EVERYDAY PEOPLE - Shane Bradbury - Giving back

Shane Bradbury is softly spoken, engaging, and very humble. I have spoken to him many times over the years, but until I sat down with him for this interview it occurred to me that although I knew him, I didn’t know a whole lot about him. It was time to remedy that!

Born in 1982 at the now-defunct Point Vernon Hospital in Hervey Bay, Shane Bradbury is the eldest of four siblings. While many of his peers were born in the larger Maryborough hospital, Shane takes pride in being a Hervey Bay native, having spent his entire life in the region.

His relatives lived close by so a lot of the time was spent down at the beach in Pialba. Later, Shane’s parents bought a large block of land at Sunshine Acres, Shane remembers building cubbies and catching yabbies with his mates.  

When Shane was growing up his dad got cancer. He fought hard for a few years, but eventually lost his battle this was tough on the young family. Shane was seventeen at the time and often thinks about what life would have been like if things had been different and all the memories that can never be shared.

As a kid, Shane was sports-mad, but cricket was always his number-one love and still is to this day. As he got older Shane loved the camaraderie of spending time with mates and the fact that no matter if your team won or lost there was always a cold beer at the end.

On the weekends and holidays, Shane worked on his grandparent's turf farm, operating machinery. This was a great learning experience that few kids get to experience now.

His first paid job outside of home was a paper run for the old Hervey Bay Independent Newspaper.

Shane was twenty-eight when he met Tara, a real estate agent. He was a financial advisor at the time and had become a partner in a business. Tara and Shane eventually got married and have two beautiful daughters. Like any couple they have faced challenges juggling work and personal life, leading to a family decision for Tara to start her own real estate business a few years ago. Shane now works in the business with his wife.  

Over the years Shane has given back to his community tenfold through volunteering. At about the age of eighteen, he became the treasurer of the Hervey Bay Surf Lifesaving Club He then met another local legend by the name of Bob Wicks and joined the committee for the Supporters Club which raised a lot of money.  

In recent years Shane started a group called Men’s Walk and Talk Hervey Bay which supports men’s mental health and well-being and admits that at the time he didn’t know a whole lot about mental health. The group has grown to become a valuable platform for men to connect, have conversations, and build friendships. Late last year members of the group did a mental health first aid training course, Shane can’t speak highly enough of the experience and describes it as an eye-opener. Over time he would like to see everyone do the course.

The group has now completed well over two hundred and fifty walks.

Earlier this month the group got together and surprised Shane with some special gifts celebrating not just the number of walks but the positive impact he has had on the group.

Shane says, “It’s all about community and giving back. Over the years I have had a lot of people who have nurtured and helped me out, so it is only fair that I give back.

“I get great enjoyment and satisfaction from seeing the friendships and the success of it all.”

By Kim Parnell

From What’s On Fraser Coast