OAK Magazine Issue 12 - The Rural Trader

REGIONAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS

K AT MONTGOMERY The Rural Trader builds a tiny town’s future on the past

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And family – it almost goes without saying that I am forever grateful. I was away from home a lot this year, and I really don’t know how my husband managed to juggle it all.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR A little ritual our family of six started during lockdown was sitting at the dining table each night, and our then four year old daughter asking, ‘What was the best bit of your bit?’. We’d each take a turn to share a highlight of our day.

Personally, I have a lot to be grateful for this year even though the last quarter has felt suffocating. After a quick flick through the camera roll, there are quite a few wow moments to remind me that a few bad weeks don’t make 2022 a bad year.

There were some incredible speaking gigs in rural areas I haven’t visited before; social media workshops with Rural Business Connections; I purchased a van and successfully converted it into a mobile podcast studio; being named the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Victorian Winner; media opportunities, A Friend of Mine podcast ranking #8 on the Apple Podcast Charts for entrepreneurship in Australia and #5 in New Zealand; as well as being featured in Apple’s New & Noteworthy.

Being named 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Runner Up was a very big moment that makes me appreciate more than ever the opportunity I have with what I do here.

I could dedicate an entire feature story to this experience. It has sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, opened doors, and reminded me that the work you do outside the spotlight is important, appreciated, and doesn’t go unnoticed.

When you become a mum, you lose a little bit of your identity and it’s incredibly difficult to chase your dream career. There is one reason I get to walk out the door for work without guilt, travel, fulfill my passion, feel like I have purpose, and win awards – and that reason is David.

You won’t see him on OAK socials, at events or in any of the PR assets for the awards (like this treasured photo from Chloe Smith Photography), because he is behind the scenes, picking up my dropped balls, writing little messages of encouragement (and hiding them in my luggage) and being an incredible parent for our kids.

Cumulatively, it was beyond a good year, and it’s going to end on a high with one last sprint in getting this issue to print.

Talk soon,

Kimberley Furness – Founder + Editor hello@oakmagazine.com.au

@kimberleyfurness

CONTENTS 8

OAK Loves

12 OAK Loves Spotlight ~ Spill The Tea 14 Recipe ~ Salty and Spiced Mixed Nuts 16 Planning For A Rainy Day ~ Spark Drop 20 The Family Spirit ~ Mrs Baker's Still House 24 Farm To Fashion ~ Horrocks Vale Collections 30 The Roots Of Regrowth ~ Soilz Alive 34 From Strength To Strength ~ Because of my Four 38 Cover Story: One Shop Stop ~ The Rural Trader 44 Law Of Business ~ Curium Legal 48 A Fairy Adventure ~ AJ Collective + Milly Kane Photography 50 A Love Letter To Hamilton ~ The Hamilton Hamper 54 Thriving Through Connection ~ Rural Business Connections 55 Call Of The Wild ~ EnviroEDU 60 Teaching On Country ~ Sarah Donnelley 62 Luxury In The Outback ~ Outback Linen Co 68 Take Me Somewhere: Old World Charm ~ Dunmore Farm 72 Take Me Somewhere: Kangaroo Valley and Berry, NSW 76 To Be Hosted ~ Hosted 78 Start 2023 With Intention, Purpose And Clarity ~ MiGOALS 80 A Friend Of Mine Podcast 84 Van Life: A Portal To The Heartlands ~ OAK Magazine 86 Directory

Contributors FOUNDER & EDITOR Kimberley Furness ART DIRECTOR Louise Davis WRITERS Lesley Apps Nat Dowling Kimberley Furness Athina Greenhalgh Sara Harte Gabrielle Hall Alice Moffitt PHOTOGRAPHY Chloe Smith Photography Milly Kane Photography EM Photography Front cover photography by Mads Porter Photography ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ARTWORK Artist Amanda Hinkelmann ~ Because of my Four with Louise Davis

Printed by Printgraphics on paper by Ball & Doggett.

This publication is printed using vegetable based inks.

OAK Magazine has chosen to print on FSC and PEFC certified stock ensuring traceability and verification of well managed forest timber, from mill to printer to you.

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GET IN TOUCH

We would love to hear how you enjoyed Issue 12 and the stories you love best.

hello@oakmagazine.com.au www.oakmagazine.com.au

@oakmagazineau

Copyright OAK Magazine 2022. All rights reserved. All material in OAK Magazine is wholly copyright and reproduction without the written permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Views and comments expressed by individuals do not necessarily represent those of the Publishers and no legal responsibility can be accepted for the result of the use by readers of information or advice of whatever kind given in this publication, either in editorial or advertisement. [ 6 ] OAK

OAK LOVES A collection of our favourite new finds. And when you make a purchase, know that you’ll be supporting a female-owned business from regional and rural Australia.

We love discovering new brands so grab our attention on Instagram by using #oakmagazine in your caption.

S P I L L T H E T E A CO A wholesome range of herbal and fruit based, loose leaf, ethically sourced and sustainably packaged tea handcrafted with love in regional NSW. Each blend is crafted with carefully chosen herbs and fruit pieces made for every occasion and health need. Spill tea, drink tea. www.spilltheteaco.com.au @spilltheteaco_

G R E E N H I L L S FA R M In cahoots with Gippsland's young gun winemakers, Green Hills Farm are producing limited-release batches of blushingly beautiful, wine-infused garlic salt. A pinch perfect finishing salt to flavour bomb your favourite foods with a stellar hit of herbaceous, garlicky oomph.

Made in Gippsland using three ingredients – Green Hills Farm garlic, local wine and Aussie salt. www.greenhillsfarm.com.au @greenhills_farm

B OX E D I N T H E B U S H A seasonal surprise, handmade with love and delivered to your door or that someone special throughout the year. We are a subscription-based gift parcel with each box showcasing a minimum of four products handmade by superwomen located in rural, regional or remote areas across Australia.

Support Australian handmade with a Boxed in the Bush subscription – the perfect gift that keeps on giving. www.boxedinthebush.com @boxedinthebush

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THE INSPIRED HIVE Laura is the queen bee at The Inspired Hive, helping heart driven humans build their business buzz. She helps entire teams or single humans become confident, creative marketers of brilliant businesses and excellent organisation through marketing mentoring and training. Make marketing intelligible, doable and fun, it doesn’t need to be overwhelming and sporadic. www.theinspiredhive.com.au @theinspiredhive_ /theinspiredhivebylaurahiggins

HUSK HIM HER Shop for the whole family when you come to HUSK him her. A small family business in Kerang, country Victoria, that helps cater for everyone. Offering a wide variety of street wear clothing and accessories to help keep the whole family on-trend. This one stop shop will keep you shopping with ease. www.huskhimher.com.au @huskhimher

B E N D I G O M E D I AT I O N Janis Bull is a conflict resolution specialist, mediator, social worker and child consultant with over 20 years of combined experience. Janis is passionate about helping people in dispute whether that be in separation and divorce, or in the workplace to have a voice, be heard and work towards resolution for a more peaceful future. Fixed fee structure. In person or online appointments available. www.bendigomediation.com.au @bendigomediation /bendigomediation1

B U S H & B OA R D Bush & Board’s range of carefully curated handmade homewares are sustainably sourced using Australian materials to create unique gifts for yourself and loved ones. This luxurious and affordable brand is owned and operated by Shara Kimpton, a rural mum in the Hilltops Region of NSW. www.bush-and-board.square.site

@bush_and_board

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P E A K V I E W FA R M From her family farm outside Capella, central Queensland, Sarah handcrafts a range of goat soaps using the milk from their dairy goats. Sarah, a passionate creative, loves finding the beauty in simplicity and regularly uses ingredients from the farm’s herb and flower gardens and bush orchard. Natural skin loving ingredients. Made for family's everyday routine.

From our farm to you. Wholesale welcome. www.peakviewfarm.com.au @peak_view_farm

H U N T E R H E R M I TAG E H A M P E R S We individually curate hampers showcasing local artisan and hand-produced sustainable food products made in the Hunter Valley of NSW. Every item in your hamper is made locally by small producers and chosen with love to share the beauty of our home. Perfect gifts for your friends, family or clients. We ship Australia-wide. www.hunterhermitagehampers.com.au @hunterhermitagehampers

B E N D I G O H E A LT H Bendigo Health Fundraising & Foundation funds specialised medical equipment and services so more people in our region are treated closer to home and their loved ones.

This year, Bendigo Health’s annual Christmas Appeal (accepting donations through until February 2023) will help fund an all abilities outdoor play space to help make children’s rehabilitation therapy more enjoyable. www.bendigohealth.org.au/Christmas @bendigohealthfoundation

MEADOW AND MARSH Flower-powered, regional Australian business Meadow and Marsh offer a blossoming range of bespoke flower seeds and gift cards. Created by Table Top flower-farmer Lyndal Symons, in collaboration with D&D Letterpress in Albury NSW, this playful range invites you to embark on your own floral journey, from seed, to bloom, to seed; season upon season. Let’s grow! www.meadowandmarsh.com.au @meadow_and_marsh [ 10 ] OAK

B E N D I G O F I N E FO O D S Founder of Bendigo Fine Foods owner Rosemary Tzovlas uses beautiful fresh produce to make her small batch, award winning artisan jams, relishes, pickles, sauces, rocky road and more.

Perfect gifts for family and friends, and a great addition to your Christmas hampers.

Order online or visit Bendigo Fine Foods at monthly farmers markets at Kyneton, Trentham, Malmsbury and Lancefield. www.bendigofinefoods.com.au bendigofinefoods

Giving a gift from a small business is giving a gift twice.

Social media & marketing training & strategy for regional & rural small biz, community groups & leaders.

Qualified advice with no fluff or jargon.

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macandernie.com.au

OAK LOVES

spotlight

In year nine, teenager Sienna Capra founded Spill the Tea – a wholesome range of herbal and fruit based, loose leaf, ethically sourced and sustainably packaged tea handcrafted with love in regional NSW. Tell us about your business and how it started?

What challenges or hurdles have you faced in business?

In the first lockdown of 2020, whilst I was home from boarding school and drinking copious amounts of tea, I noticed a major gap in the market for a healthy, sustainable, fun and yummy drink for my age group.

Soft drinks, caffeinated drinks and other unhealthy beverages were what was predominantly on offer for young people.

As much as I have received such immense love and support from my community and the nation as a whole, age is still something that some people struggle to come to terms with.

With that vision in mind, Spill the Tea was created – a new, fun, innovative approach to herbal tea specifically for teens and early adults.

I was also halfway through an art assignment where I was drawing logos – this is where my Spill the Tea illustration came from.

What is your biggest achievement in business?

I am a firm believer in celebrating every win no matter how big or small – I feel this way you are constantly practicing gratitude and also minimising self doubt.

I still get excited with every order and every time I walk into a store and see my range of the shelves; it’s such a surreal and rewarding feeling.

I was also super fortunate to be a part of TAFE NSW entrepreneurship/business course and winning the national entrepreneurship award 'Ed Start'.

Through this, I was granted money to put towards further growing Spill the Tea as well as having film crews come out to my home studio and put together a case study on myself and the business. [ 12 ] OAK

I have been declined opportunities as soon as they found out I was 16 years old. At times I've felt that people don't take what you are doing seriously and treat it more as a blow-over type project.

I don't take it personally anymore but I think changing that perception is something that needs to be done.

What is the best piece of business advice you were given?

If you're going to do something, do it properly.

This saying has surrounded me my entire life and really holds me accountable to continue working towards my goals even in times of self doubt.

This one piece of advice has shaped the way I approach all opportunities and moments in life and business.

In moments of self doubt, how do you build yourself back up?

My family truly is the best. We are a super close family and can all chat openly about our feelings.

