For example, when people sook about our council, I ask if they’ve spoken to any councillors or council officers from any other places in Victoria.

The answer is usually, no but … “But everyone knows something’s wrong.”

No. Everyone does NOT know that and the actual, factual, genuine, non-fake, non-kneejerk, non-all-my-friends view is that in the local government and public sector world, Bendigo is very highly respected and even envied.

I had a fascinating experience this week of being able to compare people’s aspirations.

I was in Dandenong and had to get a taxi about six or seven kilometres.

The driver was about 30 years of age, from the Indian subcontinent and spoke in precise accented English.

He had a wife and a young family and he was trying to buy his first family home.

I mentioned I was from Bendigo and immediately he began asking questions.

Questions about housing costs, jobs, schools, the size of the city, what was available and concerns about TV news images that suggested people of non-English background might not be welcome.

(Thank you not-very much to the racists who chose us as a propaganda battleground. Don’t come back anytime soon.)

The young bloke’s questions were sincere and directed.

So, I gave him a swift overview.

We have a population over 100,000 depending how you measure it, but it has a growing cosmopolitan feel.

It has about 40,000 jobs, the biggest industry being health related.

“What about transport? I have a truck driver’s licence.”

That’s a pretty strong employment sector in Bendigo.

The median house price is about $380,000, but if you choose your areas carefully, you should be able to find a really nice home in the $320,000 to $350,000 range.

 “But that is being $200,000 less than I am being asked for here,” he replied, genuinely excited about a new idea which might not condemn him to years stuck in traffic.

I checked later and he was right.

In Dandenong the median price is $510,000.

“Surely, with no land?”

Probably 700 to 900 square metres. More than twice what my new friend said he was being offered.

The statewide average is that a property will have more than 600 physical or online visits before it sells.

Here, it’s about 260.

We talked about our admirable education assets, the climate, the growing diversity, and yes, even our coffee culture.

Traffic came up a few times, and I told him that that morning I had to be at the Bendigo train station by 9am.

I live about six kilometres from the station, so I left home at 8.50am and was still early.

“That would be giving me many, many years in my life.”

At the end of the trip I was feeling beaut about this bloke and tried to give him what in Australia would be a chunky tip.

He rejected it.

“You have been giving me many good tips already,” he laughed, and said he had some serious discussions ahead with his wife.

I really hope he gives it a red hot go.

WAYNE GREGSON