By Tyler Wright
Known as down-to-earth and partial to a fiery debate on reality TV show The Block, married couple social worker Sarah-Jane and plumber Tom made the trip from their home in Gladstone Park to Monbulk’s Murphy’s Mitre-10 for the store’s grand opening on Saturday 1 October.
The farmhouse the pair built on The Block, in Gisborne, complete with a ‘dream’ fireplace in the living and dining area, seemed to appeal to locals and vistors who came along to meet the contestants.
Upwey-based couple Georgia and Jarryd Hicks are currently building their own property in Clyde, have taken inspiration from Sarah-Jane’s beautiful accents.
“I was just telling [Sarah-Jane] I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from her,” Georgia said.
“Step outside your comfort zone and things don’t have to be traditional to last a long time… doing the colour and stuff… that’s good, It’s what makes your house warm.”
Montrose resident Howard Jones visited Mitre-10 with son Arthur, who snapped a photo with Sarah-Jane and Tom sporting tradie gear, said The Block being ‘countrified’ this season made it more relatable to different communities.
“[We’re doing] some renovations the back of the house with the deck area and lots of stuff so that’s where we’re trying to get tips and tricks on the process and procedures for going through that,” Howard said.
After chatting to and snapping photos and selfies with fans, Sarah-Jane said the best part about being on The Block has been meeting people.
“We love this side of town, so it was a good excuse to get some fresh air,” Sarah-Jane said.
Although already being long-time Block viewers, it was the rural setting of the Macedon Ranges that inspired Sarah-Jane and Tom to apply for this season.
“I think that’s why the ratings have been so big this year, because it’s so refreshing to be on acreage, and in a regional/rural setting,” Sarah-Jane said.
“I think it appeals to a lot broader people because now it’s like ‘well, John down on his cattle farm 200 kms away is like ‘oh yeah, I live on land, and that’s cool.’
It’s more relatable and refreshing.”
Living about 25 minutes out from the Macedon Ranges area, Sarah-Jane and Tom also got involved in The Block to fund their move out further up north.
And the journey has not come without its funny moments, with Sarah-Jane jack-knifing a car during a challenge and ruining the trailer.
“I jack-knifed that three times – they only show the one, but one i jack-knifed and then accelerated and the trailer went airborne and the whole crew was like,’Sarah-Jane! Sarah-Jane!, and I was like, ‘Oh my God’.
“It was a hot mess, I hated that challenge. But challenge days were actually normally the best day.
A helicopter ride over the Yarra Valley was one of her highlights for the season, among getting three tens from the judges for a kitchen reveal, totalling a ‘perfect 30’.
“I’ve learned that I can push myself harder than what I’ve ever thought – you run on a lot of adrenaline and willpower and I’m a lot stronger than I gave myself credit for,” Sarah-Jane said.
“Sometimes you do three 20 hour days in a row, one time I didn’t sleep for 43 hours.”
The hours and hours of work have now paid off, with the couple’s dream house in a perfect location.
Now all they have to do is wait for auction in November.
“I’m very nervous but just excited to see if we make any money and see what happens,” Sarah-Jane said.
“I’m cool now but I reckon the day before I’ll be crapping my pants,” she said.