I have also discovered a newfound appreciation for journaling – sounds cliché but it really works. I write on one side a list of things I am grateful for, then on the other side a brain dump of what I am feeling and the advice I would give to someone else in the same situation. Would recommend!

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SALTY AND SPICED MIXED NUTS This recipe is from the kitchen of Kristy Plumridge, owner of Green Hills Farm.

It uses their gorgeous farm garlic and reds from local wine makers to produce a Wine + Garlic + Salt that adds a slight garlicky oomph to the taste of these mixed nuts, but any good quality sea salt can be used. A great host gift that supports your farmer.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 cups of whole nuts. Green Hills Farm favourite mix is pecans, macadamia, large cashews, almonds.

1. Preheat oven to 150°C. Line a baking tray with grease proof paper. Place nuts in a medium heatproof bowl.

2 tbsp EVOO olive oil

2. Pour oil into a small heavy saucepan and place over low heat until warm. Do not let it get too hot or the oil will smoke and burn. Add rosemary, thyme and fennel seeds and stir until aromatic, about 1 minute.

1 tbsp of chopped rosemary (1 large sprig) 1 tbsp of chopped thyme leaves (6-8 sprigs) 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander ½ tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp fennel seeds 1 tbsp brown sugar 2–3 tsp Green Hills Farm Wine + Garlic + Salt 5 good cracks of black pepper

3. Remove pan from heat and stir in cumin, coriander and smoked paprika.

4. Pour the spiced oil over the nuts and stir to coat evenly. Sprinkle with sugar, 1 tsp of salt and black pepper.

Stir again to create even coating of all the nuts 5. Spread evenly in a single layer on the lined baking tray.

Bake for 10 minutes, then stir the nuts and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Do not step away from the kitchen at this point as nuts can go from golden brown to burnt in an instant.

6. Remove tray and let it completely cool before adding another teaspoon or two of salt to taste. Store in glass jars or an airtight container for up to four weeks.

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A SPECIALTY COFFEE BLEND FOR EVERY PREFERENCE From the delicious aroma of freshly roasted beans – to your first indulgent sip – and the smooth long-lasting aftertaste, Emme Mac Black Specialty Coffee is much more than a great way to start your day. It’s a morning ritual.

Whether you’re a restauranteur or specialty food store owner, boutique accommodation provider or simply love to enjoy a delicious brew at home – we have the perfect coffee blend for you.

Home | Wholesale | Gifting www.emmemacblack.com.au @emme_mac_black

PLANNING FOR A RAINY DAY WORDS: Lesley Apps IMAGES: EM Photography

For a farm girl who grew up in Goolgowi north west of Griffith, Sarah Armstrong is slowly getting used to her new job title of app designer – one she officially earned when her concept Spark Drop was launched in May this year.

But despite those hi-tech credentials, Sarah’s farming roots aren’t too far from her app’s premise which has rainfall at it core, or more accurately, the recording of it.

Keeping track of rainfall is an Australian pastime that goes well beyond the farm gates and into the urban backyards if Sarah’s growing base of followers are anything to go by.

“They’re not all farmers,” she laughs. “There are some backyard users. I call them my rain enthusiasts.”

For now, Sarah’s app caters to the Apple crowd. The next step in her IT journey is to make it available for Android users, something she is keen to get on top “once I find some more money”.

It’s this kind of what next, flying by the seat of her jeans, that has stead Sarah well on the trajectory that began as an idea in her parent’s kitchen, to signing up almost 1,000 Spark Drop users so far.

“Once we get the other app out there, those numbers will become even more relevant.”

But all these apps don’t come cheap. During a recent podcast with OAK Magazine founder and editor Kimberley Furness, Sarah crunched the numbers to reveal set up costs for two versions (Apple and Google) came in at $30,000. Add in graphic design and that’s another hefty chunk of cash she had to find.

While Sarah has a great business partner supporting her through the minefield of app ownership, she was also keen to talk about the personal cost she had to navigate while following her business dream.

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"It was amazing how quickly things flowed after removing the negativity from my life."

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The idea for the app, and the initial funds, came after the breakdown of her relationship with the father of her two young children.

Sarah said deciding to leave wasn’t easy when your natural instincts tell you to make it work for the children.

“I had to leave and thought as long as I was okay, the kids would be too.”

So Sarah and her children moved back to her parents’ property and that’s when things started to fall into place.

“It has been a rollercoaster but I left with my head held high and built myself back up. It was amazing how quickly things flowed after removing the negativity from my life. That’s when I first got the idea for Spark Drop and I’m now in the strongest headspace I’ve ever been in my life,” says Sarah.

While she knows there is a long road ahead, Sarah said the process had taught her a lot and it’s been “onwards and upwards since then”.

“I think it’s important for women to know there are options out there. Don’t stay in a situation that makes you feel powerless and feel like you have no support.”

Having the confidence and, more notably, the guts to invest her money into following her app-building dreams rather than the traditionally safer bricks and mortar was a risky move but one that Sarah would do again.

“Everyone thought I was mad but my intuition took over. The business side of things has been hard because it’s just been me. I’ve never done business before, never had my own shop, so I don’t have that backend experience. I’d certainly never built an app before but I did it anyway. I think I get that risk-taking from my grandfather Sparky (the inspiration behind the app name).”

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Now with all the different hats she wears, Sarah said the toughest thing was keeping it all together.

“I can’t separate myself from being Sarah Armstrong mother, woman and business woman. It took a while to realise this but two years later I now have an app that is being used and there’s a relevance to all of this.

It definitely helped me to find myself.”

With plans to expand and new ideas circling, Sarah isn’t going to let something like having no money stop her.

“Once we get past this hurdle, we will start looking at advertising options and maybe an annual subscription fee once it is fully established. There’s also a side hustle I’m thinking about – digitalising people’s old rainfall charts.”

Then there is the mental health aspect to having an app like Spark Drop that keeps driving Sarah to grow the community.

“I love seeing people putting up photos, having conversations, comparing rainfall anomalies within 10kms of each other, sharing current conditions.

There’s always that banter that goes on but the weather has always been something people engage over and that’s a great thing.”

Spark Drop is an online community where farmers can easily record and share their actual rainfall. www.sparkdrop.com.au @sparkdrop.au

" There’s always that banter that goes on but the weather has always been something people engage over and that’s a great thing.”

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THE FAMILY SPIRIT WORDS: Kimberley Furness

Jane Baker describes the moment of launching Mrs Baker’s Still House as “less of a light-bulb moment and more like someone slowly drawing the curtains back”.

In 2015, Jane and her husband Benjamin were running their vineyard, winery and cottage accommodation in Glenpatrick, Victoria.

“At the time I was also working in Melbourne, in part, to fund the ‘dream’ of living at our home in the country, growing and making wine,” says Jane.

“I would commute from our beautiful valley in Glenpatrick to Fitzroy each week for work, it was often on these long drives or around the family dinner table that new product ideas or improvements would start to form.

“The idea at the time was to keep diversifying our shiraz wine range. We bought a still and got ourselves licensed to produce high-percentage alcohol to be able to make fortified wine.”

One day, with a handful of freshly picked herbs from the kitchen garden and experimenting with their “shiny new toy”, Benjamin and his father made their first gin which would become known as the ‘Sensual & Intellectual’ dry gin.

“I don’t remember the exact decision making moment when we decided to make gin on a business scale but I do remember it being a rather natural addition for us.

We were already in the liquor industry making and selling a product, so it wasn’t a big step for us to start selling gin as well," says Jane.

In 2016, the curtains were fully drawn back and Mrs Baker’s Still House was officially established.

Tucked away in the quiet Glenpatrick valley of the Pyrenees Ranges, Mrs Baker's Still House is a female lead micro-distillery making award winning gins and liqueurs. It’s a family affair with Jane working alongside [ 20 ] OAK

MDP Photography & Video

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her two daughters, Elizabeth the distiller and Georgette the designer. The tight knit team share a passion for low-impact production methods, sourcing locally grown botanicals and using an award winning 100 per cent solar-powered distillation process.

and low-alcoholic beverages, cost of electricity and other fuel sources, sustainability, and knowing what your customers want before they do.

“The spirits industry is somewhat different, we have just elected our first female president for our professional association, the Australian Distillers Association, and there are a number of great organisations like Women of Australian Distilling.

“I have a little secret mission: to succeed. To prove the doubters wrong. I want to create a successful, family-centered, environmentally sustainable business which creates delish and provenance appropriate spirits that show regional distinction, and eventually make people sit up and notice what we have done.”

“Consumers are always looking for the next big thing.

Over the last six years, gin has been a great vehicle for providing an ongoing, wide range of new flavours.

“At our distillery we have a wonderful worm farm that As with any business, being one idea ahead of your munches its way through garden waste, distillery waste customers is vital so you can skill up, manufacture and cardboard. We have a water treatment pond that is and package, and get to market just as the customer teaming with frogs, and then the water moves into the orchard. We have a system where locals return their empty starts to purchase,” says Jane. gin bottles to be re-sterilized and re-used,” says Jane.

“My tips for the future – gin will continue but there will be less variety and Australian grown mezcal will “Mrs Baker’s Still House is not perfect; we still generate waste, we still have to use plastic. But we are mindful about be the next focus, but it won't boom because it takes a while to grow agave. Whisky is slowly and quietly each input, and how it will be in the end. We produce our sneaking up, but the whisky distilleries have to play own water and we produce our own electricity.” the slow and steady race.”

Although the spirits industry often appears maleMrs Baker’s Still House is working on its own single dominated, Jane says women have played a significant malt whisky, to be released in 2023. role in the history of distillation.

“My daughter’s are keen to be a part of the movement to “It is a truth universally acknowledged in the wine make whisky that women like; richer, smoother flavours industry, that a young female has the most discerning with less overt smokey-ness,” says Jane. palette for identifying and blending flavours. There are a number of great Australian female winemakers, but the Jane is now living her dream of residing in the country, majority (of the workforce) are middle to late aged males. growing and making wine with just one mission in mind.

“One of the challenges for a young female in the distillery industry is how to balance pregnancy and breast feeding while being in a workplace where sensory analysis (smell, taste) is an important part of distilling, to determine when to make the cuts from heads to hearts to tails.”

Jane acknowledges that the distillery industry faces other challenges such as the movement toward non [ 22 ] OAK

Mrs Baker’s Still House is located at 606 Elmhurst-Glenparick Road, Elmhurst, Victoria. Book a gin blending masterclass, cellar door tour, or shop the award winning range of gin online. www.mrsbakers.com.au @mrsbakersstillhouse

Georgina Morrison Creative

MDP Photography & Video

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FARM TO FASHION WORDS: Gabrielle Hall IMAGES: Nadinne Grace Photography

For 26 years, rural South Australian woman Nikki Atkinson has been making her mark in the bridal, after-five and special occasion fashion wear industry.

Nikki has worked for a range of fashion design businesses, started a hugely successful bridal store in Adelaide alongside a fellow fashion school student, and run her own retail outlet. She remains in-demand to design and create unique couture from her family property at Wilmington in South Australia’s Southern Flinders Ranges.

You could be forgiven for thinking that after 26 years, Nikki would be content for things to continue on steadily as they were. But for two decades, there has been something niggling away at Nikki and she has now finally cracked the code and found a way to incorporate her other passion – Australian wool – into her fashion business.

In September this year, from her rural family home where she lives with husband and wool producer Dallas, and their three children Livina, 16, Sienna, 15, and Charlie, 12, Nikki launched Horrocks Vale Collections – a collection of exquisite bridal gowns made from Australian wool.

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A farm to fashion story that sees Nikki living, working and immersing in the family’s Merino sheep property, it is also the inspiration behind her unique wool bridal gowns.

