A New Hobby Horse

Sun Herald

Sunday May 11, 2008

By Lucy Donnelly

HORSE nut Rebecca Morsinkis living her dream now that she has swapped life in suburban Wahroonga for an acreage in the Southern Tablelands of NSW.

The 35 year-old mother of three (pictured) made the move to Bungendore, a town set among three wineries, when husband Carey wentto work in Canberra, 20 minutes away.

"I came with my husband and children because we wanted a change of lifestyle, said Ms Morsink, who struggled to find time to ride her beloved horses in Sydney.

"Now the kids can grow up with horses, chickens and dogs in the back paddock and I can ride four times a week."

Despite saying goodbye to all the conveniences of city life, the big move nearly two years ago has been a success, she said.

"Although I don't have a good deli or patisserie just down the road, it's a small price to pay. I'm living in a country town only half an hour from the coast and close to a major city."

Ms Morsink also believes city folk frustrated with rising prices would be pleasantly surprised by the better value for money she has found in the country. Sutton Real Estate sales manager Ben Lee says it is common for parents of young children to make the shift.

He said: "There's a large cross-section of buyers but mainly it's people wanting to bring their kids up in a friendly community or retirees looking to downsize outside the city."

FAST FACTS

* Where Bungendore is in a valley near Lake George, 265 km south-west of Sydney, about three hours' drive.

* Population 2182 (census 2006).

* Median property price $459,000.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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