WHETHER in his role at Australian Rotary Health or volunteering for the Salvation Army, Hoppers Crossing’s Len Marshall loves spending time in the place he’s called home for 35 years, writes John Hazeldene.
What drew you to the area?
My wife Lyn and I moved to Werribee in 1978, just after we got married, when the place was just another small country town on the outskirts of Melbourne. Over the years the town and our family grew, and our home got a little snug so we moved to Hoppers Crossing. Both our children still live in the area, one in Wyndham Vale, the other in Tarneit. I love the lifestyle here and it’s only a 20-25 minute drive into the city.
What’s your favourite place to grab a coffee and a bite to eat?
I’m not much of a coffee person, but I often have breakfast at Raffael’s Bar & Grill Cafe on Watton Street. Their Moroccan baked eggs are a firm favourite. For dinner, we usually try a number of places on the restaurant strip and will sometimes go to the Hoppers Club on Pannam Drive or Hotel 520 on Sayers Road.
What would you change in your neighbourhood?
The area has built up a lot since we moved here in ’78, and while the community has grown very quickly the road infrastructure hasn’t kept up. Driving can often be quite frustrating, as I’m sure most of the local population would agree.
What would you never change?
What we do. My wife and I are both in Rotary and spend our time doing volunteer work throughout the community. Our current pet project is the Salvation Army food van at Werribee railway station, which runs on a Friday night. Apart from that, a good network of friends, the convenience of living close enough to the city, Geelong and the beach and having all the grandchildren nearby.
Funniest moment when out and about?
Offering bus drivers a barbecued sausage in exchange for a myki card. We haven’t snagged one yet, but it’s important to have a bit of fun with people when serving the food. There’s a great sense of camaraderie among those serving food at Werribee station. We try to have a good time, asking if they ‘‘want fries with that’’.
