As a young boy living in the French Alps, Roland Haccart would never have envisaged that one day he might leave behind his place of birth to move to a country that was in total contrast to his beloved France.
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Roland completed his education in Paris where his mother was a French language teacher and began working in restaurants in the capital.
He then made the decision, at the age of 20, to head across the channel to London.
It was not long before he met a gorgeous young Australian girl, Anita Brisbane, who inadvertently changed the young man’s future plans for ever.
The couple married in Leeds in the UK in April 2002 and in August the same year made the move to Australia.
While Anita had spoken of life in Australia, nothing prepared Roland for what he would see and experience!
“My first thoughts were that Aussies appear very laid back and there were lots of eucalyptus trees which I had heard about, and the countryside was huge,” Roland said.
“You could drive hundreds of kilometres over relatively flat roads and see large fenced paddocks everywhere with sheep and cattle grazing. Not at all like in the UK.
“Everything was so much bigger!”
Arriving in Shepparton, where Anita’s family live, the couple toured the region before settling down to finding employment.
Roland secured a good position with Angelo and Franca Grasso at Cellar 47, a wonderful Italian restaurant that was an absolute dining institution in Shepparton.
The Grassos earned their ‘badge of honour’ over many years for fine food and service and the venue is still operated today by their children.
While Roland loved the hospitality industry and working at Cellar 47, when he became a father and was required to work in the evenings, it was not conducive to family life.
It had been fine when he was young and free, but as a family man, the lifestyle did not fit any longer!
With mobile phones integral to peoples’ lives, Roland could see it was a good industry to get into and was fortunate to gain a position with a company named ‘Into Mobiles’ in High St, Shepparton, and 14 years ago purchased it from the owner.
Since that time, Roland has strengthened being an independent business owner by partnering with Telstra.
Today he employs six staff in his business Roly’s Mobiles, now situated at 200 Maude St, in the Shepparton Mall.
However, that’s not all!
A little more than three years ago, an opportunity was extended for Roland to set up a mobile shop within Red Gum Computers, and it has become a winning combination for both businesses under the one roof.
Locals around the region are now able to buy top-selling Apple and Samsung mobile phones, iPads and tablets — together with an excellent range of accessories.
The good news, too, is that the latest iPhone, number 17, is out now in a range of colours and ready for testing in Cobram.
Telstra’s offerings can be accessed through Red Gum Computers at 26 Punt Rd, Cobram.
Roland and one of his expert staff members, Hailey, are in Cobram Monday to Friday from 9am until 5.30pm and Saturday until 1pm.
Red Gum Computers has all the necessary expertise and technical ability — and there is no need for an appointment.
Just come in! It’s about service, and the team at both businesses offer that in abundance.
If there is something customers specifically need, the team will get it in for you from Telstra and, if in need of repairs, will get it back to you within 24 hours.
Roly’s Mobiles has a great reputation for providing outstanding customer service!
There is a huge benefit buying from a small independent business, which cares about its customers and offers good service.
The reality is that without happy, satisfied customers, it can’t remain in business.
The negative is twofold, customers may need to travel 100km or more in the hope of finding what they want and not achieving it, and the business operator is no longer in a position to open his doors, due to lack of satisfied customers.
The answer seems an easy one! Support your local businesses and everyone is happy.
Roland and Anita are proud of their two Aussie-born children, son Dominique, 22, a project manager in civil construction and daughter Eliza, 19, who is studying nursing at La Trobe University in Bundoora.
Australia has been good to the Frenchman, who is now a naturalised Australian.
He has made the most of the opportunities offered here in Australia, arriving with basically nothing and working hard to become the owner of two residential properties and two businesses in a country that provided opportunity he may not have if he had remained in the UK or the country of his birth.
Roland, now 55, is embedded in his community having joined the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and very happy living in the land Down Under.
However, he does admit to being disappointed that in the country we have such little choice of seafood available.
“While I do miss the amazing food in France, not the UK, it’s fair to say that Australia has been an opportunity for me!” he said.
“From what my sister back home in France said recently, things are a lot harder economically and opportunity is far less than here in Australia.”
Roland and Anita plan to visit France in August 2026.
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