Women In Small Business - Issue 2 September 2024 by Community Broadcast Network (CBN)

ONE STOP PROSPERITY SHOP

FEMALE TRAILBLAZERS CROWNED

It was the ‘Logies of Small Business’

THE biggest celebration of women in small business has honoured more than 60 of the country’s top-performing female small business operators at the 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards held in Sydney on August 24.

Touted the ‘Logies of small business’ and hosted by Nine journalist and TODAY show presenter Jayne Azzopardi, the glittering gala event saw approximately 1000 small businesspeople from myriad retail, services and manufacturing industries converge at The Star.

Triple Olympic gold medallist, Stephanie Rice, was among the VIP guests in attendance and provided inspirational addresses on the power of resilience in professional sport as in small business.

The major recognition awards programme attracted entrants from all Australian states and territories and was comprehensively judged over multiple rounds by an independent panel of dozens of small business experts.

The stringent judging criteria spanned various aspects of small business operations including short and long-term growth strategies, protability, eco-friendliness, innovation, marketing initiatives, customer service quality and charitable and community support –to name but some of the judging criteria.

Winners included

The evening’s most highly-anticipated award – 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion ICON – was won by Vicki Clare-Geluk of Plie Groove'n'Shu e dance school at Cromer, NSW.

The epitome of a savvy trailblazer who turned her business from a onewoman-show to an award-winning performing arts and sports school that now operates across multiple campuses with more than 30 sta and 1000 students, Plie Groove’n’Shu e has achieved considerable growth under Vicki’s leadership.

Extremely active within Sydney’s Northern Beaches community, delivering a variety of volunteer-based initia-

tives designed to foster good mental health, self-esteem and coping strategies for young people, Plie’s unique programmes and nurturing environment under Vicki’s headship also cater to athletes with additional needs.

With a diverse background as a Director, Author and Marketing Strategist, Kristine Young of Bella Venezia Italian restaurant at Mooloolaba in Queensland, won 2024 Australian Small Business Champion In uential Woman.

The award for 2024 Young Small Business Champion Woman Entrepreneur was presented to Rise Up Occupational Therapy Services’ Director and Senior Occupational Therapist, Cassandra Cagorski, for her inspiring achievements in Allied Health services as well as exemplary leadership of her small business team.

Indi Livas, Founder of the Monday Food Co, was named 2024 Small Business Champion Woman Entrepreneur. With a variety of socially conscious and eco-friendly elements to her business which beneted signicantly from Indi’s appearance on the television show, Shark Tank, Indi grew up on a farm in New South Wales and is a qualied yoga teacher. She has a background in naturopathy and raw food production that led her to creating the Monday Food Co, which she aspires to grow into Australia’s leading gut friendly health food company.

In a beauty trifecta for Queensland, aesthetics and beauty business coaching company JadeStart took to t p gong for Professi s onal the Co C smetic Specialist ca c tegory was won by Bo B bbie Charles Skin & Cosmetic Clinic,

sional Services, the

Employer, Environmental Business Tiny Tins and Wollondilly Women in Business for its success in aiding its members’ businesses to grow and connect with

Env Tins and Wollo for its success i businesses to g community sele this even of thousan le small business

and Queensland’s Lust Minerals won the Beauty Product category.

However, among the year’s most competitive categories with more than two dozen nalists, the Beauty Services award was presented to NSW-based business, Isabella Loneragan Skin. With a focus on holistic health and bespoke facial treatments, as well as educational courses for fellow industry professionals and a product range called Ragan Skin, the Founder of the business, Isabella Loneragan, was also applauded for her inuence on the industry via e ective media engagement strategies.

Spanning capital cities as well as rural, regional and suburban towns, the array of more than 60 winning women-led small businesses this year also included Business Coaching category winner The Alternative Board, Quakers Hill East Combined OSHC Inc for Most Inclusive

“Being selected as a Champion of this major event from a national entrant pool of thousands speaks volumes of the tenacity and leadership at each of these small businesses,” said Steve Loe, Awards Founder and Managing Director of Precedent Productions, which coordinates the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards.

Founder and M Precedent Prod tes Au Business C “Th ti em a C ought to feel im

“The Awards honour the nation’s most exceptional female leaders today who are making an indelible mark on the small business sector. This year’s winners are now among a highly esteemed group of recognised Champions and as such, ought to feel immensely proud of their achievements and of their teams.

succes Women’s Smal are not just per statem hid th

“The successes of our 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champions are not just personal milestones but also powerful statements of what women can achieve and the excellence that denes Australian small businesswomen today. It is truly a pleasure to spotlight these very worthy Champion women of small business,” added Mr Loe.

