Women of Wynnum Manly: Recent Episodes
Allana Bianchi
Women of Wynnum Manly is a fortnightly podcast that dives into the stories behind the women who contribute to the proud sense of community that is a piece of paradise in Brisbane’s bayside. Allana has lived in Wynnum with her husband, dog, cat and (sometimes) granddog since 2016. She fell in love with the stunning sunrises, gets excited by a good bargain in the op shops, and enjoys the easy nature and friendliness of the local people. Feeling like the Wynnum area is in a transition stage, with an eclectic mix of old and new, Allana wants to dig deeper into the incredible women who are part of the community she loves. The Traditional Owners of the Wynnum Manly area are the Quandamooka People. They have lived on the lands and seas surrounding Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) for at least 21,000 years.
Kara Cook MP became the elected Federal Member for Bonner in May 2025, making her the third woman representing the Bayside across all levels of government.
I had a lovely conversation with Kara about what interested her in entering politics, and how her life from a young person in Yeppoon has been one with a strong connection to community values. Her early career work as an advocate for domestic violence survivors has led her to still have a fierce desire for wanting to play a role in contributing to systematic and cultural change in that space.
I hope you enjoy getting to know Kara.
As the co-conductor of the Wynnum Choral Society (turning 100 in 2026!!), Elizabeth shared with me her love of music and the joy of singing. We had a fun conversation that included voice impersonations, and lots of laughter. It has reignited my own passion for singing in a choir - not about having the perfect voice but all of the other benefits you gain. I hope when listening you can pick up the sense of enthusiasm and joy this conversation oozed.
Find more about the Wynnum Choral Society, who raise money each year for charity, by contacting Esme on 3396 1450 or check out their Facebook page.
Di Catto is the Rotary supported group leader for Days for Girls, an organisation that changes lives for young girls. Finding out about Days for Girls blew me away, as they help make education possible for many, by providing menstruation bags. There is a space in the Bayside where people come together one day a week to make these bags, to be distributed to those in need.
Di is warm and easy to spend time with, and it is clear that she genuinely loves being part of something that is making a difference. I hope that you enjoy getting to know Di, and appreciate the contribution that Days for Girls, under her leadership, is making.
For more information about Days for Girls: http://www.daysforgirls.org
Eleanor has travelled all the way from the UK to live in our beautiful part of the world. She is my first podcast guest who as a young woman was inspired by Richard Gere's An Officer and a Gentleman movie to join the Navy. She did meet the love of her life and amongst a lot of joy, travel and adventure there has been darkness, which has inspired 3 elements coffee. Eleanor and Terry do incredible work to contribute to better outcomes for those transitioning from the military, as well as make great coffee! Enjoy getting to know Eleanor.
3elementscoffee.com is an Australian and veteran owned company, started by Eleanor's husband in 2016.
How delightful it was to spend time with Sharon McRae, who after her own emotional and physical breakdown worked hard to claw her way back to be the best person she could be, and committed to helping others do the same. Every now and then I have a guest on the podcast who I connect with their value and purpose, and Sharon was one of those. I loved hearing about how she goes about her work in supporting women who are in need of guidance to move forward in the way they live their lives. It was a great chat, and I hope you get to take something from it.
More information and links to what Sharon mentioned in the conversation:
- 1-on-1 coaching packages are here: https://paperbell.me/sharon-mcrae
- The worksheet that changed Sharon's life - The Cycle of Pain - is available as a free download on the same site. (https://paperbell.me/sharon-mcrae)
- A weekly email called Resilience Notes is especially for people who are coaching themselves through the hard parts but useful to anyone interested in emotional resilience and well-being. It lives here: https://sharonmcrae.substack.com/
To say Sharon is important to me is an understatement. She is one of those people I feel like I have known all my life, and I can be completely me with her. We connected about four years ago but the longer we know each other the more we uncover how our lives have intersected over a number of decades. When I thought of doing something to promote op shopping, I knew Shaz was the person to partner up with. Of course she jumped in immediately with a yes.
In our chat we talk about our love of op shopping, our hopes for Opportunities by the Bay and just enjoy a good yarn together! I hope you enjoy eavesdropping on our conversation.
Julie and her husband own Kova Furniture Removals, establishing the business together from one truck not all that long ago. She also finds the time to be the President of the Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Club. This is a big role, and both industries she is involved in are used to men being in charge! I had a lovely conversation with Julie and was interested in hearing her insights into what learnings she has from owning a small business, to position her for the role as President at the footy club. She is one incredible woman, and it is obvious she brings a lot of her wisdom, thoughtfulness and curiosity to both of her roles. Enjoy getting to know Julie.
