He may have been born in England, but Lester Ellis is western suburbs through and through. The Sunshine-raised boxing champion is proud to call Taylors Hill home, writes John Hazeldene.
What’s your favourite eatery and place to get a coffee?
I reckon one of the best places to eat in my area is the Chinese restaurant Delicious House, on Ballarat Road. Their special delicious chicken is one of my all-time favourites and the family goes there pretty regularly. With coffee, I’m a 10-cups-a-day kind of guy. I normally head to Watervale Café. . . I’m a regular there so they know how I take it – flat white, three sugars.
Where is your neighbourhood retreat?
We have a nice big park near our place with great walking trails through the wetlands. I try to get out for a walk every night with our dog, Whippy.
What changes would you like to see in your patch?
The area where I grew up could definitely use one or two more gyms. They don’t necessarily have to be boxing, but anything to give some of the local kids a place to go and hang out to keep off the streets.
What would you like to stay the same?
I’d have to say my local neighbourhood. It’s been a great place to live, with good neighbours. My wife, Sharon, and I still have family in the area and we’ve raised our kids here.
What do you do in your down time?
I’ve got a gym semi-attached to the house where I train some of my clients, but I still like to get in there myself every chance I get. I try to do work with some of the local kids as well.
Can you share a funny story of being out in your neighbourhood.
Once I had this complete stranger come up to me and say: “Mate, do you remember me?” I occasionally get people coming up to me to have a chat, but I had no idea who this guy was. Turns out 25 years ago I was on my way home from the Braybrook Hotel on Ballarat Road and this fella asked me for a lift to Melton. I gave him a lift and never saw him again. Twenty-five years later, he comes up to me to thank me!