According to Australian Government data, female small business owners currently represent more than one-third of all small businesses; and recently released research from Commonwealth Bank suggests more and more Australian women are choosing to start a small business or side hustle, with women opening up 43.2 per cent of all new business transaction accounts during the 2023 nancial year.

The 2024 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is sponsored by Boa, NOVA Employment, Xcllusive Business Sales, VJB Group, Castaway Forecasting and Big Clean.

For more information – including a full list of 2024 winners – visit championawards.com.au/ womens.

beauty business coaching

SARAH NAMED FINALIST IN AUSMUMPRENEUR AWARDS

Winner Vicki Clare-Geluk.

SARAH NAMED A FINALIST IN AusMumpreneur Awards

SARAH MacRae of 24/7 Care Disability Services & Activity Hub

has been named as a nalist for the AusMumpreneur Awards for the Disability Services Award, Regional Business Award, and people's choice local community Business Award categories.

The AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The Women’s Business School celebrate and recognize Australian Mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation. The awards are designed to recognize the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

Sarah MacRae's journey began with a move from Moss Vale to Brooklyn, and eventually to Danger Island, where she learned resilience and adaptability living on an oyster lease. Her early life was shaped by managing the family business, which taught her the importance of hard work, structure, and a dedicated team.

Taking on signicant responsibilities after her parents' separation, Sarah gained invaluable business skills. These experiences laid the

foundation for her leadership and entrepreneurial approach, emphasizing problem-solving and resilience.

Inspired by these early lessons, Sarah founded an organization focused on community, inclusivity, and support for marginalized individuals. Her vision reects her commitment to compassionate leadership and creating opportunities for all.

Today, Sarah is dedicated to enriching lives and empowering individuals, driven by her unique background and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact.

She is delighted to be named as a triple nalist and is proud of her achievements, particularly Opening of the Activity Hub: Transforming a vision into reality, their state-of-the-

art facility now serves as a haven for individuals with disabilities, o ering tailored programs and activities.

NDIS Registration: Achieving this certication underscored their commitment to providing high-quality, accredited services to our community

There are many benets to balancing business and motherhood as Sarah MacRae explains, how she is driven by personal experience and a deep commitment to creating a nurturing environment where individuals with disabilities can thrive. She nds immense joy in being a mumpreneur, saying: "Being a mumpreneur allows me to balance my passion for making a di erence with the joys of motherhood, showing my children the power of perseverance and compassion."

It can be challenging to be a businesswoman whilst raising a family and Sarah gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise.” Starting your own enterprise requires passion and resilience; embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and stay committed to your vision. Surround yourself with a supportive network and never stop learning, as continuous improvement is key to long-term success.”

One stop shop for your property needs

Three Kings and a Queen are your one stop shop for property solutions.

The small boutique real estate agency o ers a range of services whether you’re a rst home buyer, an investor, or a developer.

Licensee-in-charge Mira Tedjo said her team focuses on building a long-term relationship with their clients.

“By understanding your needs, we can tailor our service for you,” she said.

“We’re driven by results and a commitment to delighting you, our clients.”

The real estate business is also a project marketer for house and land packages, o the plan, new apartments, and rental management.

“We o er professional services from start to end with the help of our team,” Ms Tedjo said.

“We help you nd the property that suits your requirements either as a rst home buyer, an owner occupier or an investor and we help investors in managing their properties as well.

“Our panel of brokers and solicitors has helped many of our clients to enjoy a smooth property journey.

“A seamless process and honest communication remain our watch words.”

Ms Tedjo said the real estate agency was proud to have been chosen as a nalist for the Camden Local Business Awards in 2022 and 2023 for the Outstanding Real Estate and Youth Award categories, along with being a nalist for Australian Women’s Small Business Championship Award 2022.

“We strive to help our clients above and beyond and we are keen to see people achieve their goals in their property journey,” she said.

To find out more you can visit the website at www.threekingsandaqueen.com.au.

Alternative ways to transform women’s health

NATUROPATH Riannon Page started working in the health industry at age 15, and decades later founded Mungbean Health clinic.

Specialising in fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and women’s and children’s health, Mungbean Health now serves families and individuals looking for alternative ways to their maintain health.

Prior to establishing her own clinic, Mrs Page, a mother of three, worked for a well-known international company specialising in thyroid and hormonal imbalances.

She worked as the international company’s head naturopath and trained fellow naturopaths in many aspects of women’s health.

Mungbean Health’s clinic has grown with clients from all around Australia & positively impacted the lives of over 3000 clients following Riannons protocols.

“Our values revolve around holistic well-being, combining traditional wisdom with modern scientic research,” Mrs Page said.