For more information about Julie's business, check out kovafurniture.removals.com.au
The chat with Saalihah was a long time in planning and I am really pleased we finally got there. Saalihah Seedat is doing great work with the Bayside community, with her My Health for Life workshops at the Community Centre. She came a long way from Zimbabwe to live in our beautiful country, and I enjoyed learning about the work she does to improve the lives of others. Enjoy getting to know Saalihah.
Contact Saalihah about her My Health for Life sessions on 0404 296 297 or email qldhealthcoach@gmail.com
Julie Dixon is an example of what makes the Bayside the community it is. I was so pleased to learn from Julie the history of the Shire Cottage, as I was always curious about it. As a volunteer, she is responsible for running the lovely Shire Cottage Markets every second month, and I didn't realise how important they are for the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre income. I head along every time for the Devonshire Tea in the Shire Cottage! A little bonus in this chat was hearing of Julie's connection to a VERY famous Brisbane band. Enjoy the conversation with Julie.
I could not have loved this interview anymore. As an avid op-shopper, I am a regular in the Florence Street Wynnum Do-Op Shop. I always knew it was an op-shop with a difference, knowing the proceeds went back into the community. I just never understood how it all worked.
Nina and her daughter are co-owners of Do-Op, starting three years ago, driven by a desire to do more around sustainability. She also holds strong values around actions that facilitate women supporting women. Something very dear to my own heart.
Donna is the Manager at the Wynnum store, leading the charge in creating the incredible space that allows shoppers to have a fun experience when shopping. She has a wonderful energy and vibrant personality that translates into her work environment.
Enjoy getting to know Nina and Donna, and if you can, go and visit the Do-Op Shop.
I met Kylie Madge at the Wynnum Manly Community Awards in 2024 and knew that having a long form conversation with her would be fascinating. She is a yoga teacher, life coach and spiritual mentor and the conversation we had didn't disappoint! Kylie is a life-long Wynnum-nite and sharing her story about how she transitioned from the corporate world to assisting people in life to navigate their emotions, choices and reactions to experience a more peaceful and fulfilled life was fascinating. Talking about being a curious person, I formed the impression that she has always had a strong sense of self awareness and at times made insightful decisions that defied her age. I appreciated the calmness that Kylie brought to our experience in recording the episode. Enjoy learning all about Kylie.
Due to some technical difficulties, I was unable to share a recording of an introduction to this episode, including an Acknowledgement of Country. The episode was recorded on beautiful Quandamooka Country, and I am grateful to be able to work, play and enjoy my life on this land.
Natalie has always enjoyed creating art and was an art teacher for many years. Following a devastating loss in her life, Natalie uncovered an additional benefit of art, when she found herself lost in creating something, temporarily releasing her from the depths of grief. She created Studio Yellow to share this learning with others, combining her teaching experience and her appreciation of what creating can do for people.
Natalie is a warm and easy person to be around, and I really enjoyed our chat. I hope that you do too.
Find out more about Studio Yellow at Studio Yellow - Studio Yellow | Manly West | Brisbane
I heard about Donna Duggan from our Councilor Alex Givney. Alex mentioned on her own socials that Donna was a finalist in a People's Choice Humanitarian Award for her dedication to sustainable tourism and community support in Tanzania.
Donna is an incredible human, whose work in Tanzania has helped thousands of people. I loved hearing the story of her and her late husband Nas meeting, falling in love (despite not speaking each other's language!) and building a beautiful world together. She spent two decades in Tanzania and still goes back regularly to continue with her role in Maasai Wanderings and Nasikia Camps in Tanzania, and the ongoing humanitarian work.
I really loved this conversation and could have talked for much longer. I feel like I just scratched the surface in finding out about this warm, generous and down to earth human.
Marilyne Jacob set up and continued to lead the growth of Pete's Pantry in Wynnum. The Pantry provides food and a space to connect for those who may be doing it tough. While the need for the service grew, Marilyne and her team of volunteers and community supporters met the challenge.
I loved hearing about Marilyne's very interesting journey to the Bayside 50 years ago, all the way from the UK. It was an easy and heartfelt conversation, and I am grateful to Marilyn for her extraordinary contribution to our beautiful community and was pleased to be able to have the chat before she leaves her work at the Pantry, for others to continue with.
Enjoy getting to know Marilyne.
