When Mendy first arrived in Australia in 2005, she came with a backpack and a sense of adventure. Like many travellers, she planned to explore the country for a year before moving on. Instead, that journey would quietly transform into a new life, a family, and a deep connection to the Snowy Valleys -a region she now helps others call home.
Today, Mendy is a Welcome Experience Connector, supporting people who move to the Snowy Valleys to settle, connect and feel part of the community. But her passion for the role comes from lived experience: she knows firsthand how challenging and how rewarding a country change can be.
Originally from the Netherlands, Mendy began travelling Australia as a backpacker in 2005. During that year, she met her former partner, and what was meant to be a temporary stay quickly became something more permanent. In 2006, the couple returned to Holland to marry before coming back to Australia and making the decision to stay for good.
That same year, Mendy moved to the Snowy Valleys, settling first in Batlow. It was a significant shift - from a city in Europe, to coastal living, to a rural Australian town
“I moved from a city to the country, and I found it really hard at first,” Mendy says.“It was very different to anything I’d known.”
Like many newcomers to regional Australia, the adjustment took time. But slowly, the landscape, lifestyle and people began to shape a new sense of belonging.
Mendy lived in Batlow for eight years, where she and her partner started a family. As their children grew, the family began looking for a town that offered more schooling options and activities while still keeping the close-knit, regional feel they had come to value.
That led them to Tumut.
“Tumut was a little bit bigger for children to go to school and to have more activities,” she explains. “It also felt a bit closer to everything.”
Located in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains and bordered by Kosciuszko National Park and the Murray River, the Snowy Valleys is uniquely positioned. With strong geographic ties to Canberra and Wagga Wagga, the region offers both connectivity and a distinctly rural lifestyle.
Major centres include Tumut and Tumbarumba, supported by welcoming towns and villages such as Adelong, Batlow, Brungle, Talbingo, Jingellic, Khancoban, Laurel Hill, Rosewood and Tooma.
Adjusting to regional life didn’t happen overnight. Mendy describes the transition as challenging, especially coming from more densely populated places.
“The pace is different. Things aren’t as fast,” she says.“You don’t have one-day deliveries, and you need to plan a little more.”
But with time, that slower pace became one of the region’s greatest strengths.
“Once you adapt, you really start to love it,” she says. “It’s relaxed. People know each other. Children feel safe. There’s a freedom to it.”
The Snowy Valleys is a region that changes beautifully with the seasons - crisp mountain air in winter, lush green hills in spring, cool, clean waterways in summer and vibrant colour in autumn. For Mendy, the connection to nature, especially water, has been central to falling in love with the area.
“The water really attracts me,” she says.“The rivers, the outdoors, the nature—you can access it all.”
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Mendy’s own journey of settling into regional Australia eventually led her to a role that feels like a natural extension of her story. As a Welcome Experience Connector, she supports people moving to the Snowy Valleys, helping them navigate both the practical and personal sides of relocation.
“I know what it’s like to move to a different country and a different town,” she says. “How important it is to have someone there—to talk to, to help you connect, to give you information.”
Her work involves meeting new residents, learning about their needs, and helping them find their feet—everything from schools and healthcare to libraries, sporting clubs and social groups.
Often, it’s the small details that matter most.
“People ask things you don’t think about when you already live somewhere,” Mendy explains. “Where’s the police station? How does healthcare work? Where do I meet people?”
She also helps newcomers connect beyond work, encouraging participation in book clubs, parent groups, community organisations and local events.
Mendy strongly believes that feeling genuinely welcomed is key to whether people stay long-term.
“If people feel seen and welcomed into the community, it makes all the difference,” she says.
This sense of belonging is especially important in a growing region like the Snowy Valleys, which continues to attract new residents and workers. The local economy spans agriculture, forestry, healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing and construction, energy and tourism.
Major employers include AKD Softwoods, Hyne Timber, Visy Pulp and Paper, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Forestry Corporation of NSW, National Parks & Wildlife Services, Snowy Hydro and the Future Generation Joint Venture.
The region is actively seeking skilled workers, particularly in health services, trade labour and engineering trades - making connection and retention critical.
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Mendy is passionate about ensuring the Snowy Valleys feels welcoming for people from all cultural and religious backgrounds.
“There are opportunities to connect no matter where you’re from,” she says.
She points to the range of churches, multicultural networks and community groups, including the Mosaic group, as examples of how newcomers can find connection and support.
“There are more people coming here now, and it feels more accepted,” she says. “Different communities can connect with each other, and everyone is welcome.”
“Take the Plunge”
Mendy is honest with people considering a move from the city: regional life isn’t for everyone, and it does require adjustment.
“It’s not for the faint-hearted,” she says. “The lifestyle is different. It’s slower, and you need to give yourself time.”
But she’s equally clear about the rewards.
“Once you adapt, it’s nothing like anything else,” she says. “The lifestyle, the community, the safety for your children - it’s special.”
For anyone sitting on the edge of making a country change to the Snowy Valleys, her advice is simple and heartfelt:
“Take the plunge. Do it anyway.”
If you would like more information about a #countrychange to the Snowy Valleys, visit our website or reach out to one of our team.
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