Women in Business - Cath Fowler

focus_contributor.

with CATH FOWLER

FROM THE DIGITAL LANEWAY

Can you tell us a little bit about your business? Farm to Freezer is a family owned and operated business. We specialise in premium grade, free range, pasture fed beef and lamb as well as grass fed and finished young succulent and tender pork. All of our beef and pork comes from our farm alongside three other pork suppliers located west of Coffs Harbour. These farmers were specially selected as they carry the same core values as we do. Our tender lamb is young and free and sourced from Cowra NSW. The butcher at Farm to Freezer is highly experienced with over 35 years in the field. We deliver all of our fresh meat boxes from Yamba to Port Macquarie and surrounding locations, and can deliver to your work or home for your convenience.

you do? Interacting with our amazing customers who support us in delivering the highest quality products to our local families to enjoy. FARM TO FREEZER

We were lucky enough to be recently awarded the Best Butcher in a local radio station promotion. It was so lovely to be able to read and hear from our customers just how much they not only love our products but also appreciate our friendly and local service.

business? Our Head Butcher who has taught me everything I know. He has been a butcher for over 35 years and is also my grandfather. The passion he has for what he does is an inspiration. While being in this industry can be quite male dominated, I think because we are a family owned business and I am interacting with our customers regularly, engaging with our clients helps deliver quality, personalised service as me and the team take the time to know our customers.

Coast? I’ve been lucky enough to be born and raised here on our farm in Newee Creek and now I get to bring up my son in such an amazing part of the world. I love the Nambucca Valley and all of the wonderful benefits we have living in such a great part of the Mid North Coast. While it’s fantastic being out on the farm, it’s also so great to have such beautiful beaches on our doorstep too. And I love what a friendly local community we have in this area. We don’t take for granted the loyalty and love we receive from our clients everyday.

world? Have a goal set and keep pushing because when you reach that goal the feeling is truly something amazing. Even though there will be hard times, keep going and let nothing defeat you. Women are generally quite a resilient bunch so I think this helps set us up for having the grit it takes to succeed in business, especially when tough times come along. I also believe that when you build something you love and are passionate about, this will naturally push you to succeed.

farmtofreezer.com.au or our Facebook page.

Toscan Homes ended the year on a high note, delivering five executive townhouses as part of the huge Shoreline development. The townhouses boast space, serenity and security, along with a host of benefits that come with being a part of the Shoreline community. The huge three and four-bedroom homes are made for relaxed beachside living and were built using experienced and passionate local tradies. Happy owner, David Ellis, says he and wife Maz are impressed with the quality of workmanship throughout their home. “On taking possession, we found that the attention to detail during the build has given us a house with excellent finishes and without annoying defects,” he explains. “Thank you Toscan Homes.”

When David and Helen decided to add another dwelling to their Sawtell block, they needed a custom builder who could help realise their dreams of a Hamptonsstyle beach house. They also had to ensure that the new home complimented the existing house on the block. “We chose Toscan Homes because we wanted a quality, local, custom builder with a good reputation,” explains David. The end result is spectacular! Perched between the sea and vibrant bushland, their new home is bright, breezy and full of modern charm. Open plan bathrooms using gloss subway Carpet Court tiles create a sense of space and light. And the kitchen is an entertainer’s dream, with a butler’s pantry and modern design that blurs the lines between the outside and in. “Our favourite room is the open plan kitchen, dining and living room with its exposed rafters and servery window,” says David. “It’s where we sit and look onto the rainforest at the rear of the property.” The essence of the home is essentially ‘Modern Hamptons’ (a design style using natural and authentic textures, rather than the traditional Hamptons style of a washed-out, all-white colour palette). This cutting-edge style is taking off in Australia, with the blending of styles well suited to the natural textures and tones of the Australian landscape. David and Helen are amazed with how well their vision came to fruition and give thanks to the skilful Toscan team who brought their

David and

Helen are amazed with how well their vision came to fruition and give thanks to the skilful Toscan team who brought their dream home to life. dream home to life. “Our carpenter, Steve Clark was the best. He takes a lot of care and pride in his work,” says David. “The same goes for our plumber Mitch, our electrician Brodie and Nathan from G & A Cabinets.” The couple found the building process to be a breeze and took in their stride the record breaking rains that threatened to derail the project. “We got there in the end and are extremely happy,” says David. “It’s everything we’ve dreamed it would be and more.”

