Adrian Hauritz, better known as A.J. to all who know him, came into the world in 1985. He was born prematurely and came fourteen weeks early after mother and son were rushed to the Royal Women’s Hospital in Brisbane. After that little hiccup, A.J. spent his earlier life in Kingaroy and has two older sisters that he is close to.
“Kingaroy was great. I didn’t mind country life. We grew up in town, so we weren’t farmers.
“We had a typical childhood playing with the other kids, riding our bikes on the weekends, fishing and playing local sports.
“My grandfather used to own a concrete company in Kingaroy, so my father managed that for many years until my grandfather sold it”.
A.J.'s first job ever was washing the local milk truck on the weekends for a bit of cash. He would have been about fourteen at the time and still in school.
Growing up, A.J. knew that he wanted to be a chef as he always liked to cook.
“The love of cooking came from my family. As a kid, we always used to sit on the kitchen bench and help Mum cook dinner, and that was what got me interested in being a chef.
“When I left grade ten, Mum and Dad told me I had to either get a job or study something. Mum suggested a TAFE course in hospitality, so I did that and landed an apprenticeship in Kingaroy.
“Sadly, Mum passed away about sixteen years ago from a heart attack. She had diabetes. Her death was so sudden, so it was a huge shock to the family, and we still miss her dearly.
"As a chef, you are working in a very high-stress environment full of long hours and away from families. You miss out on children's birthdays, dinners and special events, which is very hard”.
A.J. has called Hervey Bay home for nineteen years and still loves being a chef all these years later.
Many may remember when A.J. was the head chef at the old Hoolihans Irish Restaurant and bar in Torquay. He was there for about fifteen years.
“I loved Hoolihans. It was a beautiful atmosphere to work in and had some great staff. The restaurant was such a big part of Hervey Bay and very popular with locals and visitors alike. It was a shame to see the restaurant go”.
A.J. and his wife Loran have been married for sixteen years and have three children. They both cook at home, with A.J. preferring wholesome food that makes you feel warm inside and that everyone can enjoy. His favourite dish has always been lasagne.
Now working in aged care, A.J. is the head chef at Torbay, where the kitchen produces roughly six hundred meals per day. A.J. says that the residents look forward to the daily interaction with the staff, and he enjoys talking to those dining.
“I now work during the day from Monday to Friday, so I am very lucky as I get to spend more time with my family. The kids are in scouts, and my wife is a scout leader, so that can take up quite a lot of time”.
When A.J. is not working, the family enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking, and fishing. They love the outdoors.
While money is important, A.J. wants us all to remember to live our best life and not to get caught up so much in working ourselves to the bone that we miss the important things in life. Just enjoy life!
By Kim Parnell
What's On Fraser Coast
