 2006. When I first heard about the Big Issue I didn’t really like it, but then I realised what it actually did and I started.
“I thought it was similar to begging, people giving you money and that, but when you do the training they show you a video and it explains the situation a lot more clearly. You’ve got to admire the people that do it really.
“I started at York Street and was doing really well there. Then I got another job and worked there for about five or six months. But then the GFC ruined that so I went back to selling the Big Issue. I’m now down at Topshop in the mornings.
“It helps me pay a few bills and keeps me occupied and out of trouble. Every now and then I get casual work but not at the moment.
“You meet a lot of people, even those who don’t buy the magazine, who say hello and have an interesting chat.
“I walked the City to Surf with the Big Issue team this year. It was pretty easy I thought. I used to run all the time when I was young, back in the ’80s. I didn’t feel that tired except for when I got up the hill. I’m prepared to run it next year, gotta get into training.
“I’ve lived in Sydney most of my life. I moved to Adelaide once – had to get out of the city as it was doing my head in. There are less people around there and you don’t have the stress of the city. But you can’t stay there that long – it’s such a boring, boring city. I was there for five weeks and had to get out. It’s a boring city but the people are good.”
