When Samantha Patten and her husband were raising two young children in Sydney, life worked on paper but felt stretched in practice.

Her husband was commuting long distances for work while Samantha worked from home. Professionally, the arrangement was manageable. Personally, it came at a cost.

“Although this arrangement suited our professional needs, it significantly limited the amount of quality time we were able to spend together as a family,” Samantha says.

With children aged 2.5 years and 6 months, the family decided to relocate to Junee after Samantha’s husband secured a position in the Riverina.

“This move marked an important shift for our family, allowing us to prioritise a more balanced lifestyle and increased time together.”

Finding What Felt Out of Reach in Sydney

Like many young families considering a move from the city, the Pattens were looking for more than a different address. They wanted a home of their own, a safer rhythm for family life and a community where their children could grow up connected.

“We were also motivated by the desire to purchase our own home, something that felt increasingly unattainable for a young family in Sydney,” Samantha says. “Beyond affordability, we were seeking a strong sense of community in which to raise our children.”

Junee Shire sits in the Riverina region of NSW, halfway between Sydney and Melbourne and around 30 minutes from Wagga Wagga. The shire includes Junee, Bethungra, Illabo, Old Junee and Wantabadgery, offering a country lifestyle with access to schools, shops, sporting clubs, healthcare services, parks, cafés and local businesses.

For Samantha’s family, the move quickly became both practical and personal.

“Housing affordability was a major factor in our decision to move to Junee,” she says. “At the time, it was actually more affordable for us to buy a home than it was to rent, which made the decision feel both practical and long-term.”

That affordability gave them the chance to create something lasting.

“We have been able to purchase and renovate a house, truly making it our home.”

A Town That Makes Room for You

Affordability may have made the move possible, but the welcome they received made Junee feel like home.

“Junee has exceeded our expectations in every way,” Samantha says. “From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed into the community and have since built meaningful connections and lasting friendships.”

That sense of belonging now shapes their everyday life.

“I have come to truly value the sense of community that Junee offers. It feels safe, welcoming, and connected,” she says.

For Samantha, it is found in the small, ordinary moments: knowing neighbours, seeing familiar faces at the shops, supporting local businesses and being involved in children’s sport.

“There is a strong sense of pride in supporting small businesses and being involved in local sporting teams.”

Junee Shire is known for its strong community spirit, railway heritage, rolling rural landscapes and attractions such as the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory and Junee Roundhouse Museum. Its location also gives residents access to larger services and opportunities in nearby Wagga Wagga, without losing the ease of small-town living.

The Freedom of a Less Rushed Life

One of the greatest changes for the Patten family has been the pace of daily life.

“I’m now able to drop my kids off at school, get to work, and manage after-school activities like football and soccer training without the stress of long travel times or traffic,” Samantha says.

In Junee, the essentials are close. Schools, shops, parks, cafés, restaurants, gyms, sporting clubs, the butcher and the post office are all within easy reach.

“What stands out most is how easy it is to access these things,” she says. “In Sydney, even simple tasks could require significant travel time and planning, whereas in Junee everything is close by and convenient.”

That ease has changed what the family can say yes to.

“We can see friends, go out for dinner, and I can prioritise things like working out, all without needing to carefully plan around logistics,” Samantha says.

“It feels like we have more time back in our day, and as a result, I’m able to say yes to more opportunities for both myself and my family.”

For anything beyond their immediate needs, Wagga Wagga is only a short drive away, offering access to a regional city while allowing the family to return home to a quieter, more connected lifestyle.

Careers That Grew in a Different Direction

Moving regional did not mean giving up professional ambition. For Samantha, it created the conditions for a new career chapter.

Before relocating, she had worked as a hairdresser with an established Sydney clientele. While that client base could not move with her, the timing aligned with a shift she had already been considering.

“I had already been considering a career change, so this transition became an opportunity rather than a setback,” she says.

The move gave Samantha the financial breathing room to study while raising her children.

“The financial freedom that came with our move meant I could focus on raising my children while also committing to a full-time online university course.”

She has since completed her bachelor’s degree and moved into a career she loves, with flexibility that supports family life.

“One of the greatest benefits is the flexibility it provides—I’m able to drop my children off at school, be there when they get home, and spend quality time with them during school holidays.”

Her husband has also been able to grow professionally in the Riverina.

“He has had the opportunity to work across different areas within his industry, gaining valuable and diverse experience that has supported his career growth.”

Raising Children in a Community That Looks Out for Them

For Samantha, Junee has given her children something she deeply values: freedom with a sense of safety.

“They can ride their bikes to a friend’s house or head to the park for a game, and I feel confident that they are safe and supported,” she says. “There is a shared understanding within the community that we look out for one another, and that sense of trust is incredibly meaningful for our family.”

The children were so young when they moved that Junee is the only home they remember.

“Our children don’t remember any other life, they are truly country kids,” Samantha says.

Growing up in a regional community has shaped their confidence, independence and sense of responsibility.

“They’ve experienced a level of freedom that has allowed them to explore, take responsibility, and develop resilience from a young age,” she says.

That connection to place is something Samantha can see in the people they are becoming.

“More importantly, that environment has helped shape them into responsible young people who feel connected to and actively contribute to their community.”

It Takes a Village

For many parents, “it takes a village” is something they hope to find. In Junee, Samantha says her family lives it.

“Junee truly is the epitome of the saying ‘it takes a village,’” she says. “Everything about the town reflects a strong sense of community and support. There is a genuine willingness among people to look out for one another.”

That support has become one of the family’s greatest sources of comfort.

“We have experienced this in so many ways, whether its other parents helping out, familiar faces checking in, or the broader community creating a safe and welcoming environment for our children to grow up in.”

For Samantha, the value of that village is hard to overstate.

“Living in Junee has reinforced just how powerful and important that ‘village’ is, and we feel incredibly fortunate to be raising our family in a place that truly embodies it.”

Advice for Other City Families Considering a Country Change

Looking back, Samantha says the move to regional NSW has given her family more time, more stability and a better quality of life.

Her advice to other families in Sydney or other cities is simple.

“I would say do it. You won’t regret it. For our family, moving to regional NSW has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made, and it’s not something we would ever reverse. It offers everything we loved about Sydney, the sense of opportunity, lifestyle, and access to what you need, but without the stress, cost, and constant pressure that can come with city living.”

For the Pattens, Junee has become the place where career, family and community finally feel like they fit together.

“It’s given us more time, more space, and a stronger sense of community,” Samantha says. “If you’re considering it, take the leap, you might just find it gives your family a better quality of life than you imagined.”