Personal Stories
Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue11 1–31 December 2020
Zoe Jane Holcombe, born on the 6th July 1983 in Tamworth NSW, Coonabarabran at the time did not deliver babies!
I lived on a farm, with my parents, brother and grandparents, in the valley to the north of the Observatory. My grandma looked after me a lot, fed me home made cakes, and scones!
When I was 8 my grandparents sold the family farm and they moved to QLD to retire and we moved into Coonabarabran. My parents have also now retired in Maryborough QLD so I’m the only Holcombe left in Coona. We still own 1000 acres of farm land.
I went through school in Coona, then to TAFE in Newcastle to complete an advanced diploma in Hospitality Management, from there worked in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory at an exclusive resort called Seven Spirit Bay. Moved to the Gold Coast for 4 years, worked at the Marriott. Moved home and managed the Acacia Motor Lodge restaurant, where I started to meet some of you that would stay there for work.
I got very sick of hospitality so I tried, a wholesale food business, insurance work for a while and then became a gardener, painter, window cleaner as I was out of work. I was not going to go on the dole so I tried everything! Eventually Katrina Harley got me a cleaners job here at SSO.
I own 2 very spoilt Chocolate Labradors; Charlie 10yr and Ollie 2yr. A cat called Jessie, 5 chickens and a Rooster called Terry. Oh and I have Fred, he's my man. Im pretty lucky to have him! He works for the Rural Fire Service, in the State Mitigation Team for Coona.
I spend all my Fridays running raffles at the golf club and weekends playing golf, I have been the secretary and licensee at the Golf Club for nearly 10 years! I volunteer there as much as I can, I open the club every Saturday morning and do 2hrs bar work and then play golf. My golf handicap is currently 13 and has been as low as 8.
Im currently running outdoors movies across the whole Shire with the council, I again volunteer my time just so the communities around here have something to do. I started “Dive in Movies” last year which were a massive hit. Last year I was nominated for an Australia Day Award for my hard work running these events, I didn’t win but being nominated was special enough for me.
Im pretty out spoken and say it how I see it! Yep, I get into a fair bit of trouble, had my fair share of arguments. I like to tell the Council what I think also, don’t hold back on them! So im being hunted down to join the Councillors, become one of them! Apparently I just have to watch my swearing and obviously people need to VOTE ONE ZOE!!! haha
I've now been working at Siding Spring since November 2012, I really love my job, I'm one of the rare people that LOVE to get up and go to work every day. I love how you can be involved in almost everything and learn new skills. I started as a cleaner, learnt admin jobs and got into WHS and I now play a very important part in the running of SSO.
2020 has been a big year, so im looking forward to 2021 coming along very quickly! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone and see you soon at SSO or for a cold one at the Coona Golf Club!
Zoe Holcombe
