ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Local basket-weaver Sam Clifford lives in a three-bedroom house in the French Quarter, despite working in what many younger people in town consider low-income, low-value jobs like acting and picture framing.
Clifford’s acting resume is extensive, including roles such as “Motorist” on Blue Heelers, “Suspicious Neighbour” on Water Rats, “Man With Cold” on A Country Practice, and “Alf’s Dogging Partner” on Home and Away. He also appeared as “Man lying in urinal trough” on The Secret Life of Us, “Pedestrian” on Stingers, “Man with cold sores” on All Saints, and “Zoophile” on McLeod’s Daughters. Currently, he runs a picture framing shop named “Framed & Dangerous.”
“I don’t get it,” said casual teacher Laura Myers, who holds two degrees and a school holiday job at a local café.
“I can barely afford my studio apartment, and he owns a house? How? I can’t even find a permanent spot at school. They just want casuals.”
Clifford’s financial status includes being debt-free and taking annual holidays to places like Mooloolaba and Stanthorpe
“It’s not just the house,” said local barista Jayden Lee.
“He’s living the dream. He actually enjoys going to work. I hate this fucking job.”
When asked about his financial success, Clifford was ambivalent
“I got lucky. I bought the house in 1990. But it’s not like I just lay on the couch since then. I’ve worked a lot. But, I was able to capitalise on a small inheritance and buy a house, just as many young people are doing right now. People shouldn’t be ashamed of being helped into property by the family. I frame pictures, people liked them, and here we are.”
Local Millennials and Gen Zers remain unconvinced.
“Luck?” said digital marketer Kylie Tran.
“More like a time machine. There’s no way he’d pull that off today. He’d have to get a real job like property developing or god forbid, he might have to get a trade and live in some outer metro shithole? Is that the secret?”
As Clifford continues his life in Betoota, not caring what anyone thinks, younger generations are left to ponder their financial futures, hoping their side hustles might eventually pay off – or that they can at least find a job being a fictional deviant watching Alf Stewart perform a bit of side doggy in the dunes around Summer Bay on a warm summer’s night.
More to come.