Australian wool has come a long way from the chunky knits that might pop into mind at its mention.

“One of the biggest lessons over the years of being in business is to concentrate on what I do best …"

Having grown up on a farming property on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, Nikki has long seen first-hand its sustainable, breathable, versatile characteristics and is keen to share its virtues through her unique new range.

“Wool is the best fibre you can work with,” says Nikki. [ 26 ] OAK

“This has been a little dream of mine; there’s always been a spark between wool and I, and I’ve always loved wool as a fibre.

“The idea of a wool wedding dress was formed about 20 years ago when a girlfriend of mine was getting married and because she was from a sheep property north of Broken Hill, she was keen to have a wool wedding dress.

“But not for love nor money could I find ivory wool anywhere to create the dress we designed, and I ended up making her a dress from silk.”

Nikki never gave up the search, trying many times over the years to find a suitable fabric.

Nikki plans to include a range of men’s Horrocks Vale Collections vests and dog accessories – all made from wool – to match in perfectly with her wedding dress designs.

It was during a “special birthday” visit to Melbourne earlier this year with her former bridal store business partner and friend, and having traipsed the streets looking for a fabric supplier, that they finally found one.

“I was so excited and I thought, ‘Right, this is happening, the universe is trying to tell me something so I’m going to power ahead and make wool wedding dresses’,” says Nikki.

“I think people have just not thought about wool wedding dresses, and I know it will take a bit of time for them to get their heads around it because they perceive wool as being scratchy and itchy, and everybody assumes wool will be great for winter.

“But the technology of wool is so advanced and I want to showcase beautiful couture dresses that also work perfectly for summer for their breathability, and that wear so effortlessly and stylishly.”

She finally feels she has found her niche and Nikki’s business journey continues to evolve, with a few valuable business lessons learned along the way.

“Over time I have learned to work smarter not harder, and you cannot do it all yourself,” she says.

“One of the biggest lessons over the years of being in business is to concentrate on what I do best and that is creating and designing.

“It’s smarter for me to outsource other areas of the business I know I’m not great at, like technology, and just stick with what I know I do best in designing and creating.”

Horrocks Vale Collections designs sustainable, luxury wedding gowns that offer today’s bride the opportunity to feel naturally beautiful, comfortable and confident while staying true to her eco-friendly values with an heirloom gown that can be passed down through the generations. www.horrocksvale.com @horrocksvale_collections

Making it easy for schools to ensure that kids are getting financial literacy education every week.

And knowing a formula isn’t going to teach them how to save and invest so they can be financially secure...

Our vision is a world where every child leaves school knowing how to get, grow and manage money, so that the number of people living in poverty is significantly reduced.

If you’re a parent, carer or teacher and want to see Kids Get Money in your school, get in touch at kidsget.money

Annette Rose, Founder & CEO, Kids Get Money

Because there’s no such thing as parallelogram season...

Equations aren’t going to help them make a budget and stick to it...

Gamified software

Class activities

Weekly lessons Y2-Y12

Teacher resources

Curriculum aligned OAKMagazine [ 27 ]

Remote admin support for regional businesses We offer simple solutions, provide effective and efficient outcomes, and support you and your business to thrive.

"Your support has helped me to expand my business and serve my customers better" "They've taken a load off my shoulders and allowed me to focus on areas of the business that generate income"

Carly Hartas carly@countrytocoastea.com.au www.countrytocoastea.com.au

@countrytocoast_ea

i r st ste p of ge f e tting Th somewhe g n i d re is deci yo u a r e n o t g o i n g t o s t ay w h e r e yo u are.

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THE ROOTS OF REGROWTH WORDS: Nat Dowling IMAGES: Chloe Smith Photography

A brutal business divorce ate at the soul of energetic entrepreneur, Jackie Yong. In the aftermath, the former hairdresser and compost enthusiast returned to the roots of an idea that had been lying dormant in the shed and in her head.

The result is Soilz Alive; a garden soil conditioner made with a magic ingredient – human hair.

The bags of hair had been sitting in Jackie's shed for years. Waiting.

Ideas, like plants, need the right conditions in which to thrive. But for a few years Jackie had not exactly been thriving.

As the lease on her Melbourne hair salon wound up in 2010, Jackie felt a new direction call, one with less style, more substance. She opened the newspaper and the opportunity popped out.

A former feedlot and small scale composting business was up for grabs in Stanhope. Jackie converted the land into a large-scale composting facility and transformed the male-dominated green waste industry.

She dived into research on soil science and compostable materials, meeting people and learning about regenerative agriculture, organics and land management.

“The business divorce has been the hardest thing for me to overcome.

As the founder and passionate public face of the company, it felt like someone had snatched my baby away from me."

To scale up required investors and a company model.

The business exploded, up and out. But internal dynamics plummeted. Jackie was pushed out of the business she’d founded seven years earlier.

The experience knocked her for six.

“The business divorce has been the hardest thing for me to overcome. As the founder and passionate public face of the company, it felt like someone had snatched my baby away from me. My ego and self-esteem took a massive hit,” says Jackie.

“I found myself almost unemployable. I had no degree other than the hairdressing qualification.

I was over-qualified for some jobs. And I was carrying shame from being made redundant in what had become a very successful business.

“Now, I can look back and reframe my thoughts and take the learning. Going from sole trader to a corporate investor business model – with no prior knowledge – was a huge thing to have done. No university course could have delivered such an intense, yet intimate life lesson.”

As she sought work over the pandemic, Jackie met a business mentor she’d engaged to write her resume.

He guided her to resurrect her dormant idea; to recycle hair from sustainable salons into a compostable product.

Even as a kid, Jackie loved playing with hair. As an adult, she had become curious about sustainability.

Drought got Jackie thinking about how hair retains moisture and contains nutrients. She wondered if there was a way to capture the beauty within hair to nourish depleted soils and support regenerative practices.

Jackie gathered hair for composting experiments, but the business divorce scuttled plans. That hair was stored in the shed. Until the right conditions and contacts finally emerged.

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Jackie now handcrafts Soilz Alive in Bendigo. Hair is the magic ingredient inoculated by natural, well-aged compost material.

The product has been lab tested by Jackie’s science mentor, Dr Mary Cole. The results prove that Soilz Alive is a change maker.

“Hair is 97 per cent protein. Proteins are essential for living organisms. When human hair breaks down it delivers an organic and dynamic dose of keratin, which conditions and renews soil, bringing vitality to plants and gardens,” explains Jackie.

“Fertiliser is fast-food force-fed to plants. But the boutique microbial blend of Soilz Alive slowly changes the composition of the soil and brings it to life.

This vitality leads to higher yields and healthier plants.

Hair Powered Compost was the first name Jackie came up with to take this pioneering product to market.

“I was desperate to get it out, so I rushed it. But people thought it was something for their hair. I felt deflated by the feedback but that’s when I invested in a designer and copywriter to rebrand.”

Jackie is now articulating how soil health is related to gut health. She’s showing gardeners how to alter microbial balance so the whole system can flourish.

Jackie’s work is all about improving systems.

“Soilz Alive helps people to transform gardens into ecosystems. We keep hair out of landfill, which can transition the beauty industry towards zero-waste, generating a circular economy.”

The hair-infused nourishment is the culmination of Jackie’s business adventures, her lifelong love of hair, and her zest for life.

“I still second guess myself sometimes, and forget the great accomplishments. Like anyone, I can get stuck in the quicksand of negativity and lose sight of the journey.”

But changing that mindset creates the right conditions to thrive. Jackie’s business confidence has regrown and she’s exploring partnerships to scale up Soilz Alive. Her deep-rooted, regenerative spirit has come back to life.

“On the other side of the quicksand there is a mountain where I know that I am steadfast. I know I have the strength and ability to shift mountains.”

Turn your garden into an ecosystem with Soilz Alive.

A game-changer; from waste product to life force. www.soilzalive.com.au @soilz_alive

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FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WORDS: Lesley Apps IMAGES: Rachel Cooper Photography

Wiradjuri woman Amanda Hinkelmann’s arts practice is soaring. The Wagga Wagga-based artist’s paintings are so coveted that private commissions for 2023 closed no sooner than they opened.

Amanda’s works continue to garner award nominations, are sought by industry and corporations, and fill exhibition spaces and lounge rooms around the regions. But aside from the accolades and attention the colourful canvases attract, they are also her stories, visceral explorations around connection, Country and experience.

The investment in each piece of artwork is another marker of how far Amanda has come and confirmation it’s where she is meant to be.

Her practice, Because of my Four, is dedicated to her children, the ones who gave Amanda the strength when she needed it most – that saw her create from a place of healing, through past traumas, the brush has been her beacon.

As this issue’s Acknowledgement of Country artist, a piece to champion Amanda’s work was in order but to do that in the same week a prominent travesty was coursing through the Indigenous community without its mention, would require entering a vacuum that goes against the spirit of truth-telling.

The impact and repercussions of racism is something Amanda finds herself having to process as part of the broader narrative Indigenous Australians are exposed to every day.

“Having four of my own kids, you just worry about the world they are growing up in and whether they are going to have to deal with the same struggles we keep seeing,” says Amanda. [ 34 ] OAK

“It shouldn’t always be black voices, always Aboriginal people having to stand up. We will continue to advocate and fight but it shouldn’t be left to us all the time because it’s exhausting. We’re not the ones that are going to make the change, it has to be the whole nation.”

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“It shouldn’t always be black voices, always Aboriginal people having to stand up. We will continue to advocate and fight but it shouldn’t be left to us all the time because it’s exhausting. We’re not the ones that are going to make the change, it has to be the whole nation.”

While Amanda holds out hope for broader support in the face of this most recent trauma, in her corner the focus remains on making change one painting, one story, at a time.

“I can’t talk for all mob, I can only talk for myself and my family, but the thing is I paint what’s important to me. It’s not just about painting something that looks nice and matches someone’s couch. I paint because my stories are important, my history is important, and my connection to my family is important, all of those things.

That’s the message I’m trying to give, to reinforce the beauty of my culture. The paintings are lovely but they are also very meaningful.”

When Amanda isn’t working telling her own stories, she is helping people to tell theirs.

“Having commissions fill so quickly is really great and reassuring. I love to paint them because I get to know people better and make great connections through that process. They often open up so it can be really personal.

I like that I’m trusted to paint something so meaningful for them. I also get to know where the artwork will end up so I feel much more connected to it.”

Connection is at the heart of everything for Amanda, to her culture and Country, her family, to herself, a gravitation that grew stronger and deeper after walking away from an all-consuming career in the education sector.

“My husband said he sees me as a totally different person since I’ve been painting full-time because [ 36 ] OAK

I’ve been able to work through so many things I simply didn’t have the time to address before.

“It gave me time to heal and reflect on things in my life and made me who I am. I’m just so happy to be honest.

I can be a mother and I can be present in people’s lives that matter rather than just being there.”

The change of pace also helped Amanda understand what really is important.

“Being home on Country with my family and really making sure I live my life, not just gloss through it because it looks good for other people.

“As long as I'm painting and keeping the conversation open, raising my children to be good citizens, who respect other people and respect other cultures regardless of where someone has come from, I’m doing my part.”

Amanda Hinkelmann, a Wiradjuri woman, creates contemporary Aboriginal art based on connection, country and experience. www.becauseofmyfour.com.au @becuaseofmyfour

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ONE SHOP STOP:

HOW THE RURAL TRADER HAS REAWAKENED A TINY TOWN WORDS: Alice Moffitt IMAGES: Mads Porter Photography

Kat Montgomery realised her dream to open a shop filled with all her favourite things, in the old general store of a tiny central western NSW town with less than 200 residents.