Getting to know Jane was a process of uncovering a heap of layers of experiences and projects she is involved in. She has been leading some fun activities in the Bayside, including dance parties that finish by 8.30pm so people can be home in bed by 9pam, a silent disco coming up at The Shed and some singalong sessions at the D & W bar.
A newish resident to the area, I loved hearing of Jane's journey to the Bayside, her
openness in sharing her story and her energy to live her best life.
To find more about Jane and her events: www.juicecreative.com and www.janeandtherain.com
The week I interviewed Gail for the podcast she had just sold her little fashion store on Bay Tce, Simply Bella. She has been in the fashion industry for 50 years, and on top of that, the funeral industry! It was a great chat getting to know Gail and how she arrived to work in these very different work settings. Chats like this one with Gail reminded me of why I continue to enjoy the podcast. It was a lovely conversation, and I hope you enjoy it too.
Ruth Kent has a wonderfully calm disposition and is easy to be in the company of. She and her family were drawn to the Bayside in 2020 and Ruth has a passion for health and wellbeing and for people to live their best lives. I was intrigued about the journey it has taken for Ruth to land in our beautiful part of the world, starting in Stanthorpe to teaching English to students overseas. She was generous with her storytelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her. I hope that you do too.
This is my 50th episode! And what a conversation it was to celebrate the podcast milestone. Gemma has her own business, Cooking Gems, after a couple of decades as a chef in other people's kitchens. She left school at 16 and sort of fell into an industry that she continues to have a love/hate relationship with. What Gemma does love, is creating with food - cooking for other people and teaching others the love of her craft brings her joy.
Gemma has an incredible energy to be around, and I was grateful for her time, but also for the home-made goodies i was gifted when she arrived for the podcast.
Enjoy the openness and passion that a conversation with Gemma brings.
Aunty Becky has been on my podcast interview wish list since 2022. It was a delight and a privilege to be in her company and hear all about her family as the original "winnamites".
As the Chairperson for winnam.org, the work Aunty Becky is doing for aged care housing in the area is visionary. She is behind the plan and advocacy of the government to build a residential aged care facility on the old hospital site in Wynnum. The site will be a culturally sensitive health and aged care precinct - the first of its kind.
I loved hearing about the life of Aunty Becky, the challenges she overcame and her strength of character to keep doing what she can for her people. Enjoy getting to know her.
Liz Crowe is a long time local Bayside woman who was a social worker for over 30 years before seeing the need during the worst of the Covid times to pay more attention to staff wellbeing. She has published numerous papers, speaks at international conferences and still works providing support to staff at the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital. Her podcast "5 Things Nursing" gets downloaded in over 100 countries, and her passion for what she does is very obvious.
I felt energised talking to Liz, with her values aligning closely with mine. She does great work and shares good messaging about the value we need to continue to place on our nurses - they are the backbone of our hospital settings and the people we rely on when us or a loved one is unwell.
Enjoy getting to know Liz.
Jelena Logan's parents left the war in Bosnia and settled in Australia, before going on to have Jelena as a third child. We are lucky they ended up in this beautiful part of Queensland.
This conversation allowed me to get to know Jelena, who is a bundle of energy and very, very smart. I have never met anyone who is so keen and enthusiastic in talking about hearts. She spoke of the technology that has advanced, enabling the medical profession to more precisely identify heart health status. She really makes it sounds so interesting.
Talking to Jelena, I also found it interesting how cultural values transcend across continents. Jelena came to the podcast recording with freshly baked brownies. A cultural expectation she grew up with, never show up to someone's house empty handed. I enjoyed being the beneficiary of this!
I met Martene when was she leading the group training class I was doing at 4 Shore Fitness. She has a fun and warm energy and a lovely Scottish accent.
Martene moved to the Bayside only a few years ago, and thanks the beautiful community for her transition. I always enjoy the classes Martene leads at the gym, but I was extra pleased to know that her special interest is the benefits of training women in peri menopause and menopause stages of life. A special interest of mine also!
I am glad that Martene made the choice to move to the Bayside, as she is a wonderful member of our beautiful community. Enjoy getting to know Martene.
You can find out more about Martene's personal training on Facebook and Instagram at M for fitness.
Jess is a delight, and has written and published her first children's book, launching in May 2024. Some Families Change is a story Jess wrote to try and provide her boys a language following her separation from their dad. It became a story about how sometimes families do change, for lots of difference reasons.
I enjoyed hearing about how the concept of a book became reality and you can see from talking with Jess that she is super proud of what she has produced.
