Tree changers making a difference
Meet the Hughes family Ashlee, Matthew, Dakoda, Blacky, Pearl ...
‘Innesvale’ is the wide-open space Matt and Ash Hughes of Wollongong found in their search for a change from ‘sea change’ to ‘tree change’. The Hughes family story started in Sydney when Ash, a young country woman, left school and sought opportunities in the ‘big smoke’. With plenty of energy and enthusiasm and a natural ability to work hard and achieve, Ash started her first retail business. Then she met Matt. At the time, Matt was managing and working his family-owned business - 21st Century Pest Specialist. He soon bought the business and has now seen the benefits of setting up in the Cabonne region. (See details below left). ‘Flipping homes’ became the Hughes joint business which the couple saw as an opportunity The Hughes family, Matt, Ash, Dakoda with baby kid, whilst living in Sydney and later in Wollongong. With the young couple’s flair for home Pearl, standing at the gateway to ‘Innesvale’. renovations and creating stylish results for their individual client needs - saw a new business opportunity emerge for Ash. Moving towards their ‘tree change’ goal - the young couple worked together for some years buying, renovating, styling, selling. “‘Innesvale’ is our sixth property purchase,” said Ash - a fabulous outcome for the young couple now in their early 30s. “When Dakoda was born, we wanted to spend more time together as a family and to build our family dream of land, paddocks, animals, pets, When Ash drives home, a welcoming party greets her at the and to create new ideas.” she said. gates - goats, dogs, and horses all lining up for the first cuddle. “I sold my interior design decorating business “I would be lost without our animals - good friends,” said Ash. in Wollongong when we felt the time was right The frosty ground of a June morning with the farm to move onto our ultimate dream. We found gate closed to keep the farm animals safely housed. ‘Innesvale’ which ticked the lifestyle, family, sustainable living, and business boxes - and a small school for Dakoda to attend. It’s all on our family planning board.” The young Dakoda loves the freedom of the paddocks, her horse, and the family’s move to sustainability with their sheep, goats, alpacas, chooks, ducks and vegie gardens. “I never want to move from here”she said. The Hughes family planning board has been progressing through ‘Stage 1’ in developing their sheep and building their goat herd (meat and dairy). “We’re a healthy-eating, healthy-lifestyle family and we’ve been planning ‘Innesvale’ pastures in order to re-activate the soils to be able to improve the foods we grow and grazing results”, Ash told the Express. “We’re creating better foods for our family and better foods to feed out to our farm friends. “Stages 2 and 3 are on on the drawing board to value-add from what is becoming our core base, ABOVE: Matt Hughes in the paddocks of ‘Innesvale’. and to add new ideas for farm stay, wedding See Matt’s business ad below - as the name states events and other ‘on farm’ opportunities.” the products and services offered are of the 21st Cabonne region continues to grow as vibrant Century. Safe, reliable, innovative ways to keep homes, biz premises, commercial spaces, housing ‘tree changers’ move into our towns, villages and developments, free of all pests including bird control farming land to enjoy new lifestyle choices and to build new businesses. and termites. The Express team is now branching out to interview and introduce the people, families and business owners who are helping to keep our towns and villages open. It’s good to know that the new skills, knowledge, experiences and investments adding to the traditions and history of Cabonne country will help this region, communities, businesses, agribiz to reach new heights and opportunities. Enjoy the Express team’s new series.
Matt and Dakoda collecting mail and waiting for the school bus LEFT: Developing their sheep and goat herd for meat and dairy is part of ‘Stage 1’ for the Hughes family. RIGHT: A beautiful photo of Ash and Dakoda sitting in the nearby forest - a special photo shoot to promote their new business. See next week’s Express for the exciting news about these two entrepreneurs.
MOLONG EXPRESS, Thursday 6 July 2023
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