In just about every Australian country town sit derelict shop fronts with enormous restoration potential just waiting for someone with a vision. So when the original general store building in Nevertire, an hours drive west of Dubbo, caught the eye of Kat, her vision formed what is now The Rural Trader.

Behind its smart, inviting traditional facade is a carefully curated collection of homewares, clothing, gourmet pantry items and all-important coffee bar.

Opened in October this year, Kat says her shop is a reflection of who she is.

“It incorporates my passion for interiors, food and reinvigorating old things,” Kat says.

In early 2020 Kat, who grew up on a property near Hay in the Riverina, moved from Dubbo to live 10 minutes outside Nevertire on her now husband Tod’s farm.

The pair were married there on New Year’s Eve 2021.

"… I always wanted my own shop, so the candles satisfied me for the interim. Plus, it was wonderful having something I could control and be proud of."

From the farm, she carried on her job remote-managing a team of 25 bankers from across the country.

Four years ago, Kat took the first step in manifesting her shop by starting a hand-poured candle business, fittingly named The Rural Trader. She now sells her candles in the shop.

“Banking is a very regimented, male-dominated industry.

I always wanted my own shop, so the candles satisfied me for the interim. Plus, it was wonderful having something I could control and be proud of.

“Once I moved to Nevertire I thought, 'If I’m going to live here for the rest of my life, I’m going to do something I want to do' which definitely wasn’t banking.”

After ‘lurking around’ the old shop and imagining its potential between Friday night drinks at the Nevertire Hotel across the road, Kat bought it – and the cottage next door – in 2020. It had incredibly sat empty for 70 years.

Locals watched on for two years as Kat undertook the enormous project full of setbacks and plenty of hard work.

“Restoring a 1930s building that was basically falling down was not for the faint hearted. Getting the concrete mortar off the internal brick walls was a massive task – but it was worth it. It was really important to retain those original features – it’s part of the community’s history.”

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A devastating freak storm in December 2020 was a big holdup and although she worked in her full-time job until two months before she opened, Kat’s biggest challenge was finance.

“It nearly unravelled me,” she says. “Starting your own business you really need to make sure you’re secure financially. When it came down to the pointy end I had to borrow money from family to finish. I wouldn’t have finished without them.”

The first time Kat visited ‘Nev’, as she affectionately calls it, on a date with Tod at the pub (the town’s only other business), she realised just how small the community was.

Persuaded by a girlfriend, Kat entered the 2021 Buy From The Bush (BFTB) Big Break – an initiative to help find and fund great business ideas in the bush – and won the People’s Choice Award and $15,000 prize money.

“I was on the chaser bin during harvest when Grace from BFTB called. The money meant I could put a new roof on the shop. I found out later that thousands of people voted for me.

I couldn’t have imagined the support for my little dream to have a space where our community could gather. It gave me so much confidence.

The ongoing affiliation with the BFTB team is incredible. They’re my biggest supporters.”

“My husband’s family have been here for a long time.

It’s hard when you move to a new place but I just tried to be really positive and embraced everything I could.

We’re a really tight-knit community and everyone knows each other. There’s always a smiling face when you walk in the pub. In the drought, it was a place of refuge and a place for people to congregate and get together.”

Amid what has undoubtedly been a chaotic 12 months, Kat was also diagnosed with endometriosis.

“Starting your own business you really need to make sure you’re secure financially.

When it came down to the pointy end I had to borrow money from family to finish. I wouldn’t have finished without them.”

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Complementing its rural aesthetic, a stunning mural of a horse and wagon scene has been painted down the full-length of the shop’s external wall facing the highway. It was facilitated through a local Warren Shire Council grant.

“Not enough people know about or talk about it.

My symptoms started when I was 15 but it was misdiagnosed for so long, so it was stage five – the worst it can be. I honestly thought there was something wrong with me and to just ‘get on with it’. But it got to the point where I couldn’t do anything, I was in constant pain.

“I have enrolled in and pulled out of the same interior design course 12 times since I finished school. I was once told I wouldn’t make any money in the creative industries – especially living in the country. So I studied accounting and was a banker for eight years – but I actually hate numbers.

"I was told that if I didn’t have the surgery, I had no chance of having children. It was very expensive and very confronting.

I’d also just got married so the timing was terrible.

“I’ve made a lot of decisions based on other people’s advice, rather than my own intuition.

Possibly the best thing about the shop is that it’s my baby and I’m going to do what I think and not be swayed by other opinions. Going with my gut has been a really big learning curve. I’ve come full circle back to where I initially wanted to be. And I’m really proud of it.”

"Going with my gut has been a really big learning curve.

I’ve come full circle back to where I initially wanted to be.

And I’m really proud of it.”

I posted about it on social media because I thought if I’m 29 years old and have never spoken to anyone about it then I’m sure there’s other women and young girls out there feeling the same. I received hundreds of response messages. It was empowering to be able to give others some light at the end of their tunnel.”

While she always dreamt of opening a shop, Kat struggled choosing between her creative interests and a more conventional career and oscillated between interior design, law, media and communications and accounting. [ 42 ] OAK

The Rural Trader is carefully curated with a selection of homewares, gifts, apparal and pantry items.

Expect the unexpected in the bush. www.theruraltrader.com.au @theruraltrader

Via social media Kat found three UK backpackers – they live in the original shopkeeper’s cottage next door – who helped her get the doors to the shop open.

“They have full credit for the coffee. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.

When they turned up in Nevertire I’m sure they thought, ‘Where the hell are we?’. They’re heading off to travel soon but they’ll hopefully move back.”

Pictured: Kat (right) with her "legend backpackers" Megan Hankin and Elliott Butler.

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OAKMagazine [ 43 ] 大金山中华公会

Cockatoos cried in the treetops of Bendigo’s Rosalind Park as if to agree with Sarah Gee, as she shared with Sara Harte the idea that women need ‘wives’ to succeed in the same way men are able to.

Sitting on a picnic rug, painted with remnants of family picnics gone by, the pair got down to talking about the law of business, flipping the script on time and values, and raising the bar for women entrepreneurs.

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LAW OF BUSINESS WORDS: Sara Harte IMAGES: Chloe Smith Photography

The miserable outcome of several years of incredibly hard work, dedicating 50 to 70-hour weeks to corporate law firms, was Sarah Gee sitting deflated in her GP’s office.

“I said, ‘I don’t know if I’m depressed or anxious, please fix me’ and her reply was, ‘You’re just too busy, step back, take a break and think about your values.

Start to adjust your life back to meet your values’.”

“I want to be proud of something I’ve created. Don’t let other people determine your value.”

“Where I used to sit on boards for charities and do a lot of pro bono work outside of my usual work hours, I now find myself needing to infuse my values into my day job because I no longer have that extra time to ‘volunteer’.

The Bendigo resident pushed the fast-forward button on her projected life story and asked herself, ‘What do I want “I felt like I had to tip my life upside down because there to be remembered for? How do I want my life to look?’. was just no possible way to have a career and kids that It became painfully apparent to Sarah that you can only would meet my values.” spend your time once, so be careful what you commit to.

Sarah decided to deconstruct how law is normally done Sarah lost her Dad to cancer when he was age 29, and design it in a different way. She still wanted to be and her closest aunty age 34 in a car accident, the age really good at business law and build a business; both Sarah is now. for herself and other regional business women.

“To me, the end of life doesn’t necessarily mean as an “I want to be proud of something I’ve created.

80 year old – it could mean in three months time. It may Don’t let other people determine your value,” says Sarah. sound morbid but I also think it gives me a lot of space Sarah took the opportunity while on maternity leave to play because I think that life is short and you need in 2020 to experiment with the idea of what a law firm to be grateful for what you have – and create something would look like if you stripped out all of the traditional cool while you’re here,” says Sarah. ideas and ways of doing things.

“I realised that I valued being a good wife and mum, When launching Curium Legal, the first rule of business and I thought why am I spending so much time at work Sarah re-wrote was networking. if this career is not ultimately what I want to get out of life? My life was a little bit upside down, so I adjusted it to my values, and suddenly I was a lot happier.”

“I purposefully didn’t do a lot of lawyer networking or talking to peers for two years. A friend likened it to me The magic of ‘matrescence’, or the thriving and distressing being in ‘lawyer rehab’. I was unlearning all the lawyer's bad habits and trying to retrain my brain to think about process of becoming a mother, also compelled Sarah to law as a business rather than law as some profession that find new ways to create an identity that meets her values sits up on some pedestal with a fancy wig and robe on. in a far more limited timescape.

“Being a mum competes with the time, energy and resources that we’re used to investing in career, self-development, exercise, hobbies and leisure time.

"I was looking at people who build websites or do social media – how do they run their businesses and how does that translate? They can talk on an equal OAK [ 45 ]

level to consumers, teach their clients, and give stuff away for free, how can we (lawyers) do that?

“The value I’m aiming to provide clients is, ‘I understand.

I’m empowered. I’ve learned something. I know how to assess risk and I’m managing risk and I feel more confident.’.”

Sarah’s client base grew exponentially as word got around that Curium Legal could provide legal services while also empowering them with the knowledge to save on the overall fee.

“I think clients want to be taught ‘why’, and want to be empowered and know how to spot risk, know why it says what it does. Often lawyers don’t empower their clients – we should be educating.”

Sarah’s offering costs less than an hour with a lawyer and with the added value of understanding what an employment contract will say, for example, what are the things that can go wrong, how you would tailor it for you, how you would think about risk.

“But that’s traditionally been invisible to the client.

So if you can do that for yourself and understand it, you’re better off," says Sarah.

Winning this year’s Bendigo Business Excellence Award for Young Professional of the Year, put the spotlight on Sarah further.

“In the next three months, I made 70 per cent of what I had made in the year prior.”

Work is still highly challenging and Sarah is cautious not to grow too fast. Already operating at 150 per cent capacity with two small children just 18 months apart and a fledging business, she has reached a ceiling of ‘time’.

“My husband has two weeks left at his job as a miller and then he is coming to work for me,” Sarah smiles. [ 46 ] OAK

“The rural business community has a lot of entrepreneurial creative minds, and I didn’t realise how many because they weren’t the ones coming to the corporate firms I was working for prior."

“My husband and I have joked that we don’t have a wife and we need one with homemaker skills. I think also because I rebel so much against that role, it’s not fair to put my husband in that role either and say, 'OK, now you're the wife', because that grates my values as a woman.”

Sarah is keen to encourage others to be brave and start a business.

“The rural business community has a lot of entrepreneurial creative minds, and I didn’t realise how many because they weren’t the ones coming to the corporate firms I was working for prior.

“I see education as 50 per cent of my business and I’m working hard to launch online legal courses to help business owners.

“I want to see business owners keep what they’ve worked so hard to create.”

Curium Legal is the place for businesses who don’t usually like lawyers. Want to see how your business legals stack up?

Take Curium Legal’s free business health check quiz which covers 10 key topics that business owners need to think about and might need some support on. www.curiumlegal.com.au/business-health-check-quiz @curiumlegal

H O W TO C R E AT E A RESILIENT BUSINESS Get your relationships on paper Getting everything on paper from the beginning means you set the rules and leave less room for mismatched expectations. Going through the process of putting this together can even avoid disputes happening altogether. This is not just relevant for your customers, but also for your staff, suppliers, manufacturers, co-founders, investors and partners.

Limit your liability Terms and conditions are not just great for aligning expectations, but also for spelling out what you are responsible for and limiting your liability if things go wrong. Things like returns policies, cancellation policies, disclaimers and waivers are your best friend.

