United: Randy Bye and Joanne Nevan met while Joanne was studying in Wagga Wagga.
Seymour seems a world away from ice road trucking in northern British Columbia, Canada.
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But for Randy Bye, the change couldn’t have been a better one.
When Mr Bye first landed in Australia, he headed to Wagga Wagga, where he met his wife Joanne Nevan eight years ago.
Ms Nevan was a nurse in Seymour and Nagambie and Mr Bye began making the three-hour drive to Nagambie each Friday night to see her. Eventually, he decided to make the move to the region.
The couple now lives in Strath Creek.
Having left his trucking days behind him in favour of a more family-oriented life, Mr Bye has opened his business Custom Care Metal Polishing in Seymour.
“It’s been an uphill battle but it’s been worth it. I love it here, it’s the best move I ever made,” he said.
Mr Bye comes from three generations of truck drivers. Even his grandma drove trucks.
“I grew up with it, it was all I knew,” Mr Bye said.
He continued driving trucks when he arrived in Australia, before opening his business.
“I was working with a guy. On the side he had a shed and did work on trucks and I decided to go work with him one day,” Mr Bye said.
“I started doing this by hand, then I moved up to buffs. It just grew and grew and things got shinier and shinier.
“I learnt this from when I could walk. I used to help my dad polish his trucks when I was a kid — I hated it and here I am!”
No longer just a childhood chore, Mr Bye’s business has been going from strength to strength.
“Here in Seymour, I’ve become quite busy since I opened. I only opened the shed a year ago. I was mobile before that for about five years,” he said.
“I’ve got trucks coming from Castlemain to come here because I do a decent job.”
Truck life: Coming from generations of truck drivers, Randy Bye has put his life of experience to good use, opening his business in Seymour.
For Mr Bye, the biggest perk of his career change is enjoying the lifestyle country Victoria has to offer.
“I always wanted to come to Australia … I just love it here,” Mr Bye said.
“It’s work and then family up there (in Canada). You work and work and there’s no life, you are just on the move constantly. Here you have so much more family life, it’s so much better.
“The people are laidback, it’s a lot like how Canada used to be. Laidback, it’s a good kind of life. There’s a lot less division in society than other countries.”
It is a glowing review for Australia, but what is the one thing we can do better?
“Don’t get me started on the roads here, though,” Mr Bye said.
Having spent 26 years as a truckie in four countries, Mr Bye might be on to something.
Change of scenery: Randy Bye switched the snow for sun when he moved to Australia.
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