Clint thought he would always live in Perth, Western Australia. He’d arrived there from England with his family as a boy of seven.

But a chance holiday in 2000 turned Clint’s gaze to the turquoise waters of the Arafura Sea and the 51-year-old hasn’t looked back since.

“My mate told me ‘you’ll just love the place’ and, yep, as soon as I arrived that was the end of me. I was supposed to be up here for a month but I cut it short after a week and a half,” he said.

“I’d already made up my mind so I went back to Perth, sold what I didn’t need, packed up my tools of the trade as a wall and floor tiler and within five months bought a one-way ticket to the NT.”

Clint took on a variety of jobs, including working on the Paspaley pearling boats where he visited islands with pristine beaches and clear water, and out-of-reach places like Victoria Settlement.

“It’s funny because as a kid I didn’t like the water or fishing – I was scared of sharks – and I didn’t like hot weather either,” he said.

“Of course, there are crocs up here and they are a far bigger threat. It’s also hot. But there was something about the laidback lifestyle of Darwin that drew me in. Also, when you go out on a boat, land is not far away and I like that.”

Clint, who lives in the northern suburb of Karama, has gone back to being a self-employed wall and floor tiler, but is grateful for the chance to try other job opportunities.

“People are prepared to give you a shot up here and I love that about the Territory. I’ve met my best mates here, from all different cultures, and I’ve tasted some of the best food.”

Clint even found love again and, while it didn’t last, he knows this tropical city will work its magic again one day.