What makes you a Southlander?

11 January 2012 marked six years since I moved to the deep south but at what point (if ever) would I be considered a Southlander?

During the past six years, I have been quite immersed in the Southland community. Before starting at Venture Southland in February 2009, I worked at Countdown, East End Liquor – owned by the Invercargill Licensing Trust (and frequented by many of the locals), Starbucks (also frequented by a number of locals), the Southland Times, and even in various woolsheds in the holidays!

Since migrating south, I have eaten such delicacies (and oddities) as mutton bird, Bluff oysters, lambs tails, venison, a swede, Deep South Ice Cream, Speights and the incredibly modest cheese roll.

I work in an organisation tasked with promoting the region, I attend board meetings with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, Southland Mayor Frana Cardno and Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks and I’m friends with Southland personality and Spirit of a Nation Brand Coordinator Gerry Forde.

I haven’t yet been to Stewart Island, but I hear not all of you Southlanders have been yet either – tsk tsk! I still haven’t adjusted to the colder climate (my heater and electric blanket are on 75% of the time), I call a vacuum cleaner… well, a vacuum cleaner, the cupboard where the hot water cylinder is kept is a hot water cupboard, a crib is something a baby sleeps in or street lingo for a house in America and Belgium is a place – not a deli meat!

However, I roll my rrrr’s more often than not (especially in the word ‘dirty’, which makes whatever I’m referring to sound significantly diRRRRRtier than it should), I support the mighty Stags (unless the Chiefs are playing) and I only live 1.5kms from work but I still drive as parking is ample.

Does this make me a Southlander? Or am I in limbo – perhaps you’d call me a South-tonian or a Hamil-lander? Regardless of what you’d call me, Southland is my adoptive home and you Southland folk are very hospitable, so I think I might stay on for a bit.