Ol-reliable: Mathieu Gaudin and Coralie Collin with their trusted Subaru they had travelled across the country with.
Photo by
Jay Bryce
From surfing in Byron Bay, enjoying the city life of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, to playing video games on the couch with a six-year-old in Murchison.
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French couple Matthieu Gaudin and Coralie Collin have made the most of their six months in Australia.
More than two months ago, Kelly Carmody responded to a post in the Murchison community Facebook group made by Ms Collin, looking for accommodation in the area.
Locked in: Mathieu Gaudin and Coralie Collin playing video games with Harly.
Photo by
Jay Bryce
The couple arrived at Mrs Carmody’s house the next day for a quick look around and soon became part of the furniture.
“It’s been great, opening our hearts and our home to young adults, and we’re sad to see them go,” Mrs Carmody said.
The couple worked as flower pickers just down the road from the Carmody house, at Avonlea Flowers.
They had been travelling all around Australia, using Facebook to find accommodation.
They had stayed with a lot of French families across the country but said they preferred to be with Australians, as it helped them develop their English and learn a different culture.
Ms Collin said the food was a big adjustment, and that she missed food from back home, but Mr Gaudin said it was fine and he would eat anything.
Mr Gaudin said the difference in culture was interesting, as things like Netflix or movies and music seemed the same at first but were quite different.
When asked if they had enjoyed staying in the Carmody house, they said they had hated it and couldn’t wait to get out.
Luckily, dad and husband Brad Carmody shared the couple’s sense of humour, and they all had a laugh before Ms Collin and Mr Gaudin confirmed that they had indeed enjoyed staying with the family.
They said they would miss playing video games with six-year-old Harly.
“We have been trying to teach him French, it’s been good,” Mr Gaudin said.
Harly underplayed his sadness to see the couple go.
Triple bounce: Mathieu Gaudin and Coralie Collin on the trampoline with Harly.
Photo by
Jay Bryce
“No, I won’t miss them, because I won’t have to share the game,” he said.
After sprinting around in circles and crawling across the ground for a while, Harly admitted he would miss the duo.
Mrs Carmody said for Harly the couple had been like older siblings.
“They’re very playful with him, fun, energetic and they’ve brought that to our house,” she said.
The couple will leave Murchison soon, travelling around a few cities before heading to Thailand.
They encouraged young Australians to go travel and experience different cultures.
“Don’t be scared, be excited,” Ms Collin said.
“Come to France.
“We have sea, ocean, big city, little city, food, everything.”
“And we are near everything, Spain, Italy, all very nice,” Mr Gaudin said.
“Australia is just big, Australia is everywhere, all around.”
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