“We support and guide individuals on their unique journeys fostering optimal health and vitality”.

“With a focus on a nurturing and emphatic approach, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment where individual’s needs are addressed.”

With a team of now 10, our 7 Naturopaths, including 3 senior Naturopaths at Mungbean Health strive to positively impact the lives of many more families following Riannon’s protocols.

Mungbean Health is an exclusively online clinic who o ers advice on fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, children’s health and we have a blog with healthy tips and healthy recipes to support you.

Visit: www.mungbeanhealth.com

Krystle’s a master of transformation

KRYSTLE, Chief Executive O cer of Norah Head Sporties, is known for transforming the smallest club into a vibrant local Venue.

Krystles dedication to leveraging her role for the greater good is a commendable trait and under her visionary leadership, Norah Head Sporties has developed strong partnerships with key not-for-prot organizations across the Central Coast.

These collaborations underscore her commitment to making a signicant di erence in the community.

Krystle’s innovative approach to drive the club’s success is exemplied by her ability to create and host major events that resonate across the coast.

Events such as Norchella, featuring renowned artists like DJ Havana Brown, Thirsty Merc, and many more, have become cornerstones of the local entertainment scene.

These high-prole events not only elevate the venue’s reputation but also attract substantial visitors, contributing to the economic vitality of Norah Head Sporties and the surrounding area. Her leadership extends beyond event management - she is a source of

Proud of authentic dishes

AT Enzos Cucina Dural the take pride in on delivering authentic traditional Italian dishes to our customers using recipes that have been passed down through family several generations.

Growing up in the Italian culture food has always brought our family together, there are so many special memories from my childhood laughing over a meal at the table with my family.

My goal has always been to share this feeling with my community that I live and work in,” a spokesperson said.

“When they sit at table with their family they become an extension of our family and together we make special memories that they will never forget.

Being able to do this with my husband and our three girls who also work with us and have had the opportunity to develop relationships with our cus-

tomers is completely priceless. If there is one thing that I could choose to say when I think about the business I have developed is the pride I feel about the environment we create every time someone walks through the doors. We strive to have them enter with an empty stomach and leave with a whole heart. It really is about the complete experience, good food, good laughs and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Visit: www.enzoscucina.com.au

inspiration and empowerment for her team.

She fosters an environment where team members can thrive, providing them with the support and guidance needed to pursue their dream roles and advance their careers.

Krystle’s achievements and accolades reect her exceptional leadership and the positive impact she continues to have on her community and industry.

Her passion for her role as CEO and her commitment to both her club and the community is remarkable. Her focus on community and sta welfare demonstrates a deep-seated dedication that goes beyond business success.

Krystle has been nominated for 7 awards this year alone and conrmed as a nalist in the following categories:

• Business Xcellence Awards –Event Services.

• Wedding Industry Awards – Licensed Venue.

• Local Business Awards – Event Services.

Visit: www.norahheadsports.com

Mungbean Health founder and chief executive officer Riannon Page and her husband Jeremy Page, the company’s warehouse manager and co-CEO.

Helen releases her debut album

WESTERN Sydney based Helen Perris is a prolic storyteller who wears her heart on her sleeve, masterfully creating autobiographical songs that travel between whimsy and heartbreak with ease.

With classical training and contemporary sensibilities, Helen is a skilled songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and she draws on an performance background in choirs, orchestras, chamber groups, musical theatre, cabaret and rock bands to craft a sparkling piano-pop with a depth and emotion reminiscent of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Amanda Palmer, Katie Noonan or Kate Miller-Heidke.

She has written an extraordinary number ocxzf songs – over 500 of them – some of which have been released, and a number of which have been shortlisted for awards.

Helen has been shortlisted in the Open, Ballad and Contemporary Pop categories of the Australian Songwriters’ Association Awards more than once. She was a nalist for Best Music Video at the Australian Independent Music Awards and the winner of the Judges’ Choice Award in The Great Bean Counters Accounting Anthem Contest, demonstrating her keen ability to transform even mundane topics into catchy tunes.

She is a founding member of the I Heart Songwriting Club and for her, song writing is a cathartic ritual. She gives herself precisely one hour a week to write a song. Astonishingly, unlike many other songwriters with similar intentions, Helen has found the discipline to do it.

Her new single, “As the Weather

Turns”, was written the day after the death of a close friend, who died after of having to make a terrible and impossible choice between her unborn baby and treatment for a disease discovered while she was pregnant.

It’s a painful subject that could have led to maudlin music, but Helen isn’t afraid to tackle dark and devastating subjects and shape them into what is becoming her trademark –light-lled, soaring, catchy songs full of hope that deeply connect, move and linger with you. It’s a magical recipe that makes As The Weather Turns striking and memorable – and somehow both deeply a ecting and uplifting.

