From $50 and a doona to a part of the community: Chris Harris finds his home

“I didn't choose Shepparton as much as Shepparton chose me,” Mr Harris said.

“I got the call and all I remember is flurry of yeses and can't waits. Next thing I knew, I was on a train to Shepparton.”

He now works as a science and VCE biology teacher at Greater Shepparton Secondary College and this year accepted the administration role of house leader, leaving him responsible for over 100 students.

He said he felt welcomed by not only the school but the wider community, assisting him greatly with his transition to the region.

“At GSSC, I feel as if I have my place in the community,” Mr Harris said.

“I've had my growth really facilitated and it’s lovely to have a job that believes in my capacity.

“I’m lucky to be surrounded by the people at the school, especially as someone trying to integrate into the community from Melbourne.”

While talking about his move from the big smoke, Mr Harris described the relief he experienced after beginning a stable job with a steady income.

“I was sitting on about 50 bucks in my account when I moved,” he said.

“I had a mattress, a doona, a pillow, a towel, a backpack and a laptop, and that's it. The bare essentials.”

“After my first pay cheque I had a stable salary for the first time in my life.

“It was the most money I’d ever seen. And so I saved like an absolute beast.

“I was able to get myself a proper bed, a little bookcase, a couch, like, just like all of these nice luxuries.

“Going from an air mattress to a bed. It was phenomenal.”

Mr Harris has lived in Shepparton for four years and hasn’t looked back.

“I love Shepparton, it’s a big town, with a small-town feel,” he said.

“The longer I've lived here, the richer my social circle has become and it’s been a wonderful experience.

“I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Goulburn Valley community.”

Mr Harris has been a part of the Shepparton Brass and Wind Band for two years now, enjoying both the community performances and state competitions.

“It's been a treat. We are C grade champions for the state by default, but still state C grade champions,” he said.

“We've done a bunch of gigs that I've really enjoyed and it's a community that I really enjoy being a part of.

“I think it's an old tradition that we’re modernising all the time.

“We are really well utilised, I think, by the community. A real treat.”

When he first landed in Shepparton, he had been asked to join; however, due to his educational commitments, he had to postpone his saxophone debut for a few years.

“The first time I heard about Shepparton Brass and Wind was in 2019, but because I had only just moved, I was very quiet, generally speaking, about playing the saxophone,” he said.

“I didn't want to get into too many things too quickly, but I knew in my heart of hearts, those were the things I loved to do. I loved to act, I loved to sing, loved to play music.

“The band’s conductor tapped me on the shoulder about joining, but I was already so busy with my Teach for Australia duties, so I told him to approach me again when that was all over, and he did.”

Due to the demand of his career and his strong commitment to the Brass and Wind Band, Mr Harris has been unable to join any other community groups, but aims to in the future.

“I'd love to do more stuff with STAG and I'd love to do an Italian language-speaking group that regularly hold meetings in Shepp,” he said.

“And for me, as an Italian-Australian, I get a lot out of stuff like that.”