People who are creative have a special way of telling stories, and Jess confirmed that in our conversation. Like many of the women who have been interviewed for this podcast, she took on the encouragement she was given and made her goal into a reality.
You can find Some Families Change at the Mad Hatters bookshop in Manly, the Little Gnome in Wynnum, and online. Jess has also donated the book to the Wynnum Library so that it can be available to everyone.
Enjoy the chat!
Ali Powell is someone that I wanted to interview last year, and we never got to it. I was so pleased to be able to finally meet and chat with her and find out how Dancing with Ali came about, and how dancing fills her cup. Ali also has a very romantic story attached to her arrival to the Bayside all the way from Canada. Enjoy the chat!
You can find more about Dancing with Ali on Facebook and Instagram.
Talking to Francine was like chatting with an old friend. Before the podcast interview, all I knew about Francine was she has a fun and energetic daughter, Maryanne. Maryanne chats to anyone; everyone at Wynnum parkrun knows her. I also knew Francine was a former teacher. In discussing how she got to the Bayside I heard such an interesting story. Francine talked about living off the grid in Moreton with young children many years ago, and about her career in advocating for inclusive education. She was very open about some of the frustrating attitudes and societal issues she has seen that excludes people with disability from fully participating in school and in the community.
Francine is a Bayside volunteer, and I am glad she is a member of our wonderful community. Enjoy getting to know all about Francine.
Dannika is a seriously delightful human; the type of person who you immediately feel like you have known for years in the first minute of meeting her. Dannika is the coordinator of the Cedar and Pine bookclub that meets monthly at the bar. She is also a children's book author, who leads workshops for children to encourage them to tap into the creative imagination we all have within us. Dannika's storytelling offers a reflection of her values.
I really enjoyed chatting with Dannika and it is always fascinating to understand the process of having an idea about writing a book, to publishing books to be read by many.
Find out more about Dannika's books and workshops at: dannikapatterson.com or on Instagram at @dannikapatterson and join the bookclub by going to Bayside Bookclub on Facebook.
Kitty Hamilton is in her 70s and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. She is probably the longest resident of the Bayside I have interviewed for the podcast, moving here when she was just a young child. Talking to Kitty I learnt all sorts of historical things about the area, and she is still as much in love with it today as she was when she was a child.
Kitty has had her own share of adversity and has experienced breast cancer diagnosis twice, but has a positive mind and a will to keep on going. She is deep into her second career which is training and competing in triathlons, with her first career teaching in the local area. It was a lovely chat hearing about the Bayside of old and how Kitty is now meeting the next generation of people she taught in primary school. Enjoy getting to know Kitty.
Estelle Corr is a friend of mine, and has journeyed all the way from Ireland to be part of the amazing Bayside community.
Estelle is a physiotherapist who has a special interest in neurophysiotherapy. It has always fascinated me as to why someone chooses this particular path of physiotherapy. It was great to be able to chat about this, and about all things Estelle - including learning more about her childhood where she would ride her pony through the Moors near her home in Ireland and had horses pop into the house from the back door. Seriously sounds like a Disney movie! Enjoy getting to know the funny, warm and clever Estelle Corr.
What a delightful human Lynda Kendrick is. I knew of Lynda through parkrun, and knew that she is involved in the community with her volunteering roles. Little did I know that she has been volunteering in various roles for over five decades!
I know people who are inspired by Lynda, who in her 70s acknowledges she is fortunate to have good health and the means to live the life that she does. She is a person who has a love of learning and for connecting with people in various ways; running, volunteering or travelling solo. I was fascinated to hear about one of Lynda's latest volunteering roles as a death doula.
I hope that you find the chat I had with Lynda as interesting as I did.
Kate Gough was wonderful to chat with. She is easy company, clearly very intelligent and when she talks about Oakley, her three year old with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), you can feel her heart holding on tight to every moment spent with her.
I wondered how I would feel after talking to a mother who has had a child diagnosed as terminal at a very young age. To be honest, I actually felt uplifted by all Kate has done, and knowing all that she will do for little Oakley in the coming years. She has optimism, she has energy and she is strong in a quiet and determined way.
I hope you learn something from this conversation, as I did.
Follow Oakley's story on Instagram at (For Oakley by mum (Kate)) - https://www.instagram.com/moveforoakley/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Laura Lewis was one of the women of the Bayside that I had on my list to interview for the podcast for a long time. It was also a conversation that may easily have been in two parts, as we could have continued on. Laura is a business owner, mother, artist and a fierce advocate for people with disability. It was an interesting discussion and Laura was really open about her adult diagnosis of autism, and what that has meant for her. I hope you enjoy getting to know Laura.
