The Sydneysiders relocated to Huskisson last year during the first COVID-19 outbreak, taking up residency in Thea's townhouse on Currambene Creek.

A property she's owned for 20 years.

The couple says moving to the Shoalhaven and out of the hustle and bustle of busy Sydney has "been the best thing they have ever done".

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Colin spent 36 years as the National Rugby League's (NRL) official photographer through his business Action Photographics.

And while the camera nowadays is more in tune to taking some of the beautiful scenery shots the couple love around Jervis Bay, he's the first to admit when the surf's up and the waves start rolling in, attracting surfers, he cracks out those big old sports lenses and shoots away to his heart's content.

Thea came to Husky 20 years ago with a group of girlfriends on a weeklong holiday and fell in love with the area.

"We explored all over during that week," Thea said.

"I saw the townhouses on the waterfront and thought 'I could live there, even retire there'.

"Living in Sydney and being a single mum, I never thought I'd be able to afford something like this - I went back to Sydney got in touch with an agent and virtually bought it on the spot.

"I've had an agent look after it and have had permanent tenants ever since."

In 2020 she said a few things coincided - "Colin had retired and I reached retirement age and after 10 years working as a financial controller with Turner Bros Furnishing, a company that specialises in commercial window furnishings both in Australia and around the world, I also decided to retire."

"When COVID came around, Sydney was getting too dirty, too noisy, too busy so we talked about it and made the choice to relocate," she said.

"And we've never regretted it," Colin said. "We just love it."

Colin had only briefly seen the property and knew it "was on the creek".

"Wow, I wouldn't really call it a creek," he said.

"Currambene Creek is such a beautiful place - it's its own waterway - a long way from what I would refer to as a creek.

"The complex we are in has a wonderful jetty out into the creek, we look over the water and have beautiful views of Jervis Bay.

"It is such a beautiful outlook - we can look over the creek up into the mangroves and then we have Jervis Bay. It's just stunning."

"The bonus is we are still close to Sydney so can catch up with family and friends, it's now a very easy drive, or they can come down here, once COVID restrictions allow it of course," Thea said.

"This place just ticks all the boxes."

One of the best parts in relocating to the South Coast has been the new connections and friends they have made.

"Everyone is so friendly," Thea said.

"The complex we are in has 22 townhouses and almost half have permanent residents or are permanently occupied.

"There is no feeling of isolation and everyone has been so welcoming. We have been lucky enough to become part of a wonderful little community.

"The people are friendly and we got to meet them probably a lot quicker than we would have if we were living in Sydney."

And despite retiring Thea has been coaxed back into work, albeit part-time and now remotely from Huskisson.

"Husky is still a village and it very much has that village feel, which we love," Colin said.

"Everyone is welcoming, they all say hello when you see them on the street or out in the garden or pass neighbours."

Colin did admit one of the "silver linings" from the first COVID outbreak in Sydney was how their then local neighbourhood came together.

"We had a few elderly residents in our area and everyone rallied to look after them and make sure they were alright," he said.

"COVID turned our neighbourhood into a community," Thea said.

"It's something we still share today, we exchange birthday cards and have a WhatsApp group chat," Colin said.

"And that's just what it's like here - a real community. Everyone looks out for one another."

The couple says they are looking forward to Huskisson "reopening".

"It's just sad to go down Owen Street and maybe be the only person walking or the only car on the road," Colin said.

"It's sad to go there and see so many of the wonderful resources and shops closed.

"It's not good and we can't wait to see people back and have Husky buzzing again supporting local businesses."

The couple has set themselves the goal of walking the length of every beach in Jervis Bay.

"We are about halfway through our challenge," Colin said.

"I do take the camera and yes I do take photos, you never know what you're going to capture. Other times you don't need to photograph it, it's time just to soak it up and take it all in.

"It is just so beautiful."

For a man who has travelled the world covering sport, in particular, rugby league and rugby union, including four Kangaroo Tours, more than 3500 rugby league games from NRL to State of Origin and Test matches, a Rugby World Cup in South Africa where he met Nelson Mandela, and Test cricket around the country, it's certainly big praise.

Although retired Colin is still "tinkering" in the publishing game and has just released his second book - and no it's not about rugby league, it's the first in a three-part series on Australian country pubs.

Drinking In The River, out through New Holland publishers, looks at the memorable pubs and unforgettable characters of the Murray and Edwards Rivers.

But we'll have more on that later.

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