Wycheproof Rent a Farmhouse
First families Selected and moving in!
Wycheproof Vision (formally Wycheproof 2010) is a not-for-profit community development group. Inspired by the success of Cumnock and District Progress Association’s Rent a Farmhouse program in New South Wales. the dynamic and proactive rural community of Wycheproof, decided to do something to increase enrolments at the school, pre-school and sporting clubs, and to help local businesses.
Wycheproof, located just 3 hours north-west of Melbourne on the Calder Highway, 90 minutes north-west of Bendigo and 60 mins south of Swan Hill is now welcoming the first families to be selected under the innovative program.
After a lengthy selection process two families have now been selected for Round 1 houses from more than 100 outstanding applications.
Darren and Sally-Anne Samson will make the move to Wycheproof’s The Stables in mid October. Relishing the opportunity to raise their three children Holly, Lachlan and Matilda in a close-knit rural community prompted Sally-Anne and Darren to apply to rent a farmhouse in Wycheproof for just $1 per week. Holly, 12, has already picked out a stable for the pony she hopes to one day own.
Shouts of jubilation were heard all the way from Queensland when Toni-Maree and Phil Hoogendoorn with teenage children Ashlee and Emily heard they had been selected to rent McQuinn House for $1 per week. Toni-Maree said ‘we have been bouncing off the walls since we found out”. The Hoogendoorn’s plan for their children to complete their school year before moving between Christmas and New Year.
A number of unsuccessful short-listed applicants have also been offered low rental houses within the township of Wycheproof. Mathew and Lisa Caple with their 5 boys and new puppy have travelled more than 2600km from Innisfail in Far North Queensland to start a new life in Wycheproof. Arriving on the weekend the Caple’s have been overwhelmed by the Wycheproof welcome and have received cakes, a leg of lamb, household goods and a visit by local councillor Stuart McLean. “I have never been welcomed personally anywhere by a local councillor – this community is amazing!” said Mathew.
Along with several other low rental houses in the Wycheproof township of $100 - $$120 per week, the community is busy preparing two more farmhouses for rent at just $1 per week in time for families to apply, be selected and move in by the start of the 2010 school year. Interest can be registered at rentafarmhouse@wycheproof.vic.au and further information is available at www.wycheproof.vic.au.