It was interesting hearing about Alex's journey to the Bayside, all the way from WA! She has since been a long term local with an extended connection to the Moreton Bay Boys school, firstly as a teacher. The conversation taught me a lot about the history of the school. Alex also talked about why she nominated as a candidate as Councillor for Wynnum Manly Ward.
This chat took us all over the place, from the lengthy journey it took for Alex to become a Baysider, meeting the love of her life, and talking about her involvement with African tours with the boys from the school. Alex is a big supporter of the area.
Enjoy learning more about Alex Givney.
I connected with Kylie a while ago, but got to know her a little more when one of our special local women passed away unexpectedly a little while ago. Kylie worked her butt off at this time, while continuing to manage her own business but doing what she does so well - supporting others.
Chatting to Kylie for the podcast reinforced for me why so many think highly of her as an appreciated member of the incredible Bayside community. It was a really enjoyable and easy chat and I learnt a lot more about Kylie and the values that drives how she lives her life.
Mandy was just lovely to chat with. I heard that she has been a Family Day Care provider for 25 years and was really intrigued to find out what it was she enjoyed about this important role, to still being doing it after all this time. Spoiler alert, Mandy still loves it, although she has seen a lot of changes to the industry over the past two decades.
I really enjoyed getting to know Mandy, outside of the usual quick chats with her along the waterfront when she is out with her husband on their daily long walks. I hope you enjoy listening.
I have seen Bel Elis's name mentioned in a number of different contexts over the past 7 years. She is truly part of the community, and talking to Bel, I discovered that she built a community around her with the different roles she has taken on.
Bel owns Little Gnome in Charlotte Street in Wynnum, and I discovered she is also "DJ Bel". It was great chatting with her, reminding me of the value of community, but also how at any stage you can change what you do, and embrace what you need.
Enjoy the chat with Bel!
A few people have asked me if I could be interviewed for the podcast. A couple of people have offered to lead the interview. I chose my good friend Kate to be on the other side of the microphone for this one, as she has been involved in supporting the podcast from the very first time I had an idea about interviewing women in the Bayside. She is my unofficial volunteer Business Manager and it was lovely spending the time chatting with her all about...me!
I hope that there is something of interest to you in the chat.
For those who head down to the waterfront on weekends, you may have seen some people in orange tshirts and Sit N Chat banners. One of those people is Clair. Clair donates her time to listen to others who may be lonely and need a chat.
I had a really nice chat with Clair, getting to understand the background behind her idea that is an original concept but so valuable to many.
You can follow Sit N Chat on Facebook, email Claire at Clair@sitnchat.org or go to sitnchat.org. She would love to hear from people who may be interested in adding to the list of volunteers to sit and chat to people, or anyone who may be interested in sponsoring their nice merchandise. Enjoy learning more about Clair and Sit N Chat.
Sara Whitmee became the councillor for Wynnum Manly in May 2023, and has been connected to the Bayside all of her life.
Since I first saw Sara was our new councillor I was intrigued about her, and what experience she had to take on the role. I had a lovely chat getting to know Sara, and she was really open with me about how she thought it over for a very long time before making a decision to become a councillor.
Sara certainly is a long standing Baysider and is warm and easy going and very keen to see the Bayside continue to thrive.
Ida reached out to me about being a podcast guest, as she facilitates a breast cancer support group at Manly. Ida also has a story to tell. A year ago, as a mum with a baby and another small child, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She is quite the remarkable woman and her mindset in relation to living with cancer, her treatment and life is incredible.
I was reminded when talking to Ida about how much I gain from this podcast, and what an absolute privilege it is to sit with someone, and allow them to share themselves for half an hour. When we finished, and Ida said goodbye, I felt like this was 30 minutes that everyone needs to hear, and how fortunate I was to be the person who could listen to Ida's story.
For more information about the support group, email Ida at ida_yang@y7mail.com or join the Facebook group (I Thrive! Brisbane breast cancer support group).
One of the reasons I love doing this podcast is that I am genuinely interested in people and hearing their stories. Tess is an extraordinary woman to chat to and I walked away feeling like there was so much more to hear. The journey from leaving school at 15 to working in child protection and expanding her love of writing into some incredible resources for children was inspiring to hear.
Tess's first book for adults was published in 2022. Remembering Nazareth House: God and the Devil wore the same robes is a powerful story, and an important story to be told.
Trigger warning: this discussion does include taking about sexual abuse and child abuse, and may be distressing for some people.
