David sells The Big Issue at the corner of Rundle and Frome streets, Adelaide.

David was born in Melbourne in its Olympic year (1956), but the first really big event he remembers took place after the family moved to South Australia. He was one of many thousands who watched a certain group of mop-topped Liverpudlians stroll across the tarmac of Adelaide airport.

“I came to Adelaide in 1964 – that was when the Beatles came,” he recalls. “We got to …

John sells The Big Issue at Queens Plaza, cnr Adelaide and Edward streets, Brisbane.

When John was a small boy living on the coast of Western Australia his older brother asked him to hold his fishing line for a minute. That minute was to chart his course for the next 30 years – the thrill of catching his first fish hooked him for life.

John recalls it wasn’t just any fish, this was a really big fish. So he says – and, …

Tony sells The Big Issue in Adelaide’s CBD.

“I was born with cerebral palsy and had to walk with my knees bent. In 1965 a car came through a crossing and didn’t stop in time – (the driver) put their foot on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. I was unconscious for 24 hours and had a broken left leg.

I was off school for three months, and once back I couldn’t do gym or PE. I missed another whole term …

On 7 August, Adelaide vendor Dion passed away. He will be greatly missed by his family, support workers and customers, who would stop for a magazine and a chat about his beloved Adelaide Crows at the Port Canal shopping centre. Born with spina bifida, Dion was a John Farnham fan who loved life and meeting new people.

Dion’s mum, Jenny, thanks everyone at the Port for making his life special. “He loved the Port: rain, wind or shine he’d eagerly get ready …

Peter sells The Big Issue at the corner of Ann and Albert streets in Brisbane.

Many people already know him as Peter, the well-spoken vendor always ready to lend a sympathetic ear and offer some considered advice. But for the many thousands of ham radio operators around the world he is VK4VY. Peter got his radio licence in 1983 and has been connecting with people from Libya to Russia ever since.

“We use Greenwich mean time to arrange to meet on certain frequencies,” …

Aaron sells The Big Issue at the corner of Little Collins and Swanston streets, Melbourne.

“I come from a good home – well, what they say is a good home. One of those households where they bought a big house and basically spent their whole life working for it without time for anything else.
I had some trouble with Mum and Dad, left home and moved into a house with other young people in the same situation. Turned out I ended up living …

Michael sells The Big Issue in Civic, Canberra.

While most of the ambassadors in Canberra hang out in Yarralumla, there’s one you just can’t miss in downtown Civic. In his bright vendor uniform and with his penchant for helping the public, Michael is the best ambassador The Big Issue could ask for.
“My customers have helped me out through tips and advice, and I also help the public,” says the Canberra-born 24 year old. “Some are in a worse situation than me. …

Daniel sells The Big Issue on The Parade, Norwood, SA

“I like politics and I’ve decided who I’ll probably vote for. I’d like to see Rudd or Howard make a decent climate-change decision, but I don’t think they will because I don’t think either of them has got any guts. With so much money coming from the GST, I reckon the Government could fund free public transport for everyone.

I do a bit of painting, and won the mental health art competition …

Con sells The Big Issue in the Bourke St Mall and Melbourne Central, Melbourne.

Con is a man of few words but when they do come out, his strong accent gives a pretty good clue as to his background. “I’m 40 now, came out from Cyprus when I was nine,” he says. “There was trouble between the Greek and Turkish sides there. I don’t particularly want to travel back to Cyprus – things are great here in Australia.”

I live at home with …