BEHIND THE BUSINESS

It is often remarked “it is nice to put a face to a name.” Over the following pages we get to know some of the local identities behind a few wellestablished business’ in our community.

Dr. Russell Dalton

From Ballarat IVF

Tell us about a typical workday in your life. I tend to have long working days. I usually start around 7:30 am, either visiting my patients in hospital who are enjoying their new baby or recovering from surgery. I also perform egg collections for women undergoing IVF treatment.

I then see patients in the OGB/Ballarat IVF consulting rooms and perform laparoscopic surgery for women on some afternoons. A few times per week I have the pleasure of attending the birth of a baby, which continues to be a fantastic experience to share with my patients. I then finish off the day catching up with paperwork, emails and research reviews. I then love to get home to see Margaret and our dogs.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? My father owned and ran a small business in Geelong and he influenced my approach to service provision. There were two perspectives he lived by in business: first, work out what you are good at and do a lot of it – don’t try to be an expert on everything; second, the secret to success in business and service provision is to surround yourself with really good people. Each of these pieces of advice has been extremely important in my career. What moment in your career are you the proudest of thus far? There have been two moments, really. The first one was the establishment of Ballarat IVF in 2002. This took a lot of courage and commitment, and I’m proud of the fact that this clinic is still the only full-time IVF service that operates outside metropolitan Melbourne. To be able to provide IVF and other fertility services in Ballarat is still very exciting, and our service has expanded to include Warrnambool, Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Castlemaine and Kyneton. We have also recently commenced public hospital egg collections in Maryborough, which is a first for any part of regional Victoria.

The second moment was when Michael Bardsley joined me in 2006 to form our practice, OGB. I have known Michael for 25 years, and we work very well together. We share many similar views on how high-quality women’s health care should be provided and are proud of our practice and all the people who contribute to the service we provide.

Ideal Sunday? My wife and I take the dogs for a walk, read the Sunday newspapers, then head off to Melbourne to watch the Cats at the MCG. To finish off, we have dinner with our sons and their partners and get ready for the busy week ahead.

Gavin Nash

From Nashish Marketing and Design

106 Please describe your role in your own words I am a marketer and graphic designer, and along with the other guys at Nashish, we create brands and use lots of different ways to market those brands to our target audience. We work with businesses from retail to real estate, corporate to community groups and everyone in between. The best thing about being a designer in a small agency in a town like Ballarat is the diversity. You are never doing the same thing two days in a row – it’s more like two hours in a row!

We design logos, brochures and websites; edit films and video; undertake email marketing and Google Ads campaigns; and manage social media accounts. We even handle illustration and photography.

What do you like about your job? What’s your favorite part? I have always liked being creative and making a living out of it. I truly love it. It’s often hard to find a career that you enjoy and pays the bills as well, so I’ve been fortunate. I especially enjoy the longer-term relationships I have with my clients – some have been working with me for over 20 years!

What challenges does your job present you with? What lessons are you still learning?

I love the challenge of keeping up with technology and advancements in my industry. For example, the process for designing and building a website has completely changed about five times in the past 20 years. So, if you don’t keep up, you can no longer offer the service. I am currently undertaking exams and studying with Google to become a registered Google Ads provider. It’s a task that isn’t easy, but it’s enjoyable to find out what is out there and what is constantly changing in the world of digital marketing. What are you working on right now?

We are currently working on a brand and associated promotional materials for a new residential land subdivision for the Macneil Group. It involves researching the area, its flora and fauna and key landmarks to come up with an idea for a name and images/icons that could be used in the logo for the development. This is an interesting part of being a designer – the idea phase and then the creative phase using different colours and fonts.

Go-to workday lunch? Cafe Europa in Sturt Street. Kath and the tribe there are super friendly, the coffee is awesome, and they always have something gluten free for me to eat! The peanut cookies are my favourite. It’s also a chilled atmosphere if we need to catch up with a client there. Plus, on weekends I can take my two kelpies, sit out the front and enjoy the sun!

Sarah Emmanuel

From Sanctuary Day Spa

Please describe your role in your own words I am the owner/operator of Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa. I work “in spa” four days a week. Being a qualified beauty therapist and having grown up as a therapist in the spa environment, I wear so many different hats at work – manager, receptionist, trainer, human resources, bookkeeper and accountant, and, occasionally, I do treat my own longterm clients.

Tell us about a typical workday in your life.

I am usually rushing into work with coffee in hand right on 9 am after struggling to get Miss Four to kinder. I meet and greet all our clients, answer the phones and make appointments. I like to ensure the therapists are well prepared and feel fully supported throughout the day, so I assist them as much as possible. In between all the day-to-day operations, I do the payroll, bookwork, ordering, invoicing, and marketing. It makes for a busy day, but I try to get as much done while I’m at work so that I can focus on being a mum and wife at home. What do you like about your job? What’s your favorite part?

