Brad from the IGA might be just about the most recognised face in St Leonards. Nearly everyone knows his name – and it seems entirely possible that Brad knows everyone else’s name; and their shopping preferences; and their football team.
He’s about to go on holiday to Thailand – a place he has been to many times. While there he will do some volunteer work with a couple of orphanages and deliver six suitcase bags of donated clothes and education materials. His simple philosophy is “It’s good to help people out in life.” He first became involved in supporting children in orphanages and their families about four years ago and began simply with a visit to an orphanage and asking what they needed. After meeting a family in a village where he was staying he realised that for many of the locals, it can be a real struggle to afford an education for their children. Without an education, chances are that they and their family will stay poor. Not all children in the orphanages are without a family. Many are there because their families are incredibly poor and can’t afford to have them at home. Brad receives Christmas cards from some of the children and families he has supported by paying for their education and is particularly pleased when he hears the children have been able to continue or complete their education. He collects donations from businesses and individuals.
Brad moved with his family to Drysdale from Ballarat when he was in grade three. He goes running every morning – rain hail or shine. It was a habit that started with the aim of getting fit, and now he runs in marathons.
Brad has worked in other retail stores and in the Geelong Market Square car park – where many might recognise him from – before coming to St Leonards IGA eight years ago. He is now a supervisor and proud of the award winning store and is well known for his great customer service; one eyed support of Geelong’s AFL team; having a laugh and a joke (often at the expense of Collingwood, Richmond and Hawks supporters); his ability to remember everyone’s name and being someone to talk to. It is not uncommon to see people in the check-out line letting others go first because they want to be served by Brad and have a chat.
He says “St Leonards is a great town; the people are great; it is a good community.”
We think Brad plays a big part in making it that way.
Humans in St Leonards 