Repeat clients Kim and Matt are thrilled with their Toscan-Built family home and recently completed studio

Nestled into a quiet corner of Mullaway, where the chattering of native birds is superseded only by the soothing sounds of nearby waves, sits Kim and Matt’s dream home. A triumph for the couple and it’s builder, Toscan Homes, this stunning abode uses a bespoke mix of modern materials that work in perfect synchronicity. For the exterior, the use of prestige hardwoods, coupled with the choice of black Colorbond®, work together to create a modern, industrial feel that retains warmth and personality. The flat roof is also carefully curated to create a soft, flowing feel across the exterior of the home. The interior of the home is equally as thought out and impressive. It boasts stunning concrete burnished flooring, hand-crafted hardwood stairs and an open plan layout that offers, light, air and an abundance of space. “We love the fact that our home isn’t a run of the mill house - it’s unique,” explains Kim and Matt. “We wanted a family home that suited our personality, values and lifestyle - we wanted a home that represented us.” Functionality was also a major factor in the planning of Kim and Matt’s home. “Our house is not only aesthetically pleasing in design, but extremely functional and practical,” they explain. “It’s an easy living family home and we wouldn’t change a thing.” This breathtaking build is a labour of love for the happy couple, who put much time and energy into ensuring their home was a perfect fit for the whole family. The pair spent many hours researching and collating their favourite designs and materials, with Kim drawing rough sketches of the style they wanted their home

We often to be. comment on new “Toscan Homes then aspects that we hadn’t put our myriad of jigsaw noticed before, or pieces together to create reflect on the way it our spectacular home,” looks throughout the explain the pair. day - the way the “We still get so many shadows create a positive comments about different perspective. our house, and it’s been three years since the build.” Today, the couple are still admiring and discovering new features of their home. “We often comment on new aspects that we hadn’t noticed before, or reflect on the way it looks throughout the day - the way the shadows create a different perspective,” they enthuse.

It’s hardly a surprise then that when Kim and Matt wanted to add a second dwelling on their property, Toscan Homes was their first port of call. “We thought the studio would be a fantastic space for our two teenage sons,” they explain. “But life happens and we adapted the studio build into a work space for Kim.” Kim runs a successful tutoring business from the studio and loves spending her working days in the new space. “The end results are amazing and we couldn’t be happier,” says the couple. “You can’t tell that the studio was an afterthought - it looks like it was a part of the original build.” The studio has been purposefully designed to blend seamlessly with the main home. It uses a similar mix of materials to create an industrial, yet warm ambience. The external walls of the studio are a mix of Colorbond®, timber, cedar and blockwork. The internal walls are made of a natural concrete finish and the floor, just like the main home, is made from burnished concrete. The ceiling is truly stunning and was created using raw Blackbutt ply. It was custom made and locally constructed in Grafton, shipped to Coffs Harbour and installed by the expert Toscan Homes team. Kim and Matt adore their brand-new studio and were impressed with the professionalism of the Toscan team throughout the build, especially considering the project was hit by months of horrendous weather. They were amazed by how much the Toscan Homes team genuinely cared about their project and were invested in getting them the best results. “All the tradies that were involved in our studio build were exceptional,” says Kim and Matt. “The tradies that we had obviously enjoy the trades they are in, because it’s evident in the quality of their workmanship.”

Shop 13, Sartos Centre, 9 GDT Seccombe Close, Coffs Harbour (02) 6652 2444 toscanhomes.com.au admin@toscanhomes.com.au toscanhomescoffs toscanh2450

SAWTELL CATHOLIC CARE

At Sawtell Catholic Care it’s all about the mission. Our mission is to grow and sustain an inclusive community of Christian care. ‘We care’ is even our motto.