I love the environment I work in. It’s quite relaxed and stress free. My team is amazing and make my work so enjoyable. I love seeing the difference we can make to a client’s life and how relaxed and happy they are when they leave. What moment in your career are you the proudest of so far?

In May last year, we were finally able to move into our brandnew spa facility. It had been a project I had been working on behind the scenes for at least four years. I remember being pregnant and feeling people doubted my ability to be a mum and undertake such a huge project at the same time. I came up against several “road blocks” but continued to push through and fought for my dream. To open the doors of what I believe is truly the best day spa facility, and knowing it was mine, was overwhelmingly the proudest career moment I have had to date.

Ideal Sunday? Gosh, I’d love to think there could be a sleep-in but, unfortunately, a combination of Miss Four bouncing around and a restless cat have me awake by 7 am. I’ve been hitting the gym lately before a lazy breakfast with the family, a trip to the shops, and some meal planning for the week ahead. With Sunday my only “off” day, I try to switch off from work and be as present as possible at home.

Margie Hyde

From Catalyst Health

Please describe your role in your own words I am a degree-qualified clinical nutritionist and Ultra Lite weight management practitioner. Tell us about a typical workday in your life

First things first, I get to work and create a welcoming environment in my clinic room, let some beautiful sunlight in, set up my desk and computer, and prepare for clients. I then begin to see the clients, creating a plan with them to renew their health through dietary changes based on my “case-taking”. These changes are sometimes determined by hair-testing of foods, other pathology, a physical exam or balancing nutrient deficiencies with high-quality practitionerbrand supplements. In between time is spent creating treatment plans for future appointments or researching products, health conditions and resources. Ultra Lite clients continue to arrive throughout the day, where we review their progress, weight and measurements while they are on the five- or 10-week ketogenic program and address any areas of concern.

Gaining weight is easy! Losing weight is a mental game, not just diet related, and providing the right tools and mindset is a key to success. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? Get a mentor! Having a professional mentor has helped me be a more thorough, investigative healer. What moment in your career are you the proudest of thus far?

I can’t go past my graduation day! Studying part time in my 40s, it took twice as long to complete my degree compared to the school leavers who were studying full time. My studies involved constant commuting, staying up late and missing out on many fun weekends whilst being buried in the books. However, I’m quite proud of what I have achieved as well as connecting with Catalyst to be their nutritionist! What are you working on right now? Building up a professional reputation in my new role as the nutritionist at Catalyst Nutrition, making myself known, and being highly regarded in my field.

Ideal Sunday? Brunch at a local café, home to walk the dog and the pet pig on our beautiful Mt Cole acreage, gardening or catching up with the two cutest grandchildren in the world and relaxing with family.

Mr. Ian Holten

Founder of Australian Skin Face Body plastic surgery, skin and laser clinics.

Please describe your role My role is all about delivering safe and excellent results in plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. I believe in providing honest opinions, based on a patient’s specific needs, to help achieve natural and realistic results.

To complement the plastic surgery side of the business, I established Australian Skin Face Body skin and laser clinics in Geelong, Warrnambool, Horsham and Ballarat.

Offering surgical and non-surgical treatments under the one roof, the team of surgeons, GPs, nurses and dermal clinicians take a holistic approach to skin health and rejuvenation. With a strong interest in the area of skin cancer, I also lead a team of GPs who are highly trained in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

With a career spanning over 20 years, it’s simple, really – the more you put in, the more you get out! What moment in your career are you the proudest of so far?

The work that I and others performed on a young Vietnamese girl with severe burns. No other surgical team would perform the required surgeries, so we brought her to Geelong. Over a period of several years and many procedures, we managed to give her back her independence and confidence. What are you working on right now?

Even though I am a surgeon, I also work on non-surgical ways to improve peoples' appearances. For example, a bodysculpting machine has just been purchased for the skin and laser clinics. Already very popular, truSculpt® iD is a fat reduction treatment using advanced technology. It’s the next evolution in fat busting, delivering personalised results in as little as one treatment. This has created a great alternative to surgery for my patients that are looking to shrink select pockets of fat and, immediately after the treatment, be able to return to their normal activities and exercise.

Our team prides itself on continual training and education to give patients the most up-to-date information in the aesthetics industry. I believe in science-based technologies, and I am always on the lookout for and, willing to invest in, the latest, innovative medical-grade lasers. New equipment is always trialled and is not purchased unless the entire team is pleased with the results. Guilty pleasure song? Always any Abba song.

