Have you met…David Tennant?

COMMUNITY SERVICE... FamilyCare chief executive officer, David Tennant. Photo: Struan Jones

Where are you from, and how did you find your way to Shepparton?
I grew up in Tasmania, then moved to Canberra to study and work from 1986. We moved to the region in May 2010. Will never be truly accepted as a local, but I will settle for not being considered that weird, short guy from Canberra anymore.

What do you do here?
I am the chief executive officer of community service provider, FamilyCare.

What’s the best part of your job?
There are many parts of my job I like. There are also some very difficult elements. The most important role is also my favourite – ensuring the experiences our clients share with us are incorporated into our advocacy.

How would you describe Shepparton in three words?
Generous, unpretentious, honest.

What do you do outside of work?
To relax, I like to read, run (well more of a shuffle these days) and garden. The gardening part has been a bit more challenging this year, with some unwelcome, slithering visitors. I also like watching football, which is not always relaxing but provides a chance to catch up on ironing.

What is your favourite thing about Greater Shepparton?
The stone fruit in the GV is sensational and I love being able to grow Tasmanian pink-eye potatoes. It is also about 400km closer to the MCG than Canberra.

What’s one thing about Shepparton you would change to make it better?
In the space in which I work, community service and welfare support, there are lots of things done ‘to’ Shepparton, by people who live a long way away from the consequences of those actions. As a community I think we should insist on the local voice being heard more and afforded greater respect.