Own your Intellectual Property There are many situations where you might give away your IP or someone else creates it for you. Think about anyone or any program that creates or hosts something related to your business: hosts your content, makes your products, does some of your work. You might consider confidentiality agreements, exclusivity arrangements and restraints of trade. And don’t forget to make sure you own your business name, social media pages and trademark.

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Fairy folk of all kinds will be enchanted by these magical wings handmade by AJ Collective. These two little best friends had the most magical time flitting about the Mildura bushland; the stuff of dreams and imaginative play.

Photography by Milly Kane Photography

@millykanephotography

Kids handmade fairy wings by AJ Collective

@ajcollectiveshop

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A LOVE LETTER TO HAMILTON WORDS: Athina Greenhalgh IMAGES: Georgie Mann Photography (main) and Em Leonard

At the intersection of the Glenelg and Henty highways is where you’ll find the quaint town of Hamilton, home to The Hamilton Hamper, a boutique store and adjoining cafe filled with local produce and products that are a love letter to the region.

Reflecting on the store’s first days nearly five years ago, founder Bridget Pern admits that the foundations of The Hamilton Hamper weren’t built on a detailed business plan or experience in managing a cafe.

Instead it was built on a clear 100 per cent Hamilton ethos, a drive to champion local makers, and a vision to create enriching connections between producers, locals, and visitors to the town.

“There is a lot of loyalty because the customers have the producers backstory, and I feel like it's not only me but customers connecting with them."

“My husband and I purchased the business nearly five years ago. However, prior to this I had been working with the business in its previous iteration, and over this time we were approached by many producers really wanting to showcase their products," says Bridget.

“When the opportunity arose for us to purchase the business, I saw this as an opportunity to give those producers a platform. Over the years I’ve formed relationships with them and watched them grow.

It's been really rewarding. For me, it’s lovely talking about that to the community, and the people who come and visit the town.”

The store hosts a carefully curated selection of produce, homewares and gift hampers, with some of their very own branded products on the way. There is a deep sense of pride and loyalty shown by Bridget's customers.

She attributes this to the strong relationships she has formed with producers over the years, allowing her a platform to tell their stories and embed those stories into The Hamilton Hamper experience.

“There is a lot of loyalty because the customers have the producers backstory, and I feel like it's not only me but customers connecting with them. They’re coming in to purchase but they’re also purchasing for their friends; they’re sharing that product and that story everywhere, right across Australia. It’s something I've started that now is passed on to the customers” The Hamilton Hamper is truly Bridget and her team’s love letter to the region. And it’s a love that’s reciprocated by the community with the store being awarded Business of the Year for 2022 in the Southern Grampians Shire Business Awards.

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“The world today is so fast but over time we’ve worked out what is important, what makes us feel comfortable, and people are craving that space and the time to enjoy the simple things in life."

“I was honoured to receive that award and it was really lovely right off the back of COVID. We are connected with our customers, they don’t just come in and grab something and go. They’re our friends.

They want to support the region and look after the local producers and we want to make sure they can do that through the store.”

In a fast-paced modern world, Bridget is proud to have created a space of tranquility where locals and visitors indulge in the beauty and simplicity of getting back to basics.

“The world today is so fast but over time we’ve worked out what is important, what makes us feel comfortable, and people are craving that space and the time to enjoy the simple things in life. I can see that more and more – just taking time out to appreciate what we actually have in our own country and in our own regions.”

Visit The Hamilton Hamper at 169 Gray Street, Hamilton, Victoria, to view a curated collection of gourmet food, hampers, homewares and gifts. Sourced from over 40 local artisans, makers and growers of the south west, Victoria. www.hamiltonhampers.com.au @thehamiltonhamperco

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Brain Picker

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“Your skill is somehow both subtle and like getting smacked in the face with a clarity stick.” - Curium Legal

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Nat Dowling grabs the ideas out of your head, so you can bring your business to life.

Tailored mentoring and friendly facilitation available online or in person. www.wordsonapage.com.au/brain-picker @wordsonapageau

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Social Media Management | Strategic Planning Digital Coaching | Content Creation

Lizzie Goodfellow e lizzie@oakwood-digital.com w www.oakwood-digital.com @oakwood.digital OAKMagazine [ 53 ]

THRIVING THROUGH CONNECTION WORDS: Nat Dowling

As the Murray River rose, Dianne Johnstone and her colleagues knew that clients were about to navigate peak challenge.

The program manager at Rural Business Connections listened as stories rolled in of homes and businesses at risk, right across the organisation’s service area.

From Mildura, Rural Business Connections coordinates face-to-face and online workshops so that rural people can do business better. When businesses succeed, local communities thrive.

After filling more than 1600 workshop places and appointments right across the pandemic, the Rural Business Connections team has seen its resources support rural businesses to get off the ground and keep the doors open.

At one level the subsided programs – funded by MurrayDarling Basin Economic Development Program – are about practical skill development, things like business planning, marketing, social media and financial management.

These are skill sets known to build business success.

But success in business also requires confidence and perseverance. Especially when the challenges just keep on coming. That’s why Rural Business Connections programs are designed to build competency, confidence and connections. This combination is what fuels business resilience.

“Few small businesses have a dedicated training or workforce development budget. Many start off as sole traders, almost making it up as they go along,” says Dianne.

“Imposter syndrome and isolation are considerable challenges, which are magnified in rural and regional contexts. Stress is a common combatant.”

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people to professional development opportunities, connecting local businesses to the global market place, and connecting the local business community through peer networking opportunities.

Many small rural towns lack business groups. Locals miss out on community networking and professional development opportunities. Rural Business Connections fills the gap, supporting business people to maintain currency and connection, and to leverage potential and possibility.

Expert facilitators are brought to regional centres and small towns to meet people where they are at – both geographically and in skill level.

“This reduces isolation and boosts accessibility for communities that have traditionally missed out on or had to travel to access professional and business development.

“We know that establishing a small business is a gateway to local employment. That’s particularly the case with women in business, one of the fastest growing regional demographics and one of our core cohorts.

“Many business owners have reported increased turnover and improved time management after the workshops. Their feedback speaks of confidence, sanity and inspiration.”

“These are attributes that can serve us well in the times ahead, including flood recovery. With the remaining funding we can transform communities from surviving to thriving.”

Rural Business Connections offers cost free programs for small business around Mildura, Colignan, Swan Hill, Boort, Cohuna, Kerang, Pyramid Hill, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Rochester and Cullulleraine. www.ruralbusinessconnections.com.au @ruralbusinessconnections

CALL OF THE WILD WORDS: Kimberley Furness IMAGES: Milly Kane Photography

After seeing the film Gorillas in the Mist as a child, Sarah Holmes was inspired by the zoologist Dian Fossey to forge a career in wildlife.

“We hope to inspire our younger generation to go back to basics, get outdoors, explore nature and want to make this world a better and more sustainable place for future generations to enjoy. The children of today will be our future environmental leader.”

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always had an affinity with animals. After watching Gorillas in the Mist in grade six, I decided I would be the next Dian Fossey and save Mildura is a vibrant regional city based on the mighty the last remaining mountain gorillas of Africa,” says Sarah. Murray River; an agricultural oasis with warm and stable weather. Although positioned at the crossroads Through her veterinarian studies at the University of Melbourne, Sarah was introduced to the world of zoology of transport links between three capital cities – Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide – Sarah says running and realised her passion was for wildlife conservation. a business in the far north-western corner of Victoria After completing her studies, Sarah embarked on has posed some challenges.

12 months of travel through Europe with a friend before working and travelling in Africa solo.

“My calling to the mountain gorillas wasn’t realised until three years later when my now husband (Alex) and I travelled to Rwanda and visited these phenomenal animals; a wildlife experience that will resonate with me for the rest of my years.”

Life looks a little different today. Sarah and Alex have swapped mountain gorillas and the jungles of Africa to run a private zoo with over 70 native Australian animals in Mildura, Victoria.

Sarah launched EnviroEDU in 2013 with a vision to connect people to nature by presenting interactive and hands-on environmental education programs throughout northern Victoria, south-west NSW and eastern South Australia.

Sarah believes the key to protecting and conserving our natural environment is through education at a grass roots level.

“So much of today’s society revolves around screen time, particularly the last two years where we have all relied so heavily on home computer-based school learning and Zoom meetings.

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“As a rural business, the biggest hurdle we face is the ability to connect and network face-to-face with colleagues in the industry. Many wildlife educators and zoos are based in the city which is a six hour drive from us in Mildura.

“Although our two years of lockdowns have taught us all that we can connect and converse remotely via technology, sometimes in our industry the importance of seeing wildlife, their enclosures and animal behaviour training in-person is still quite important.

When Sarah launched EnviroEDU, she was raising a two and a half year old and less than six month old baby. Finding the right balance between time with a young family and working on the business requires careful prioritisation of tasks.

“The best advice a dear friend gave me was to make sure I prioritise family. She regretted having missed watching her kids sport on weekends to run birthday parties and events for her business,” says Sarah.

“Travel time and distance unfortunately prevents us from being able to attend regular industry meetings and events, however social media certainly helps to keep us connected with people in our industry. Digital marketing is key to everything we do in our business.”

“In the early days, as we were building our business and growing our clientele, I found it very difficult to say no to work. Nine and a half years in, and with two children who love their sport, I make it a priority to be at their games during the week and travel for tournaments on weekends.”

Few small businesses have a dedicated training or workforce development budget. Mildura-based organisation, Rural Business Connections, develops and delivers subsidised programs so that rural people can do business better.

Aside from running around after two active young boys, and caring for a diverse range of Australian native and threatened species is a commitment and does come with sacrifices.

“Rural Business Connections has been instrumental in providing incredibly relevant and well delivered small business workshops which have assisted me greatly in keeping our social media platforms current with content that our community is interested and engaged in,” says Sarah.

“For us to attend similar workshops held outside our region would impose a massive cost to us in travel, accommodation and attendance fees. We feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to attend these workshops in our own regional town at very little to no cost to the small business.

“The quality of the workshops I have attended to date have been outstanding and have been pivotal to the improvement of our social media presence.” [ 56 ] OAK

“Possibly the biggest sacrifice we have made in starting and running our business is not fulfilling our promise that we made back in 2005 – to return to the Galapagos Islands after having kids and continue our conservation work there for 12 months or more.

“Although this may not become a reality in the near future, we will certainly take our children back to the islands, but for a shorter and more manageable period of time.”

EnviroEdu presents fun, interactive, ‘hands on’ environmental education programs tailored to suit various age groups including early childhood/kindergarten, through to primary and secondary school aged children. www.enviroedu.com.au @enviroedu

A N I M A L E N CO U N T E R S G E T TO K N O W T H E T R I O F E AT U R E D I N T H I S A RT I C L E ‘Whitney’ – Brush-tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata) One of Australia’s most critically endangered marsupials. Once common throughout 60 per cent of mainland Australia, they are now extinct in every state and only found in three isolated populations in the south-west corner of Western Australia. Their main threats included habitat loss and introduced predators – foxes and cats. They play a very important role in our environment as ecosystem engineers.

‘Cruncha’ – Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) The world’s oldest and largest living reptile, with males growing up to 6m long and weighing up to 1000kg. Located in the top end of Australia from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and across into Queensland within coastal marshes and mangrove swamps. Can also survive in freshwater.

Australia’s apex predator, they were nearly hunted to extinction between the 1950s and 1970s, however are now protected across their range.

‘Rupert’ – Black-footed Tree Rat (Mesembriomys gouldii gouldii) One of Australia’s largest native rodents, weighing up to 880 grams and restricted to the Top End of the Northern Territory and northern Kimberley region of Western Australia. They are considered endangered at both the national and Northern Territory state level due to introduced predators, habitat fragmentation and inappropriate fire regimes.