Martin Zumstein

From RACV Goldfields Resort

Please describe your role in your own words My role at RACV Goldfields Resort is to lead our resort forward as the RACV leisure offering continues to grow. RACV acquired the Goldfields Resort in November 2015 and ever since, the resort has been a growing destination for Victorians and interstate travellers. I joined the resort in August 2018 and have been amazed at the diverse offering of our location. My role is to promote what we provide as an accommodation, conference and events, and food destination to ensure that we deliver great experiences for our RACV members and guests. We are focused on creating memorable and unique offerings that speak to the history of the Goldfields region and incorporate the amazing artisans and produce within the region.

Our region has so much to offer. We pride ourselves on ensuring that the experiences and memories we create will in turn grow the reputation of the region and give guests a great reason to return. Whilst we do have guests that come for that special getaway to spend time in and around the resort, we know that many of our guests come to visit family and friends or to see some of the great attractions in the region. Our role as an accommodation provider is to ensure our resort complements those experiences, making our guests’ visits special ones. What do you like about your job? What’s your favorite part? I love watching us grow each day. Since I joined RACV Goldfields Resort, we have implemented new ways of doing business, rolled out some great new initiatives and have committed to investing in our people. Having started at the bottom in hospitality almost 20 years ago, I was fortunate to have great leaders and mentors that helped me along on my journey, and I want to help our team grow their careers.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Every guest has a story. What that means is we don’t always know the reason for their visit, whether it’s a celebration, reunion, a catch-up with friends or family, or just that wellneeded break, but it is our role to ensure we make it as special and memorable as possible. What moment in your career are you the proudest of thus far?

I’ve been fortunate enough to work across the country and abroad in hospitality, but my proudest moment to date was my time in Perth. I moved to Perth to oversee a propertybrand conversion and multi-million dollar refurbishment. The conversion and refurbishment both had challenges at times, but what I learnt was patience, trusting the process, and realising that steady progress is better than no progress.

Meredith O'Loughlan

From Spring Health

Tell us about a typical workday in your life A typical workday as an integrated Chinese medicine practitioner practising acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional medicine, as well as providing counselling, is one that is certainly varied, always interesting and extremely rewarding.

My day may consist of anything from supporting women to conceive either naturally or through IVF, induce labour, reduce inflammation in the body to manage autoimmune conditions to reduce symptoms and stop disease progression, support gut function to reduce the likelihood of significant illness and discomfort and balance the body to improve sleep, balance hormones. I may also undertake less common treatments to clear up such things as sebaceous cysts, gall stones and conditions that have no name or are not clearly understood in a Western medical framework.

What goes through my mind is to then try to piece together the many parts of the body that should be working as a whole and deal with the ailments affecting the client’s health. I will develop a differential diagnosis according to Chinese medicine. Together, we begin treatment that is individualised and tailored for the patient. What do you like about your job? What’s your favourite part?

I am very passionate about my work because it produces good results for patients that will improve their quality of life. Such results inspire me on a daily basis. My favourite part is always continuing to research the herbs I use in the clinic. There is a growing body of scientific evidence now that supports the practice of Chinese medicine, so I strive to provide patients with the best choice of herbal medicines that will produce the optimum results. When patients leave the clinic after their appointments, they can read up on the herbs, scientific studies and clinical trials that are relevant to their treatment, which can then provide hope in situations that they have been struggling to manage, often for quite some time.

What are you currently working on right now?

I am continuing my work in the area of supporting patients with fertility issues and with autoimmune disease. I am also currently working on compiling an evidenced-based analysis of the Chinese medicine management of multiple sclerosis. The evidence has been gleaned from classical Chinese medicine literature, contemporary clinical literature, and the outcomes of clinical trials and experimental studies. Ideal Sunday?

Slow start to the day, followed by a bike ride around Lake Wendouree, then a sweet, sleepy siesta in the afternoon ... pure joy!

Waste Water Systems Pty Ltd

Wastewater Systems Pty Ltd was founded by Kevin Nolan in 2000 and has played an integral part in the history of wastewater recycling. Based in Ballan, our company specialises in the installation and maintenance of commercial and domestic treatment plants across regional Victoria. Whether you are buying, building or renovating, Wastewater Systems specialises in the design and construction for EPA approval for a variety of applications. Building, buying or renovating in a non-sewered area?

Wastewater Systems’ units are designed specifically for non-sewered areas as they replace the traditional septic tank in wastewater catchment and sensitive environmental areas. The aerobic wastewater treatment system (AWTS) unit digests all wastewater and sewage within the household and allows it to be re-distributed within the boundaries of your property. The clean treated wastewater is distributed below ground by the system throughout your garden or lawn area. How Wastewater Systems can help you Whether you are a tradesman, draftsman, homeowner or investor, we supply, install, service and maintain all types of treatment plants. Our highly trained team currently services over 500 types of treatment plants across regional Victoria at an affordable cost to the homeowner. We stock all pumps and spare parts in store and on the road for your convenience. We take care of you and your customers from the time of application right through to the servicing and maintenance of your commercial or domestic unit. By Wastewater Systems.