Deb only joined the Bayside community early in 2023, but wow what a journey it was for her to get here - all the way from France! She is only a young woman but has packed a heap of adventure in her life and is enjoying the Wynnum Manly community, and grateful for how supportive it is of her Balinese massage business.
I love hearing stories of women who leave everything and everyone they know to see what is else there is to see in this big world. Deb is quite amazing!
You can find out about Deb's Balinese massage business at www.onyourwaytoshine.com or email her at deborah.velou@onyourwaytoshine.com
Jade has a fascinating story and the part where she went from selling alcohol in Abu Dhabi to being a buyer's agent in Wynnum Manly is only part of it. She has a passion for living that is very contagious.
I am grateful to Jade for educating me on Ramadan, as I had little understanding of what is involved for those who practice it each year. I learnt a lot and am glad Jade was happy to share.
I hope that the ease of the conversation comes through in this recording, as Jade and I could have almost gone for a part two and continued to talk.
Jade is raising money for The Forgotten Women, who provide accommodation for homeless women over 55. She will be sleeping in her car for a night in September and you can help the fundraising at: https://livelikeherchallenge.com.au/page/IdealBuyersAgency
Alex is a young woman who has the kind of quiet drive I admire. Only a couple of years ago she opened her own physiotherapy practice (evoxiaphysio.com) in Edith St, Wynnum.
In our conversation Alex shared with me how she had in informal apprenticeship to being able to own and run the business side of a physio practice, and the changes and challenges faced in the industry in 2023. I see a lot of success for Alex in the future.
For over 20 years, Kylie Eastham has been a qualified signwriter. You don't have to go far in the Bayside to see her work on banners, on walls and on boats and cars.
I always made an assumption that Kylie was born and raised in Wynnum and was surprised by her response to the question about how she got to the Bayside.
Kylie is kind, unassuming and easy to be around. She is also generous. A couple of years ago I was organising the first Octogenarian parkrun event and reached out to Kylie to find out the cost of a banner for the event. Within half an hour Kylie responded to say that JT Signs would sponsor the banners, and she provided me not one but two banners with the beautiful Wynnum sunrise on.
To contact Kylie, email her at jt.signs.kylie@gmail.com, or find her on Instagram @jt_signs or JT Signs Facebook page.
Lauren is the Programs Services Manager of Embrace, located at Silky Oaks in Manly. She started the program three years ago and it has grown to become a successful service for Bayside families.
In addition to the great work at Embrace, Lauren has also very recently established her own fashion label (elqstore.com) which has a focus on sustainability and ethical clothing.
This chat really did go all over the place, as I had a connection with Lauren around her child protection work, but I also wanted to know so much more about her love of travel and where it has taken her. It really is a mixed bag of topics and Lauren is delightful to listen to. She is a great teller of her own story.
Getting through a book a week, you could say that I love to read. So, it was fascinating to sit down and chat with Rachel Sweasey, who has just written her first novel. Rachel was really open to talking about the process of writing for her, and how the storyline of her book came to be. I enjoyed listening to all the different life experiences and jobs she has had gave her the skills and confidence to write 80,000 words!
Rachel's book is currently in the hands of an agent, but I am looking forward to reading it when it is published. You can follow Rachel on Facebook by searching @rachelsweaseyauthor.
Amy was another fabulous recommendation and was a joy to chat with. We had a very easy conversation and I was fascinated by her story and her business Amy Jackson - Nurturing Confidence.
Amy has a lovely warm and open presence, and I can see why she is so successful in what she does in building the confidence of others. I really treasured her openness and reflections of her own way of living and was a reminder how life is a constant growth experience.
Nurturing Confidence is a finalist in the Women Changing the World Awards (FINALISTS (wcwawards.com)) which is aa global awards program that recognises Women changemakers globally. It is a pretty big deal!
Andrea Parker is an equestrian, dietician and intuitive eating counsellor. She has quite the bio, and it was fascinating finding out more about all of the different elements of her life. She has cleverly combined all of those elements into her professional life, enabling her to work doing what she loves and believes in.
I don't know much about the sport of equestrian, but I understand it more now, and I also understand the relationship between a human and their horse. It is a really beautiful thing to hear someone talking about.
You can find out more information about Andrea on her website andreaparkerdietitian.com or email her at andrea@eqathlete.com
Kirsty reached out to me after I had published a few episodes of the podcast. She had a heap of recommendations she thought would be perfect for future episodes, and she provided names and contact details for each one. She didn't stop there, without even knowing me, Kirsty offered suggested designs for the podcast image, as she loved the concept and wanted to help out. I kept waiting for the catch, but there wasn't one. It was just a local woman who was generous with her time in supporting my new venture.