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TEACHING ON COUNTRY WORDS: Alice Moffitt

A school music teacher shares the joy and challenges of teaching in an often over-looked town in far western NSW. Music has always been part of Sarah Donnelley’s life. Encouraged by her teachers, she started learning instruments and singing in choirs in primary school.

So it comes as no surprise to learn that Sarah, now a school teacher herself, uses music to connect with her students.

“Music was a really important part of my education.

In high school I had an incredible singing teacher who helped me find my voice. I also sang in a band and found the connection through music was really special,” says Sarah.

Sarah, 31, moved to the far west of NSW in early 2019 to take up a position at Wilcannia Central School.

Before the move she was teaching at a school, not far from where she grew up, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Sarah had been considering a remote placement for some time, so her family and friends weren’t too surprised when she moved 11 hours’ drive west.

“At university I volunteered at schools around Sydney and met Indigenous kids who spent time out on Country with family where they were really allowed to be themselves,” says Sarah.

“They’d come back with increased confidence and a sense of self. But over time you’d see them fall back into their city persona and it seemed like a metaphor for their sense of identity and cultural understanding.

I was intrigued by what living and working out on Country could mean for my teaching and how I could explore curriculum in different ways through music and connecting with families, communities and Aboriginal culture.” [ 60 ] OAK

“I hope my book inspires people to connect with and learn from the Traditional Owners of the land they’re on.”

Sarah’s approach to teaching has seen her become a much-loved member of the Wilcannia community and she is now deputy principal of the school of around 90 students. Sarah, who says that teaching is what she ‘was meant to do’, won the 2020 ARIA Award for Best Music Teacher for a song she recorded remotely with her students during the pandemic. She has now released a book about her experience in Wilcannia.

“I hope my book inspires people to connect with and learn from the Traditional Owners of the land they’re on,” she says.

“I hope it opens their minds up about the misconceptions of Wilcannia and encourages teachers to value themselves and for others to recognise the amazing work teachers do.”

Sarah also hopes her book will inspire more teachers to work in remote schools.

“If you’re considering it, absolutely do it. Go with an open heart and mind and be prepared to throw yourself into everything. Make sure you have your own support network and your understanding of yourself is solid – you can’t be a good teacher if you’re not looking after yourself.

“Making connections outside the school community has also helped. I’ve played sport and made friends with people in Broken Hill and out on stations. People are surprised that I drive two hours just to see friends for

dinner, but it’s a different world out here and it helps me understand the broader community.”

Sarah says that Wilcannia has also given her a greater appreciation for the environment.

“When I first arrived we were in the middle of drought.

I learnt that Aboriginal peoples’ connection to the river [The Darling] affects their mental health and ability to participate in cultural activities. I’ll never forget standing on the Wilcannia Weir just watching and waiting for the water to arrive after big rains. The pelicans had arrived so we knew it was close. It’s a completely different atmosphere here when the river is up.”

Sarah says not long after she arrived in Wilcannia she realised she was now part of two very different worlds.

“I feel a sense of belonging in and connection to both.

Wherever I end up, I know I will come back to Wilcannia for the rest of my life.”

Sarah’s memoir Big Things Grow (Allen & Unwin) is out now. All proceeds go to the Wilcannia Youth Foundation – a grass-roots organisation that aims to support and encourage the hopes and dreams of young people in Wilcannia.

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LUXURY IN THE OUTBACK WORDS: Sara Harte IMAGES: Brittany Beetson Photographics

As Christmas approaches, a shipping container of the most “amazing, softest, fluffiest towels” is alighting. Luxury linens designed to give rural and regional women a gargantuan hug and a self-care break from the day-to-day grind.

It took a desire to boost the outback economy, collaborate with women in small business, and to deliver a much-loved product. This, and a small leap of faith, by business coach and accountant Sarah Henney. Sarah’s motives to launch Outback Linen Co are not entirely unselfish, though.

“We also lost a major retailer in town which, as a young mum with my first baby, I used to browse for ‘retail therapy’ nearly on a daily basis," says Sarah.

Sarah and her husband run a family business which includes beef cattle farming on two properties; one three hours north and the other three hours south from Longreach. Sarah’s husband is also often away working on a farm as a fencing contractor. Usually it is just Sarah and her kids during the week.

“The kids are at day care whilst I work with my business coaching clients, or the kids are helping me in the shed with packing orders. Life is interesting – sometimes we are out mustering cattle and other times we are in town, living the town life.”

“I swing between, ‘I am so grateful I can work from home and have created two businesses that allows me to be present with my kids’ to ‘Am I doing too much whilst not being present with kids?’” [ 62 ] OAK

Outback Linen Co brings together women in business from across the country. It is a true collaboration – from Sarah’s client who is a pattern designer on a farm in Rolleston, Queensland; to her ‘marketing guru’ in Goondiwindi, Queensland; her virtual assistant in Tasmania; the product photographer in rural Victoria and NSW; and a local model from Longreach, Queensland, just to name a few.

Accounting skills, Sarah already excelled at, but what she found really enjoyable was marketing her new product.

“After launching an online course during 2022 I learnt the marketing aspect; paid ads, organic marketing and email marketing. It was so much easier the second time around – and fun.”

The elusive work/life balance is always in flux.

“I swing between, ‘I am so grateful I can work from home and have created two businesses that allows me to be present with my kids.’ to ‘Am I doing too much whilst not being present with kids?'."

One of the biggest learnings for Sarah this year has been to take care of herself first.

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“Go for the walk, do the meditation, invest in yourself.

I have also outsourced a lot so that I am ‘doing less’ which allows me to ‘be more’. I have a virtual assistant which has been a Godsend for my business; I can text her on the go and the things are just done quicker. My business is more profitable because of this investment.”

Sarah’s linen products are considered the highest quality in the world and stocked in retailers where women can’t wait to buy them. She celebrates that “now we (rural and regional women) can buy them whilst supporting women in business.”

Sarah is passionate about giving back to community.

Her long-term vision when Outback Linen Co makes a profit – “yes it has been a huge investment to get up and running” – is to support community groups and projects financially through the business.

“Projects which align to our values, encouraging women to start a business, or events which promote our mental health and wellbeing are definitely where I see Outback Linen Co as a supporter.

“Running a business which aligns to my purpose in life, brings joy to me and my customers – it doesn’t feel like work, I jump out of bed excited for my day and get to travel to new places – that to me, is success.”

With a nod to the unique and stunning colour palette of rural Australia, Outback Linen Co is deeply passionate about bringing luxurious, high quality and low impact textiles back to the bush. www.outbacklinen.co ..@outbacklinenco

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Bring your soils to life and transform your garden into an ecosystem. hello@soilzalive.com.au /soilzalive @ soilz_alive www.soilzalive.com.au

“Amazing and magical!” - Hannah “Heaven on Earth.” - Elle theridgehouse.com.au @the_ridge_house

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

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Canal Rocks, Western Australia The Social Herd Situated on the coastline of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, south west of Yallingup in Western Australia, is Canal Rocks. An amazing granitic rock formation, created from years of erosion by the Indian Ocean which has carved crevasses and channels into the headland. This spectacular scene can be viewed via the timber boardwalk which takes you out across the all engulfing ocean and across the rock formations.

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TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

OLD WORLD CHARM WORDS: Alice Moffitt IMAGES: Marnie Hawson

A character-filled cottage on a former dairy farm at Molyullah in Victoria’s north-east, two and a half hours from Melbourne, makes for an idyllic country getaway where old meets new.

When Bec and Angus Macdougall were looking for a ‘weekender’ within two hours drive of their Melbourne home, the couple relaxed their distance criteria a little when they found Dunmore Farm. They instantly fell in love with the potential of the property which they bought in late 2017.

“It has a great feel to it. It was quite run-down but we wanted something we could restore and it had numerous buildings we could bring back to life. Once it settled, we realised how much work we had ahead of us. There were moments we thought, ‘What have we done?’,” says Bec.

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In the first year, the couple made regular weekend trips to restore the property’s 1860s weatherboard cottage with the vision of turning it into short-stay accommodation.

Despite their initial ‘weekender’ plans, Bec and Angus moved to the farm permanently in 2018 and live in the property’s other house, a 1950s bungalow.

“Our first priority was the cottage. Angus really wanted to move in there, but I knew its beautiful old-world charm was a lovely space to share with guests. We didn’t do anything structural, just aesthetics, so it’s intentionally still in its original form. We were keen to bring it back to life, yet maintain its integrity.”

The three bedroom cottage, one of the area’s oldest houses, now sleeps up to six guests and typically attracts couples and young families from the city looking to unwind.

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TAKE ME SOMEWHERE “It’s an idyllic setting and has a wonderful sense of ‘coming home’,” says Bec. “It’s a rustic environment and an authentic farm-stay but with beautiful comforts like French bed linens and underfloor heating. Our guests like to wander the beautiful gardens or take a walk around the farm.

There’s an established fruit orchard and veggie garden and guests love being able to collect fresh eggs from the chickens. We love sharing what we grow.”

Located 20 minutes from Benalla in the foothills of Victoria's High Country, guests use The Cottage as a base to explore the surrounding area.

“We’re central to King Valley, the gourmet Milawa region, Beechworth and Mansfield. There are so many incredible producers nearby and also lots of familyfriendly activities like bush walks, mountain-biking, kayaking, fishing and the Silo Art Trail. This region really caters to everyone.”

Angus, who grew up at nearby Cobram, had always dreamed of having his own farm. Fittingly, he now runs a herd of Black Angus cattle on the 60-hectare property.

“Emme Mac Black is our ethical, sustainable, specialty coffee brand. We sell whole beans, ground coffee and compostable capsules as well as coffee machines and accessories to hospitality and accommodation venues – as well as make-at-home customers.”

Bec’s background in branding and marketing shines in their other business, The Branded Coffee Co, which helps hotels and other brands create personalised coffee (using Emme Mac Black), complimented by customised, branded coffee machines and glassware.

Bec and Angus regularly visit friends and family in Melbourne but Dunmore Farm feels like home.

“We weren’t expecting to move up here and certainly not so quickly,” says Bec.

The couple, who have a two and a half year old daughter “It really caught me by surprise how much I loved it, Emme, also own two coffee businesses and say they’re especially after growing up in the city. I thought I was fortunate to combine family and business life on the farm. moving to the country to live a slow, simple life, but I’ve never been busier. Having our own property has facilitated a lot of creativity and it’s been really rewarding on so many fronts.”

"I thought I was moving to the country to live a slow, simple life, but I’ve never been busier. Having our own property has facilitated a lot of creativity and it’s been really rewarding on so many fronts.” [ 70 ] OAK

Originally built in the late 1800s, and restored keeping its old world charm whilst adding modern conveniences, The Cottage at Dunmore is equipped with everything you need to make your country stay a comfortable and memorable one. www.dunmorefarm.com.au @dunmore_farm

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE

KANGAROO VALLEY, NSW & BERRY, NSW WORDS + IMAGES: Lizzie Goodfellow

Set between the South Coast and the Southern Highlands, Kangaroo Valley and Berry are two adjacent but unique towns that have so much to offer. Situated two hours south of Sydney, and just over two hours from Canberra, this is the perfect spot for a weekend in the countryside.

KANGAROO VALLEY In a valley of green pastures and lush rainforest, Kangaroo Valley is a stunning country town that is as beautiful as they come. Surrounded by dramatic escarpment, Kangaroo Valley is a green oasis that feels like the perfect nature escape. Ideal for exploring beautiful nature walks by the river, enjoying the village of shops and cafes, or as a great jump off point to discover the South Coast and the Southern Highlands.

