Fiona Garlick, Business owner

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Resident of Yarraville, Communications and Stakeholder Advisor for VicRoads

Business owner of Great Western Yoga

I’m a 5th generation Yarraville resident. Born and bred here, I’ve even convinced my husband to move from across the bridge.

I remember attending Kingsville Primary School and Miss Ginnane was my Principal. I would see her now with my daughter and would address her politely. “Call me Kath!” she always says but I can’t call her that.

The block of units across the school used to be a Tip Top bread factory. Many times, the footy ball would sail over Somerville Road and end up in the factory; the workers would kick it back.

My great-grandfather George played for the Doggies back in 1924. A year after, they beat Essendon and got admitted to the VFL. And we haven’t looked back since!

I love my two challenging jobs. In the day, I work for VicRoads as a Communications and Stakeholder Advisor in Footscray while at night I have a part time yoga business. About 10 years ago I started attending yoga lessons thinking I was quite flexible and yoga would be a breeze. Truth is, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was lucky to have a good teacher, who inspired me to open up my own business.

It’s been interesting watching Yarraville develop from what was a working class, semi-industrial suburb to how it is now. Dad used to say “You could shoot a gun down Anderson Street and you wouldn’t hit anyone!” I love the idea of heading to the movies here, or grab a coffee. Before, it was a rarity.

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