Although Kirsty didn't offer to be a guest, I knew I had to meet with her and find out more about her and all about Social Mums Bayside, a group that provides a way to connect for women in the area. The Bayside group has over 3000 members and Kirsty has now extended the concept to other areas. When I did finally meet Kirsty for the recording, I met an energetic and passionate woman who had an idea and grew it to make it happen. She has grown quite the community.
For more information about Social Mums Bayside, go to their Instagram or Facebook page.
Jane has some exciting things in store for her business in 2023, partnering with Cambridge Lane Expresso + Kitchen in Cambridge St, Manly. Flowers on Cambridge is now a pop up at the coffee shop, so you can duck in for coffee or brunch and grab a bunch of flowers to takeaway.
I loved Jane's story of wanting to do something she loved at the worst possible time for business but giving it a go and making the most of the community and what it brings her and the business. Jane was really open about how life has changed for her now that her children are older and more independent and what life might look like moving forward.
Check out Jane's website at www.flowersoncambridge.com or check out her socials for more information about the pop up.
Tenille Lawrence is the owner of Little Birdie Hair Co - Australia's Best Eco Salon. She is a long-term Wynnum local who started her career after leaving school as a hairdresser and went on to build a business of four salons (Wynnum, Stafford, Mooloolaba and Gympie). Tenille's salons are not like most though, they are eco friendly - so much so that they have won Australia's Best Eco Salon Award in 2020, 2021 and 2022. It is fascinating hearing what they have implemented to be environmentally and staff and customer friendly. Tenille puts genuine big changes in place to be sustainable, and it is pretty impressive.
Getting to know Tenille was really inspiring. She is a young woman who is the sole parent of four children, a go-getter but has their air of being chilled and knowing who she is about her.
What a chat this was! If it would have been a video recording, you would have seen so much head nodding from me. There was a lot of what Fiona talked about that resonated strongly with me, my life and my values.
Fiona has a strong and passionate belief that we as a society need to change the way in which we understand beauty and what it represents. The conversation was energising and such a reminder of how we should be able to see ourselves - for our strengths, what we bring to the world and how we treat others, instead of the size of our butt or thigh gap.
I do hope you enjoy this conversation and that you get a sense of how engaging the discussion was. Check out Fiona's beautiful photography and more on her key campaigns at www.beautifulimagesphotography.com.au.
Sally is someone who oozes energy and a desire to make a difference in the world. Her business, fitwithsally.com is all about breaking down the stigma surrounding body image and trying to stop numbers on a scale defining who we are. Sally believes that all bodies are good bodies and is Brisbane's only registered Body Positive personal trainer.
It was great to hear how Sally approaches her business, with a focus on mental health, not just body image and fitness. I wholeheartedly believe in her approach, and hope that as 2023 commences, more people can take on some of the messages that Sally espouses.
To follow Sally on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fitwithsally/
Joan Pease MP was on my list of potential interviewees when I first started this podcast. She is an active in the community, and I always wondered what Joan's background was and how she got to be in politics.
I had a great discussion with Joan, where she shared her family history and grandfather's legacy as former Deputy Premier of Queensland in a very different time.
Joan's genuine love of family and community came through in our chat, as did her family values about helping others. She was living those values well before she became a Member of Parliament.
Tracy is a mortician and Trish is a former journalist, and together they have a unique blend of skills and experiences. They are great friends, who decided to use their knowledge to create a YouTube channel (Are You Dying To Know) to educate people about what happens to loved ones once they die. They have over 10, 000 subscribers from all over the world.
I don't think we talk about death and dying as much as we should in our Australian culture, and this chat taught me a lot about the respectful and compassionate way people who die are treated in a funeral home. Knowing that people like Tracy do what they do provides a sense of comfort and an awareness that things have changed, for the better.
Apart from hearing about www.aydtk.com, Trish and Tracy are just great company, with a genuine respect and fondness for each other.
Follow Tracy and Trish on Insta at are_you_dying_to_know or go to their website www.aydtk.com
Margaret is a powerhouse of life! In her 70s, Margaret's journey saw her leaving school at 14 to become a hairdresser, taking on the role of a building consultant (as a sole parent of 7 children!), leading her to more than two decades as a Real Estate Agent and now Principal/Director at raineandhorne.com.au in Wynnum. Throw in the mix Margaret becoming a recreational pilot in her 50s and making the Qld State team for dragon boat racing this year.