The town itself is one main street, and has some great places to explore. Grab a coffee and supplies from the General Store and adjacent The General Cafe, pick up a delicious selection of cheeses and meats from Hampden Deli, enjoy a browse in the varied stores including The Hive KV and The Nostalgia Factory, treat yourself to something sweet from the old-fashioned ice-creamery/lolly shop Sweet As, and finish off with a cool drink with stunning mountain views from the great traditional pub, The Friendly Inn. If spending some time in nature is your intention, there’s a stunning river that caters for all manner of relaxing water activities such as swimming or canoeing – just park up next to the impressive Hampden Bridge and wander down to the river from there.

If you’re keen to explore the region, Berry is only 20 minutes away and Moss Vale and the Southern Highlands is just over 30 minutes back up the hill. You can also drive through Berry and enjoy the beauty of the South Coast for the day if you’re craving some ocean air.

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THE COTTAGE, KANGAROO VALLEY

QUEEN ST EATERY, BERRY

Immaculately curated by the talented Lisa Madigan, The Cottage Kangaroo Valley is quite possibly the most effortlessly chic and designed property we’ve every stayed at. Just a short walk into town, I’ve stayed here three times now, and it’s one that I just crave a visit to.

Every single detail is divine. Lisa’s incredible artworks are dotted throughout, dried floral arrangements are on every surface, and there is a true sense of peace and tranquillity the second you walk through the door.

Beautifully appointed with luxury linens and Aesop bathroom essentials, this twin pitched weatherboard cottage is my dream creative nest.

I have to give a special shout out to Queen St Eatery which is far and away my favourite restaurant. And yes, I know that sounds like a big call but this exquisite little bistro is perfection. The food is extraordinary, the wine list is incredible, the décor is divine, every detail is beautiful, even down to playlists which are so on point. I cannot recommend this spot enough – please do yourself a favour and book!

THE A-FRAME, KANGAROO VALLEY This rustic retreat is an architectural and design dream.

A beautifully dramatic building, that somehow slots perfectly into its surrounds as though it completely belongs there. Enjoy a moody and magical few days nested in at the A-Frame Kangaroo Valley, with sweeping views of the Southern Highlands escarpment and waterfalls, yet still less than 10 minutes from the historic village of Kangaroo Valley. Perfectly appointed, with every detail just so. An incredibly peaceful and unique experience, surrounded by nature (including backyard visitor, Shuffles the echidna) – the ultimate spot for those wanting to escape the everyday, but not wanting to sacrifice on comfort or convenience.

Kangaroo Valley

Berry OAK [ 73 ]

TAKE ME SOMEWHERE BERRY Easily one of my favourite regional towns in the whole country, beautiful Berry has something for everyone.

Stocked with incredible homewares stores and boutiques, Berry is a shopper’s paradise. You can spend a whole day browsing (and buying) in this compact little town. Whether it’s pieces for your home, luxe fashion, delicious tea, or stunning florals, I challenge anyone to visit Berry without coming home with something.

Start at the top of Queen Street and slowly make your way down. Make sure you don’t skimp on the side streets though because there are some real gems.

You cannot go past Amara Home for special homewares and designer fashion pieces, Few & Far has become an institution for incredible homewares, Shady Fig is the dreamiest florist and botanical store, the tea from The Berry Tea Shop is genuinely the best you can find, Long Weekend Store is a curated slow fashion boutique with some real gems, and there are so many more I will let you discover for yourself.

And for the foodies among us, Berry has you well and truly covered. Fine dining, elegant bistros, relaxed eats and your choice of excellent cafes. I recommend planning your day around your food and use some retail therapy to punctuate your meals. And don’t forget to get some fresh donuts from The Famous Berry Donut Van for your drive home.

Lizzie Goodfellow is the founder and director of Oakwood Digital, and obsessed with regional Australia. For more top picks when it comes to getting out bush and visiting regional towns, visit her website. www.oakwood-digital.com/travel-guides

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Highlights STAY

The Cottage at Kangaroo Valley, A-Frame Kangaroo Valley, Wildes Hotel (KV)

E AT

Queen St Eatery (Berry), South on Albany (Berry), Hampden Deli (KV)

SHOP

Amara Home, Few & Far, Moss Nest, Shady Fig, The Berry Tea Shop, That Corner Store, Long Weekend Store (Berry) The Hive KV, Here + Now, The Nostalgia Factory (KV)

COFFEE

IV Coffee (Berry), Milkwood Bakery (Berry), The General Café (KV)

DRINK

The Friendly Inn Hotel (KV), KV Fine Wines & Craft Ales

a. 74 Mitchell Street, Bendigo p. (03) 7036 2529 e. shop@maudeandmaple.com.au www.maudeandmaple.com.au @ maudeandmaple

Connecting you with cost free business support • Small Business Financial Consultant • Small Business Workshops

social media | business management marketing | tax essentials + more

• Online Training • Appointments with business consultants

We cover the following areas: BOORT | COHUNA | COLIGNAN | CULLULLERAINE | KERANG | MERBEIN MILDURA | PYRAMID HILL | RED CLIFFS | SWAN HILL | ROCHESTER | WAKOOL Dianne Johnstone dianne.johnstone@ruralbc.com.com @ruralbusinessconnections Phone 1300 769 489 www.ruralbusinessconnections.com.au This Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

TO BE HOSTED WORDS: Kimberley Furness IMAGES: Whites & Woods

Earlier this year, with no hiking experience, Georgey Henshall walked 250km from Florence to Rome with her mum Ann. It was on this 17-day adventure that her business, Hosted, was “born, dreamt of, workshopped and discussed over dinner each night”.

“The days were long and hot, our feet tired and blistering, but our minds were ready for the challenges each day brought,” reflects Georgey.

“I learnt a lot from that trip, about resilience, effort, having the right mindset, the importance of good shoes and knowing the hardest part of any journey is having the courage to start.”

Georgey’s favourite thing to do is to make people feel at home and like the business name suggests – be host.

“Over the past 12 years I have had many many jobs that, until now, didn’t seem to add up to anything.

I’ve been a venue manager, florist, interior designer, fashion consultant, website designer, waitress, marketer, wedding singer – just to name a few.

“But from each one of those experiences, I learnt something about myself, about the hospitality and event industry and about small business.

“I’ve learnt so much in fact that I knew it was time for me to take all the skills I have collected and put them towards something I can build for myself.

And a service I can offer to the community that’s taught me so much.”

You can’t really launch an events company without hosting an incredible party to go along with it.

More than 70 friends and family were hosted by Georgey at the historic Dudley House in Bendigo in November. [ 76 ] OAK

THE DETAILS Event design and planning – HOSTED Venue – Dudley House, Bendigo Flowers — Judah Rose Nibbles — Edwards Providore Photography — Whites & Woods Dessert — Harvest Food & Wine Cake — Miss Trixie Drinks Tea Furniture — 99 Luft Events Signage — Atelier Creative

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START 2023 WITH INTENTION, PURPOSE AND CLARITY With the new year approaching a little faster than we would like, now is the perfect time to reflect and kickstart 2023 on the right note.

2022 showed us that anything is possible. So in the spirit of Christmas, the MiGOALS team have collated helpful tips on how to reflect and step into 2023 with clarity.

REFLECT ON 2022 FIRST BEFORE STARTING 2023 Hindsight is a powerful tool. Before you think about your new goals and what you’d like to achieve in 2023, it’s beneficial to reflect on the year that was.

There are many ways you can approach this period of reflection. We personally recommend using a notes journal to record your thoughts because sometimes, going back to basics (pen and paper) is best.

Some questions to ask and answer could be: What good things happened in your life this year?

What didn’t go as planned, and how did you adapt?

What brought you joy daily, especially when times became tough?

What are you thankful for?

What would you like to leave behind in 2022, and what would you like to take forward into the new year?

If nothing was off-limits in 2023, what would you do?

START 2023 ONLY WHEN YOU’RE READY Now we don’t mean this in the literal sense because 2023 will start whether you’re ready or not. What we mean by this is don’t feel pressured to start the new year with a bang if you’re feeling anything but ready.

Resting is still important, and one should never underestimate its benefits. Sometimes, the best ideas, intentions and goals occur naturally during periods of rest and relaxation.

Start tackling the excitement of 2023 only when you’re truly ready. As the famous saying goes, 'Rome wasn’t built in a day'.

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START 2023 ON THE RIGHT NOTE WITH SUITABLE STATIONERY PRODUCTS In a perfect world, we’d be able to get everything done ourselves, but that’s not the case. We all need some help now and then. To keep yourself accountable and consistent with our goals, we recommend using a 2023 diary planner.

Use them to plan your schedule, organise your monthly commitments and track your progress from beginning to end. Seeing all that important information daily keeps you accountable and consistent and shows you what areas you excel in and need improvement.

MiGOALS are Australia's leading empowering stationery brand.

They are on a mission to help you unlock the potential within yourself to dream, plan and take action on the life you want.

More than a stationery brand, they're a global community of Goal Diggers and action takers helping you Get IT Done.

The 2023 Goal Digger Planners and Diaries are the ultimate personal development tools that help you make real progress towards your goals, stay organised and inspired every single day. www.migoals.com @migoals

I love photography and I love where I live. The beauty of rural Australia surrounds me. My limited edition fine art prints are printed on a premium fine art photo rag paper which is resistant to aging.

Frame it, hang it and love it for many, many years to come.

Available in A4, A3, A2 and A1.

Photography & marketing for rural-based businesses Alexandra MacAlpine /socialherdmarketing @thesocialherd_au Magazine [ 79 ] OAK www.thesocialherd.com.au

WOMEN IN BUSINESS PODCAST A Friend of Mine is a series of conversations with some incredible and inspiring women in business from regional and rural Australia.

Join host Kimberley Furness and her guests as they share an authentic version of life as regional business women.

SPONSOR Are you always stressing and guessing when it comes to your social media marketing? Do you feel like your effort doesn’t bring the results you need or you don’t know how to check? Check out Mac&Ernie.

Erika McInerney is a qualified marketing strategist with 25 years real experience putting advertising, marketing and social media to work.

She’s focused on regional and rural businesses – teaching you the skills and confidence to develop strategy, measure results and keep that content machine running.

E P I S O D E 41 Life stages of creativity with Sarah Stamm Sarah Stamm is an interior designer turned creator of handmade treasures. As the founder of Salisbury and Maude, Sarah creates exquisite, luxurious and beautiful wreaths, quilts and knitted keepsakes from her home in Beechworth, Victoria.

Sarah doesn’t take her creative life for granted. Aged 22, she was crossing a street in Sydney when she was run over by a bicycle courier. The nerves in her right arm were seriously damaged and she sustained a permanent 20 per cent loss of use in that arm and hand.

This is only one part of her incredible journey through life.

In a delving and honest conversation, Sarah takes us through the phases of her life from growing up in Albury, studying interior design, caring for loved ones who are terminally unwell, and letting go of ego. There are blissful moments and then others which Sarah looks back on with sadness.

For free tips, follow Mac&Ernie: www.macandernie.com.au /macandernie or @mac_ernie

E P I S O D E 42 Running a business overseas from Australia with Chris Edwards You don’t exactly plan to have a business in another country but that’s how it panned out for Chris Edwards, and it’s working well.

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Chris followed her husband to Singapore as a “trailing spouse’ in 2008 during the global financial crisis.

She struggled to find a job that matched her strong marketing background, skills sets and pay expectations, and instead found herself stuck between jobs that didn’t excite her.

Chris is the person everyone asks for recommendations on everything across Asia – and that's why she started Honeycombers – a digital lifestyle magazine in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bali.

This serial entrepreneur is not only the founder of Honeycombers but also Make It In Media, LaunchPad, and a business coach.

