“ I am originally from Argentina! A lot of people think I’m German. I lived there for a while.
I met Michelle here in Australia in 1986. A friend, Michael said ‘Look we need to go around the world’. He was actually here today and he lives in Billen Cliffs now. So we went and when we finally arrived in Sydney I had to start work.I got a job in a place where Michelle’s flatmate was working. She was on the floor and I was cooking. One night she said, ‘We’re having a bit of a party, you wanna come home?’ and there at home was Michelle. She blew me away! She was wearing this black bowler hat and purple fingerless gloves and I was like, ‘Who is this woman?’ and I’m a sucker for a redhead. A few weeks later we were hanging out together.”
Michelle – I actually had a boyfriend but he just didn’t compare, lovely man but Ron was this vibrant, alive character that just came into my life and blew me away. He still does, 30 years later. It’s our 30 year anniversary in November.
We travelled for many years, South America, lived in Argentina for a couple of years and ran a hotel there, lived in Europe for a long time and had our son who was born in Germany.
Ron – “ When it was time for our son to go to school, there was no question. Australia was it. In 2000 we came to the Northern Rivers. Ten days ago we moved to Lismore and we love it.”
Michelle – “It’s just wonderful! From the moment we drove in with our trailers, people waved to us in the street, Jenny our mayor welcomed us at the market, we go to the shops and see all these people that we know. It’s a wonderful town! I’m originally from Sydney so this feels comfortable to be living in a bigger town.”
Ron – “We lived on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and still have a lot of friends down there. We used to run a film catering business called Good Looking Cooking from 1996 – 2000. We covered a large area, Palm Beach to Penrith and beyond. We sold the catering as it nearly tore us apart and we wanted to get out of Sydney. We came up here and loved Shearwater School for our son at Mullumbimby. We set up a canteen there for 7 years. The first thing I did was join the rural Fire Service in Mullum which is the best way to meet the community, especially the old cocky’s who’ve lived in the area forever. That’s how you get to know them. When our son left home we decided to move and we bought a house here in Lismore and said goodbye to Mullum.”
Michelle – “All our work has been in Lismore except the Bangalow Market so for 15 years we have been coming to Lismore to work. In July we are travelling a bit for about 4 months so Zac and Autumn will be holding the forte. Zac is getting the big voice, channeling his inner Ron ( those that know Ron know his big voice calling our names when our coffee’s ready).
Ron – “We started Jan 2000 at the car boot. I arrived in a tiny van where we opened the back doors for the coffee.
Michelle – So we have really seen the market evolve over that 16 years, the melting pot that Lismore is we really love, everyone has their own fashion and it’s all ok.”
Ron – “Michelle used to do the markets but I was mostly on my own as Michelle was working in welfare and I grabbed her and now she makes all the cookies and bakes all our cakes etc. It took us to another level. We love working together and we love Lismore”