_fct1024x630x33_ct1880x930.JPG "Kiwi expats Yvonne and David Birdling have taken over the Buckaroo Motor Inn.")
Shaky Isles make way for Rose City
TWO of Warwick's newest residents, Buckaroo Motor Inn owners Yvonne and David Birdling, said they ended up in the Rose City after they were literally shaken out of their home city of Christchurch.
"We are not going back to all of those earthquakes," Mrs Birdling said.
After owning a four-and-half- star motel in their former home city, the Birdlings decided to see how they would fair in the hospitality industry in Australia.
"I said to David, do you want to do motels? And he said yes."
They arrived in Brisbane and started seeking out potential purchases - looking everywhere from just down the road in Stanthorpe to as far north as Bundaberg.
"We finished up here and we just liked the look of the place," Mr Birdling said.
"We had never even heard of Warwick."
Although new to the Rose City, the Birdlings said they (and their cats Sophie and Missie) were already enjoying country living and loved working in the motel.
"It's a people game. It's interesting meeting people from all walks of life." Mr Birdling said.
The couple said one thing they couldn't believe about Australia was the sheer distance people drove. "People just think nothing of driving 1000 or 1200km in a day," he said.
Mrs Birdling said she liked being there for travellers at the end of the day to offer them something nice to eat and a comfortable place to sleep.
