With a foot in both camps, Mr Hobbs has worked at the university as an academic.

He is also on the University Council board and was head of Earle Page College, where he lived when it was first built in the 1960s.

“That link helps to keep me younger, the youngsters seem to appreciate the fact that I’m still interested in them – I want to keep that contact,” Mr Hobbs said.

“The university is a big plus for the city and we’ve got to try to do more on the other side of the fence over at the university to get the students more involved.

“In all honesty I don’t think the university has ever done much to try to create these links with the city.”

In the past, it was suggested that the university have a presence in town but it never eventuated. Now, Mr Hobbs would like to be involved in seeing that happen.

When a decision is made on the trimester, semester debate – he would like to see the town work with the university in planning events and opening businesses on a similar schedule.

“There needs to be more communication between the university and the town, for cultural activities, sporting events,” Mr Hobbs said.

“In the past there hasn’t been anyone prepared to push it, but because I have feet in both camps I would certainly want to push something like that.”

Tourism is another issue on his agenda, he feels that since the Industrial Development Officer left for Tamworth – Armidale hasn’t done much in the way of selling itself.

“I honestly think we could do a lot more to promote the region and to attract people here,” Mr Hobbs said.

“We’ve never seemed to promote the place terribly well, we need to do an awful lot more I think to get the word out there about what a wonderful place this is, what a wonderful area the New England is.

“Council should be promoting all these things.”

Spending five years as a volunteer at the Tourist Information Centre, Mr Hobbs hopes he can do better to show off the assets in the region.