Three minutes with TOBIAS BUCKLEY

Digital Ministry Associate

My earliest memories involve … the Jenolan Caves. My parents were casual tour guides there, and I have memories of heritage buildings and long driveways and the smell of burning car brake pads as people made their way down the mountain!

My first car is … a motorbike. I do not have my P’s for a car. I am the youngest in a family of four children. They all grew up and moved out, so by the time my parents came to teaching me to drive they had got new jobs and were too busy to do it! I moved out at 18 and that was it. I never learnt to drive! Yet…

As a child I dreamed of being . . . Superman… I am currently studying at Bachelor Psychology at Macquarie University, but I don’t know what I want to do with that degree.

On family holidays we went to . . . Jenolan Caves a lot but we would also often go to Flynns Beach at Port Macquarie.

The best decision I ever made . . . was getting MY cat Apricot, two years ago. I always wanted a dog. But my mother said if you wanted a dog, you’ve got to get a new Mum. When I was about 17 and all my siblings had left, my Mum said I must be lonely so why didn’t I get a cat – so I did.

I came to faith …. Probably in Year 8 or 9. I grew up in a Christian household, but it became clear to me about then, that it was important to make my faith my own and be steadfast in that faith.

Coming to SHAP... My previous employer emailed me about the job at SHAP and I thought it was an interesting opportunity to do some work and do some good. I saw a church that was very loving and was perfect for my skill set.

Last year in my spare time …. I learnt Auslan (sign language). My entire profession is centred around hearing so I thought it would be interesting to know what it was like to not be able to hear and have to rely on sign language. I could now ‘speak’ to someone who is deaf. Luckily for me, It is a very very forgiving community.