Our recently completed projects in Blackwood and Heathcote demonstrate that our experience and knowledge of wastewater systems is second to none. Over the past two years, we have been working in conjunction with the Moorabool Shire to upgrade the sewerage system in Blackwood as part of a government-funded project. It required the installation of over 100 Fuji-Clean AWTS treatment plants for the residents of Blackwood.

Wastewater Systems chooses to use Fuji Clean AWTS treatment plants as they are the most reliable and advanced option available today. The lightweight single-tank system allows for easy installation and the visual appearance blends effortlessly within the garden landscape. An exciting new project for Wastewater Systems took place at the Augusta mine site in Heathcote, Victoria. This project involved the installation of the Rhizopod system – a recently developed wastewater treatment system. The Rhizopod system has been specifically designed for “difficult” sites and takes advantage of evapotranspiration – the loss of water from the soil by evaporation and from plants by transpiration. This product is a unique, completely selfcontained recirculating hydroponic pod arrangement that uses plants to beneficially use and disperse the wastewater from your site. The main advantage of this system is that there is a reduced discharge to the natural ground, if at all.

TREATMENT PLANT SPECIALISTS

SALES | INSTALL | SERVICE | MAINTENANCE of all domestic and commercial wastewater systems

The Rhizopod system is best suited for blocks that have either heavy clay soils, high water tables or nearby bores/ waterways, or are too small to fit both your house and the AWTS treatment system. It is a very exciting time ahead for Wastewater Systems and its consumers as we are advancing with state-of-the-art technology and contributing to the future of protecting and conserving our environment.

Visit us at our new website www.wastewateraus.com.au. You can also direct enquiries to info@wastewateraus.com.au or call our office directly on 5368 2410 and speak to our friendly staff.

Garden State Insurance Brokers

By Garden State Insurance Brokers.

As your insurance broker, we act for you and not the insurer.

Garden State Insurance Brokers is a locally owned insurance brokerage company that has been established in Ballarat since 1991. Our head office is still in Ballarat but our reach expands across the whole of Australia.

We work closely with our clients and their core business partners, which includes accountants, financial advisers and solicitors, to provide insurance programs that meet our clients needs. Through our extensive experience and connections, we provide our clients with access to a wide range of insurance products, specialist resources, and competitive prices.

As a committed partner, you can rely on us to deliver outstanding service, competitive pricing and expert assistance in the event of a claim. Why should you use us as your insurance broker?

In a climate where society is becoming more litigious, financial products more complex, regulation and statutory obligations more onerous, and threats to your wellbeing and livelihood more prevalent (for example, theft and cyber attacks), it is more important than ever to ensure your insurance is adequate for your business and lifestyle.

With Garden State Insurance Brokers, you will receive the knowledge, expertise, representation and service that sets insurance brokers apart from the direct insurance companies. As your insurance broker, we will

• act in your best interests and not the insurance company’s • help you to assess and manage your risks and provide advice on insurance products and solutions appropriate for your needs • help you to arrange, acquire and maintain your insurance for all kinds of personal and business risks • act as your advocate in the settlement of any claim made under your insurance policies.

At Garden State Insurance Brokers, we are experts in helping you tailor insurance programs in the following classes of insurance:

• Business, Oce and Retail package policies • Property and Landlord • Public and Products Liability • Contract Works • Commercial and Fleet Motor • Personal Accident and Illness • Marine Transit • Earthmoving Plant and Equipment • Professional Indemnity • House and Contents • Motor Vehicle • Directors and Ocers Liability • Management Liability • Industrial Special Risks • Pleasure Craft and Hull • Travel Insurance – Private or Corporate

www.gsib.com.au 21 Lydiard St Sth, Ballarat

03 5331 8059

The Ballarat Tech School (BTS) hosted by Federation University is a high-tech centre for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) excellence preparing students for success in a rapidly changing world in which 75% of the worlds fastest growing occupations require STEM skills. BTS programs are aligned with the industries predicted to experience economic and employment growth.

In collaboration with Mitchell Harris Wines over 3 days students explored agricultural pathways through the context of the Wine Industry. Mitchell Harris have been making wine since 2008, with a focus on elegance and reecting the cool-climate characters of our nearby regions. Students developed their understandings from “vineyard to bottle” developing their knowledge on harvesting, chemistry and food science.

03 5327 8080 Visit: ballarattechschool.vic.edu.au Ballarat Tech School Building K – SMB Campus 136 Albert Street Ballarat Central