Helen likes to confront the tough things life throws her way. She calls it as an “optimistic challenge”.

She has wrestled with her own mental health, having experienced post-natal depression with the birth of her second child, and for many years struggled with feelings of failure, anxiety and procrastination stemming from undiagnosed ADHD.

During the period of writing these songs, she dealt with overwhelming grief after losing four people close to her in quick succession – two grandparents, her friend and then her father.

She also lives with the anxiety disorder demophobia – a fear of crowds and crowded places – which puts her much more at ease onstage than she feels sitting or standing in the audience at a show.

Her writing routine is a way of facing her mental health challenges and seeking to overcome them.

Along the way her condence and

Pools that add value to homes

BLUE Haven Pools specialises in concrete pool design, construction and after care.

Blue Haven Pools services over 1000 unique builds per year in NSW.

Innovation and value for money is at the forefront of everything they do to enable us to provide cost savings without compromising quality or the ability to provide custom solutions for every type of site condition and cater to individual styling and desires.

Blue Haven Pools builds value, not just good swimming pools.

The key was they do that is to provide customised solutions to integrate the pool with the home and increase property value.

Blue Haven has cultivated specialists, individuals and a digital platform to craft unique solutions

that does exactly what its designed to do; get results.

They o er the entire spectrum of outdoor living from pool pack-

song-writing output has improved too.

In the past, Helen has referred to herself a “geek with a keyboard” and summed her music up self-deprecatingly as “Suburban indie piano pop songs that will make you laugh, cry and dance”. Yet, as time rolls on, the songs well up and ow out and her song-writing craft deepens, such modest words increasingly fail to convey the full weight of her quietly brewing talent.

She has released two EPs to date –Flesh (2012) and Oneiro (2013) – and four singles – Mirrors & Windows (2015), Be There (2016), Our House Is On Fire (2019), and Crown (2023), which have attracted high praise for her song writing and performance talent from reviewers in Australia and overseas.

For her debut album, “Remove This Shield”, (released August 2, 2024), Helen collaborated with producer and fellow multi-instrumentalist Josh Schuberth. Between

the two of them, they played all the instruments on the recording. It was a smooth process and they captured superb performances.

Recorded over a three-year period from 2015 to 2018, the album is a collection of 10 songs picked by Helen and Josh from a shortlist of around 35 of the more than 500 songs she has written.

As well as being a singer-songwriter, Helen is also a passionate music teacher. She runs an award-winning school in Western Sydney teaching vocals, piano, composition and songwriting to children and adults and has Won the Yamaha Piano Teacher Award: Breakout twice (2024 and 2021). Her recent 2024 prize included the thrilling opportunity to spend time in Melbourne with one of her heroes, Tim Minchin.

The songwriting approach she takes – and teaches – has seen her become a kind of songwriting motivational speaker and advocate for music education, and made her a popular speaker at music education conferences and webinars.

She has been interviewed by Christine Anu on ABC Radio about her songwriting craft. She has presented talks on Engaging Teen Students Through Songwriting for Yamaha, written for The Piano Teacher Magazine and the Yamaha website. This month she presented at the Australian Piano Pedagogy Conference in Melbourne. In 2012, she gave a TEDx Talk in Canberra on songwriting and mental health and proposed a challenge to her audience: Helen Perris’ album “Release This Shield” is out now independently on Bandcamp and across all digital and streaming platforms, with limited CDs available from Helen’s Bandcamp Music page.

Unique travel experiences

AT Fly Me Now Pty Ltd, their purpose is to create exceptional travel experiences that reect the individuality of each client.

They are driven by a passion for meticulous planning and a commitment to excellence, ensuring every journey is seamless and memorable.

Their values centre around personalised service, accessibility, and integrity.

“We believe in making luxury travel attainable, o ering up to 40% o accommodation and exible payment options, including interest-free plans, layby terms and even Amex points payments,” a spokesperson said.

ages to bespoke developments, custom or kit project management and beyond.

Visit: www.bluehaven.com.au

Whether its securing exclusive access to sold-out events or organising complex itineraries, our goal is to handle every detail so you can focus on the adventure.

At Fly Me Now, the team turns your travel dreams into reality with profes-

sionalism, care, and a deep dedication to your satisfaction. Visit: www.flymenow.com.au

We’re your one-stop-shop solution to your property journey.

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hello@agilityprint.com.au www.agilityprint.com.au

At the heart of our business lies an unwavering commitment to ommunity. We understand that our success is intricately linked to the well-being of the neighborhoods we call home. Our purpose is grounded in a holis o community support that extends be