Administration worker Cecilia Hannon is one of the many thousands of Australians who has relocated from the city to a regional area over the last 12 months for a more relaxing work-from-home environment.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Sydney recorded a net internal migration of 6000 people into regional areas during the June 2020 quarter.
Ms Hannon, who moved from Sydney in August last year, said she specifically chose Bathurst for its relaxed atmosphere and friendlier environment.
"The air is fresher here, and people always acknowledge you down the street, which is not to say it doesn't happen in Sydney, but people there are always in a hurry and rarely have time for you," she said.
"I love the stillness of the evenings here; the starry skies and the beautiful view of the mountains to the east; it makes me wonder how I went for so long with this place under my nose three hours away."
Ms Hannon is employed by the Australian Industry Group [Ai Group] to work for the Australian Constructors Association [ACA], representing leading infrastructure contracting companies.
She said the move had been in the works pre-COVID, and with the pandemic forcing numerous organisations to reconsider their work practices, the benefits of establishing a regional base soon outweighed the risks.
"There's still the Bathurst Bullet for when I have to touch base with the office in Sydney and as I don't drive, it's a chance for me to work during the commute...it's really allowed me to make the move successfully," she said.
"I'm still getting used to the routine, but I have no doubt that it's a positive move for me, and I look forward to really getting to know this community."
Ms Hannon said there's potential for more city-based workers to relocate to a regional location in the coming years, and that benefits could be felt both ways.
"There's a sophisticated cultural atmosphere in Bathurst that I only see deepening as more people relocate from the city in the future," she said.
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