Thirty years of providing accommodation and services to the community we care for has seen Marian Grove, the flagship of our brand, setting a high standard for retirement living and Mater Christi residential care service recognised as a leading aged care provider in our region. The continuum of care at Marian Grove really is always evolving, adapting to the needs of our residents as they change over time, sustaining their independence and enhancing their quality of life. Now it’s time to introduce our latest innovation and support for our community,

The former site of Cockbain’s Nursery on Hogbin Drive has been reinvigorated, becoming part of Marian Grove’s village precinct which affords our residents an exceptional lifestyle opportunity in their own backyard. This huge 3.6 acre garden offers our community a wonderful, unique outdoor space to walk, sit and relax, enjoy a coffee and a light meal at the café in the company of friends and family, or some solitude and reflection time if needed. The Link is here for our broader local community as well, as a space for gathering and social connection, intergenerational sharing and enjoyment, in addition to small functions and events. In conjunction with Mental Health and National Gardening Week (October 10-14) we opened the Link gates and invited the community to join us for a week of celebration filled with music, intergenerational art exhibitions, community, and fun. The “official “opening ceremony took place on Tuesday 11 October at 10 am, with Master of Ceremonies Matt Digges introducing a Welcome to Country by Aunty Jenny Skinner, addresses from Sawtell Catholic Care CEO Michael Darragh and Ambassador for National Gardening Week George Hoad AM, with a blessing by Fr Michael Alcock, ably assisted ably by Zippy . A ribbon cutting ceremony followed with assistance from Sawtell Catholic Care Board Chairman David Robson and Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos and the event concluded with uplifting cultural dances and a smoking ceremony by the Giingan Dancers. Thanks also to everyone else who made the week so special, “The Shed Men” Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed Band, Louise and Wendy for their violin music at the cafe, Youngster Co for tech assistance, The Marian Grove Ukulele Group and The Sawtell Ukulele group. The Link gardens and Cafe are now open, Monday to Saturday 8.30 am to 3 pm. We are pleased to announce that The Link Café is run by fellow not-for-profit organisation the Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation, already known to many locals for their Nyanggan Gapi Café at Sealy Lookout and catering business which invests back into the Coffs Harbour Gumbaynggirr community. We’re looking forward to

The Link is here a beautiful collaboration, for our broader giving diners great service in local community as delightful surrounds. well, as a space for If you’re thinking of retiring, gathering and social why not take a look around connection... Marian Grove and The Link? Marian Grove has beautiful, newly refurbished villas available right now, with home options to suit every taste at prices to suit every budget. Our upcoming promotion offers anyone who moves into our apartments $2000 towards their window coverings and 3 months waived maintenance fees up to the value of $1700. Our villas and townhouses are also eligible for the three months waived maintenance promotion. These beautiful residences are selling fast, so why not give us a call today and arrange for a visit with our friendly sales team? We’d love to hear from you. Call us on 0490 522 596, email mariangrovesales@scca.net.au or visit our website at scca.net.au/independent

IN COFFS HARBOUR

As you can see in our photo, Sylvia and Sam are on the Medici adjustable bed. The base may be able to sit on your existing slatted bed frame, giving you the desired look and personal touch for your bedroom. Have you tried our 100% Tencel sheets, Moffee at 106.3 Triple M loves the luxurious feel of the silky sheets. Once tried you will never go back. Currently available at Harvey Norman Coffs Harbour Bedding Store. Buy a set of Tencel Sheets either in King, Queen or Super king size and receive a BONUS Tencel quilt. Valued over $300. Come in try Medici mattresses by Sleepmaker, feel the difference, experience zero-g, have a massage you won’t be disappointed. At the same time feel the luxurious Tencel sheets, you will be surprised of the quality and glamourous feel of Tencel, as Tencel is made from the bark of a eucalyptus tree. Tencel is eco friendly, bio degradable, great for hot sleepers, and asthmatics.