BUSINESS SHOWCASE
Townsville Fire Turn Up The Heat
Kick-ass Women’s Basketball Team Townsville Fire has shown the world it means business, with players still riding high following their win at the WNBL on March 1st.Success rarely comes in a straight line, and for the Townsville Fire WNBL26 champions, the path to glory was winding. But what accelerated them forward was the supportive collective mindset that had them cheering one another on toward their goal.
Read the full storyBanking That’s More Than Numbers
Erin Ryley, Branch Manager of Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank, left corporate banking and found purpose, leading a local branch that makes a tangible impact in customers’ lives.Erin didn’t set out to build a career in banking; she fell into it.“I started as a teller at 17, and what began as a job quickly became something much bigger,” she explains.
Read the full storyFinding What You Love, And Sticking To It
When Barb Blackhall launched White Picket Real Estate in 2022, it was the cherry on the top of a lifelong real estate career.Barb believes that in business, you should find what you love and stick with it; for her, that happened at the age of seventeen.When she entered real estate, she immediately knew that it was the career she wanted to pursue, and so she committed to learning the industry inside out. Barb worked across sales, property management, commercial and business management until she h
Read the full storyA Slice Of Flour, Fire, And Fearless Ambition
At Poppy’s Pizza Place in Walkerston, every slice tells a story, and behind the oven is Jessica Gilmore, the woman whose passion, creativity, and grit have shaped one of the region’s most beloved pizza places. After 20 years in the pizza industry and 17 years running her own business, Jessica has proven she can not only toss a perfect dough but also serve up leadership, resilience, and integrity in equal measure!
Read the full storyA Local Business Driving National Impact
Never one to be intimidated, Carolyn Fritz, director of Moranbah Discount Tyres & Mechanical, is excelling in a male-dominated industry, leading a community business that is recognised on a national level for its exceptional practice.In 2024, the business brought home a prestigious Australian Small Business Champions Award for Automotive Mechanical Repairs, as well as becoming a finalist in the Business of the Decade Awards, set aside by their professionalism, care, and ethical practice.
Read the full storyA Leader At The Reins
Horsemanship Coach & Mentor Nicole Wirth began envisioning an equestrian career as a child mustering cattle on her family property. Riding wherever she could physically go, navigating thousands of acres of paddocks, cliffs, and creeks, Nicole was hooked by the sense of freedom, the feeling of power and strength beneath her and having to trust her horse with her life.
Read the full storyCarrying the Legacy
Bowen native Chloé Bauer’s foray into the business world was powered by pride.Make no mistake, she has an ardent passion for the fishing industry and the craft. But when she saw an opportunity to carry on the legacy her grandparents started at Bowen Fishermans Seafood Company, it was a sense of duty that reeled her in, hook, line, and sinker.
Read the full storyYoung Entrepreneur Leading A New Wave of Hairdressing
At just 22 years old, Jessica Renee Walters is a business owner and thriving. Based in Mackay, Jessica built her hair salon, Jane Edward Hair, from the ground up on a foundation of loyal clients who believe in her power to make women feel beautiful. Specialising in creating beautiful, customised blonde looks and flawless tape-in extensions, Jessica found her niche blending technical expertise, creativity, and attention to detail to ensure each client leaves with hair that looks natural and, imp
Read the full storyThe Oasis Effect
From python bite to purpose-led boutique, Judith van Hulst has mastered the art of transformation. Only in hindsight does life reveals its design. Last July, years of movement, loss and reinvention led Judith van Hulst to a defining moment in her Whitsunday backyard – one in which instinct, timing and becoming quietly aligned.
Read the full storyHeart, Hustle & Getting Things Dunn Right
Lisa Dunn has mastered the art of balancing business and family.Alongside her husband Sean, Lisa plays an integral role across three local businesses: Irrigear Whitsundays, Dunnrite Plumbing Services, and The Organised Life Whitsundays. Add two young children into the mix, and life is rarely quiet — even though Lisa would happily take a quiet moment when she can get one.
Read the full storyFrom Mining to Massage – Finding Your Niche
Remedial Massage Therapist Monica Jay Willemsen took her first foray into business ownership just this year, launching MJW Massage in January.Monica was driven to train as a massage therapist by her own experience of working in mining, feeling the toll that the physical fatigue, mental load and long hours can take on the body.
Read the full storyReal Estate With Local Roots
In 2026, Robyn Faa marks her 17th year in the real estate industry – a milestone that reflects not just longevity, but consistency, resilience and unwavering dedication to her clients.As Owner, Principal and sole selling agent of Robyn Faa Real Estate, Robyn has built a boutique agency defined by genuine service and strong core values. With a 99% client satisfaction rate, her reputation across Mackay is grounded in professionalism, market insight and an above-and-beyond work ethic.
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