Chris talks about going into business with co-founders and picking up the pieces after they left, her company values, hiring staff, and how a business coach helped her through a scarcity mindset.

E P I S O D E 46 An award winning process with magazine publisher Kimberley Furness OAK Magazine founder and editor Kimberley Furness takes us behind the scenes of her incredible journey as this year's AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Runner Up and VIC winner.

A big thank you to guest host Erin Auld, a former breakfast radio announcer, OAK contributor and long time friend.

There are so many take away nuggets for business owners – ‘If it’s not fun and it doesn’t come easy and it’s not bringing you joy, stop doing it’.

E P I S O D E 47 Sweet success of Bendigo Brittle with Greta Donaldson E P I S O D E 43 Social media for regional businesses with Mac&Ernie Erika McInerney is the OG of social media marketing having laid the foundations of her business Mac&Ernie in 2015 before officially launching in early 2016. In just four months, the demand was there for her to quit her part time job to work in the business full time.

Erika has been working in advertising and digital marketing for over 25 years and shares that practical experience and knowledge freely. Based in Warragul, Erika is well known for her generosity and authenticity and provides training that is smart, relevant and, most importantly, jargon free.

Erika shares with us her start up journey, tips on improving your Instagram and answers lots of those popular social media questions like, 'How often should I be posting?' and 'I’m already booked out, do I really need to post on Instagram?' and lots more.

A desire for a change in pace and a life-long love of her grandmother’s cooking led burnt-out Melbourne PR executive Greta Donaldson to a new life, and a new business – Bendigo Brittle.

Greta was inspired to establish the business after whipping up a batch of peanut brittle for a family Christmas gathering. The brittle was a huge hit and she began to consider options for sale.

Bendigo Brittle has now established a strong following as Greta, and a small team of employees, offer her sweet treats from an uber cool confectionery cart at markets around Victoria as well as being in talks with supplying her brittle to a national airline.

Greta shares with us the fast-paced life of PR, how she “knocks the socks off ” potential stockists, why she waited to launch a website, the importance of networking and how her world ground to a halt after losing her little sister Peta to ovarian cancer. PLUS Greta shares with us an exclusive announcement in regards to a new Bendigo Brittle product.

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much but probably because I knew what had to be in place for everything to go well in our own business and life.

E P I S O D E 44 Brikitta Kool-Daniels, mum of Australia’s newest NBA star Dyson Daniels

“This (the contract) frightens me more than anything from so many angles in that it doesn’t change the person he is because if there was one common thread throughout this whole journey, people loved Dyson, not the basketball.

They really loved Dyson the person because he is really a great kid in every way.

From Bendigo, Australia, basketballer Dyson Daniels is the latest star to be drafted into the NBA. The 19 year old went at number 8 to the New Orleans Pelicans this year, and has signed a four year contract rumoured to be around $US25M with $US5.5M earned in his rookie season for 2022-23.

And it does frighten me when this huge amount of money comes in. It would be silly to think that he wouldn't change a bit when you've got that much coming to you, because of the world he's gone into, there is an expectation or you have to live up to certain ways, whether in fashion, where you're going, what you're doing.

Behind every successful athlete is a parent (or two in this case). Proud mum Brikitta Kool-Daniels, with her husband Ricky Daniels, have helped Dyson realise his dream of playing in the NBA.

We’ve had countless Zoom calls and meetings with the people who know this world so well, about protecting him and his finances and the sharks that will try and come in his world to market, to promise, to grab, all of that – and probably too much to be quite honest.

In an exclusive interview with OAK, Brikitta shares with us her family's basketball journey and the whirlwind experience of the NBA draft. Here are a few snippets of Brikitta from the podcast.

I was talking to your husband about your son being chosen for something, and then the shock of the finances. And that’s a real game changer for a lot of families because it's not that it's so expensive, but it's well and truly up there in what you've got to do.

We certainly were not in a financial position for that either, but we just found a way – we just knew it was important.

All the kids showed talent to be selected, and you make sacrifices for this to happen.

Financials are a sticking point where a lot of families have to say, ‘No, we can't do it’. We were lucky to have our own business, meaning that I could make a flexible roster to let us go.

My nature is probably a little bit on the selfish side, but the selfish has grown from knowing what's best for me and everybody in the family.

All these events and training, I'm not sitting and watching.

I will have packed my clothes, my runners, my bag, my bike, to look after my mental and physical health. Dad's different.

He loved watching all of that. I didn't enjoy watching it so [ 82 ] OAK

If Dyson says, ‘Hey, I want that amount of money and I wanna spend it on that.’, they have to give it to him.

They can give him a bit of advice but it's his decision. While I think it's so unnecessary to be wearing a $500 bucket hat…

I suppose $500 in the scheme of Dyson's life in the future is like 10 cents. And I will never probably understand that.

It’s going to be a different world that as a family, we're going to have to learn to keep him grounded. But I don't want to be this stifling mum that's keeping him grounded in a way that's not realistic to the world he's living in.

With Dash, it's a different journey again. We now are not the unknowns – just being parents going to tournaments and everything like that. Dyson has brought media attention to his younger brother.

At local basketball games we’re having to navigate young kids coming up asking for Dash's autograph. That's something we never had to consider with Dyson at all. I have to figure out how to navigate this for Dash so it doesn't ruin him getting to where his dreams are.

I think we're all worried because of the stories we've heard in Hollywood or movies or whatever, that when it all comes too easy you may stop working hard.

As parents, we’ll try and bring Dash through it. I just want him to be 14, play junior basketball, and earn the selections for the next stages.

way out, but it happened very, very close to my heart.

It happened to me and my husband.

E P I S O D E 49 The importance of being farm fit with Louise O'Neill There is no other job that requires you to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week and Louise O’Neill believes farming should not be the exception.

The sports therapist and mental health coach has spent the past six years helping men and women in the bush to shift their mindset and challenge the unconventional paradigms facing farming communities.

It got to a point just before we were about to welcome our first son into the world. It should have been a really amazing time for us, a really happy time, but it wasn't. It was one of the most financially stressful, emotionally stressful, physically stressful times of our life.

We were getting ready to seed and a piece of machinery broke down. I went to meet Warren in the paddock and I was looking down into a packet of chips that I was holding out to him, and he wasn't taking this packet of chips; I was just in my own world.

And then I looked up and I saw tears coming down his face and I was frozen. I couldn't quite compute what was going on, and it was only when he literally dropped to his knees and said, ‘I can't do this. I can't keep going on like this.’ that I realised this is happening right here, right now for both of us.

From her farm in Denmark, Western Australia, Louise operates Farm Life Fitness. This year her passion, commitment and positive impact was recognised by being named the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award He didn't know how to get himself out of this hole, he didn't WA winner. know where to go, and he was torn between working all the hours to stepping back and being involved in me being Louise shares with us her very personal story which pregnant. I was really sick whilst pregnant, and fighting was the catalyst to starting Farm Life Fitness. Here are my own battles at the same time. It just all came to a head a few snippets of Louise from the podcast. right there [in the paddock].

Winning the award and putting forward for it made me dig really deep into my why. I always knew my why but it was this award, the process and talking to people which has brought it more to the surface.

I did touch upon it [the breakdown] beforehand but not as much because there are other people involved. My husband plays a huge part in my why and so I wanted to make sure that he was happy with that.

We had nowhere to go and it was just the two of us in this paddock crying together. We were together, but we were so apart.

I F YO U LOV E I T, R E V I E W I T Did you love an episode of A Friend of Mine podcast? Leave a review and you could win an OAK gift pack valued at $60.

[Telling the story] is just so emotional that I don't think you can prepare yourself - sometimes I can tell it and it's okay, other times I can tell it and my voice is quivering and I have a bit of a tear well up, and then other times it's just not the right time to tell it because I can't.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, screenshot it, and send it to us via a message on Instagram @oakmagazineau or email hello@oakmagazine.com.au

There is this perception that farming is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week job, and I just don't think that is the way it should be.

Your review really does help with amplifying the voices of women, and there is influence and power in that visibility.

I have witnessed first hand what happens when that is the case. Not only have I seen my friends and community members mourn another life that's been lost because of these unhealthy paradigms because people can't see a

Listen on your favourite podcast app.

Search ‘A Friend of Mine’.

A winner will be drawn at the end of each month and win an OAK gift pack filled with products from female-founded small businesses valued at $60.

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VAN LIFE: A PORTAL TO THE HEARTLANDS IMAGES: Chloe Smith Photography WORDS: Kimberley Furness with Nat Dowling

Anyone who’s heard the OAK back story knows that a love of print and honest storytelling inspired me to launch a magazine to share our stories.

But something happened along the way. I fell in love with podcasting. And as I met more of you I wanted to know more about your own back stories.

A Friend of Mine podcast was born.

The human voice is such a powerful and emotive instrument. It makes audio one of the most intimate forms of media. You don’t have to read between the lines.

Over a few seasons now, I’ve had in-depth chats and courageous conversations with regional women in business. I’ve also witnessed the power and positive impact of audio storytelling.

"There’s potency in giving someone a platform to voice their experience.

People who listen to the personal stories are also rewarded.

If they can do it, so can I." There’s potency in giving someone a platform to voice their experience. People who listen to the personal stories are also rewarded. If they can do it, so can I. I know a woman who was inspired by an episode to open a creative space in rural NSW to support local artists and attract visitors off the highway and into their tiny town.

For another woman, the discovery of A Friend of Mine broadened her horizons and nudged her to finally make the move from the city to rural Queensland. She now lives and works in Roma.

That’s what happens when you listen to someone whose journey you can identify with. Hearing their business story (which is always part of a bigger personal story) can guide you to listen to your own heart and find the courage to act.

We’ve all had a good go at conversations online.

But the best ones still happen when we’re face-to-face.

We develop trust by sharing space together.

Those conversations open up possibilities. I’ve also seen them open doors and encourage others to step through. I want to open doors from all over Australia.

So I bought a van.

Thanks to the winnings from the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award and a bit of clever handiwork, I now have a mobile podcast studio. We have somewhere to talk.

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The scheduled podcasts always worked face to face.

When I hit the road for events, I’d set up in a corner of the public venue and try to interview attendees.

When it got to the nitty gritty, there were barriers to a real conversation – no quiet, private space indoors and only loud and temperamental weather outside. I felt deflated at these missed opportunities. That’s when I started looking into ways that I could overcome these barriers and deliver a professional recording experience at any venue. What I've ended up doing with the van is more than I could have imagined.

As an experienced journalist – from year 10 work experience student to a sub editor and reporter at The Bendigo Advertiser – I’ve always loved connecting to draw out an often untold story. Sometimes I will have met the person five minutes before interviewing them but they feel comfortable to trust me with their story.

I’ve put the van through its paces at field days in NSW and Victoria, and have rocked up to local Bendigo homes and businesses to record. It draws a few curious looks and is certainly a great conversation starter.

And when you listen to those conversations, that friendship grows into a community.

At times you hear our surroundings whether that’s nature, machinery or a PA system. This just builds on the story and hopefully makes you feel like you're sitting in the van with us. But inside that cosy van, on the couch, we’re having a big, heartfelt and insightful conversation.

I’ve had a number of women finish an interview and comment that they don’t know where that story share came from. I think the van is set up in a way that people forget they are being recorded. They just relax and start talking as if they were with a close and trusted friend.

Mobile podcasting brings your events to life. If you have an event, conference, open day or would like OAK to visit your town, get in touch to discuss partnership/sponsorship options. A unique activation for your next event with podcast episodes available the following day. hello@oakmagazine.com.au

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Your Regional Gastronomy Guide Taste your way around the UNESCO City and Region of Gastronomy with the interactive Bendigo Region Gastronomy Guide. bendigogastronomy.com.au/guide