SCOTT B O C K I N G
D A N
SCOTT BOCKING IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OPERATORS IN WOOLGOOLGA. NOT ONLY THAT, HE IS AN ALL ROUND NICE GUY. FOCUS CAUGHT WITH SCOTT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT WOOPI. Can you tell us about your connection to Woopi? I moved to the area 10 years ago, as my wife and I considered it’s the perfect place to raise a family. Tell us a little bit about your background ... I worked in the ski industry for 10 years, and then spent the next 13 working in bicycle wholesale. Those jobs allowed me to travel around the world but each time I passed through Woopi, I always wanted to stay longer. Tell us about your business and how you got started. Woodsey’s Wheels has been trading in Woopi for 28 years. When the opportunity came up to buy the business in 2014, I jumped at it. It was the perfect fit for me. The business is much more that just bikes, as we have a huge range of scooters, footwear, water sports and skate. We have recently done a major renovation of our workshop, as servicing is an important part of the business. How important is it to support local business and the community?
Small business is the backbone of towns like our, and I love being a part of that. We support a lot of local groups and charities. What are your favourite things to do in Woopi? We have the greatest climate on earth and incredible topography. Having mountains so close to the coast makes our region quite unique. My happiest moments are outdoors with family or friends enjoying the beach and the bush. To go for a morning surf and spend the afternoon on my mountain bike is a perfect day for me. Being able to do that straight from my garage door is what makes this place so special. If you could have a meal with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why? There are a few who come to mind, but Shaun Palmer would probably get the invite. I have always been a huge fan of action sports, and he was a guy who could turn his hand to anything and compete at the highest level. Dinner with him would probably end with a hangover though! Thanks Scott.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? My connection to Woolgoolga started 20 years ago, when my mother moved here. I’ve lived here with my four kids (two sets of twins) for 16 years and brought them to Bluebottles every weekend for milkshakes, before taking them to the beach. Both Renee (my partner) and I have a background in management and customer service roles. We’ve been employed by big Australian companies for the last 16 years in these roles. We’ve never owned restaurants or been in hospitality before.
How important is it to support local business and the community? To support local businesses is absolutely crucial. Over 75% of the population in this county are employed by local businesses. We employ 25 local people and have so many locally sourced suppliers to help us with the day to day running of Bluebottles. What are your favourite things to do in Woolgoolga? Our favourite thing to do in Woolgoolga is walk Back Beach with our dog, Charlie. We enjoy the coastal lifestyle Woopi offers.
JOHN R A G E N JOHN RAGEN IS A MOONEE BEACH LEGEND - A TRUE BLUE PARRAMATTA EELS SUPPORTER AND A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THE NORTHERN BEACHES. FOCUS SAT DOWN WITH JOHN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE LOVE HE HAS FOR THE TOWN HE CALLS HOME!
W A L S H Can you tell us about your connection to Emerald Beach? My connection is most definitely to the beach and surrounding headlands and national parkland. It’s the go to place for exercise, a walk with friends, or for those times when you just want to relax and gather your thoughts! Can you tell us a little about your background? We moved to Bellingen from the Northern Beaches in Sydney, and lived there for 13 years. When our children became interested in surfing, we thought it was time to move back to the coast. The short story is we fell in love with Emerald Beach and decided to build a house and settle here. Tell us about your business and how you got started? I purchased the building when it was a run
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down café and building, and believed I could make it into something special, given the brilliant location and stunning ocean view. I engaged local architect Anne Gee to redesign the building and to help bring my vision into reality. My vision was not just a place to eat with a great view; I wanted it to be a place for the community and for them to feel like it is their café too! A meeting place … These days I believe cafés are replacing the role of the community hall! Food has changed over the years, and at Surf St Café we are constantly evolving to meet current trends. If you could have a meal with anyone, dead or alive, who would that be and why? I would love to share a meal with the Dalai Lama. I admire his work as peacemaker and his deep wisdom. Thanks Carol.
Can you tell us about your connection to Moonee Beach? In the 1970s I use to holiday at Tiki Village Holiday Resort on Moonee Creek and fell in love with the area. Tell us about your family and what is was like to grow up on the Northern Beaches. Moonee Beach was a small community then, and our family with two young daughters loved the local village atmosphere. How has it changed? Moonee Beach has grown into a major business centre on the Northern Beaches with a first class shopping centre with all the modern facilities. The Moonee Beach Tavern is an excellent place to relax and unwind, with excellent dining and entertainment experiences. How important is it to support local
business and the community? Shopping local is needed to support the lifeblood of all businesses employing staff and supplying much needed services to our local Moonee community. What are your favourite things to do in Moonee Beach? Relaxing in Moonee is so easy, with swimming in Moonee Creek or the beach or walking the headland and having a barbecue on the foreshores among my favourite activities. If you could have a meal with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Knowing what I know now, a dinner with my grandparents to share their stories, hardships, experiences, knowledge and wisdom. Thanks John. coffs coast focus. 61