It was interesting hearing Margaret talk about being in the real estate business during two of the biggest housing booms we have seen - with the last one twenty years after the first.
In our off-air discussion, Margaret shared how beautiful it is to see the people whose homes she sold returning to the area with their families years later. She has seen the changes in Wynnum over the years but says the community feel she loves has remained.
Margaret is a major sponsor of the Wynnum Fringe, with incredible artists touring the Bayside in November 2022. Get your tickets at wynnumfringe.com
My chat with Nicola Glasper was just how I imagined it to be - engaging and honest. Nic is the co-owner and operator of Inspire Athletics (www.inspireathletic.com.au), which is a Brisbane based company supporting triathletes of all levels. She also leads #move365, encouraging people to move every day. Nic is passionate about the tri community and the value in moving, knowing first-hand the benefits.
Nic shared her love of the Bayside, after deciding to move to live in Australia after just three days into a holiday in Brisbane 13 years ago. She is an avid contributor to the area and spoke openly about how moving helps her manage her mental health. I really appreciated Nic talking about her long-term experience with depression, emphasising how sometimes it is okay to not be okay.
If you want to learn more about someone who genuinely follows their dreams because life is there for living, listen to this chat.
Tracey Lucock is one of the founders and the President of Celebrate for a Cause - the Bayside's largest fundraiser. In its 5th year, Celebrate for a Cause continues to grow and be supported by the local community. The 2022 event is scheduled for 22 October. You can still get tickets to attend or buy raffle tickets to support the fundraising by going to www.cfcmanly.com.au
If you are unable to get to the event, listen to how this incredible group of women came together to fundraise for charity, evolving into a registered corporation that raises a stack of much needed funds for local organisations each year. Tracey and the CFC team have built the most wonderful annual celebration, all as volunteers. This conversation really warmed my heart, and I will never look at the water in the Bayside again, without thinking of sea sparkles.
I didn't know about Sunfox Active until very recently, and now I know where to buy my new active wear clothing from!
Fiona started this business in 2020 and although it has been challenging, she is so enthusiastic and motivated to provide affordable and good quality active wear for women. She has a wonderful and contagious energy for life.
Coming to Australia as a nurse and landing in the Bayside running an active wear business was not a life trajectory even Fiona would have predicted, but here she is, winning at life!
Check out the online store at sunfoxactive.com.au or find details on Instagram: sunfoxactive or Facebook: Sunfox Active
Since starting this podcast, everyone in the area I have spoken to about it has asked if I was going to talk to Mali from Cedar & Pine. I have personal experience with Mali and her excellent bar, having my 50th birthday party there a couple of years ago.
Mali is a busy woman, and she generously shared some of her time with me. I found out how it was that she came to be a Wynnum local, and what she loves about owning Cedar & Pine.
To find out more information about Cedar and Pine go to: cedarandpinebar.com, follow Cedar & Pine on Facebook. If you are interested in joining the book club, go to Cedar & Pine Bookclub on Facebook. The group meets on the last Thursday of each month, at 6.30pm.
I met Jacqui doing my volunteer work with Rosies and Orange Sky Laundry in Wynnum. Jacqui is a First Nations woman who has been the Police Liaison Officer in Wynnum for 24 years. She shared with me some of the challenges of the role, how she contributes to the community and her love of being an artist.
Jacqui is funny and warm and committed to her community and I am thankful for the work she takes on every day to contribute to our community. Enjoy the listen and if you see Jacqui out on the street, say hi; she loves a chat.
If you see or suspect a crime, call Police Link on 131 444.
My conversation with Melanie was delightful! Melanie is a published author who illustrates the children's books that she writes. She told me a funny story when we stopped recording, about how during Book Week, the administration team at the school she worked at used to dress as characters from her books! This included the Principal!
I recorded the podcast at Melanie's house, which is covered with her creative and beautiful artwork. She was my first "long time" Wynnum-ite, and I really enjoyed getting to know Melanie.
You can purchase one or many of Melanie's books for just $10 each by contacting her at jellymoon@outlook.com. Melanie also does author visits at schools and libraries.
Ellie has created a beautiful florist where you can go for high tea, scones, coffee and small events. Opening the store was a dream of Ellie's, realised in 2021.
Fleur by Ellie is a florist, cafe and gift shop in one welcoming location.
After having high tea twice in the store, I really enjoyed getting to know more about Ellie and her path to Wynnum. With English as her second language she was very nervous, but did a great job sharing her story with me. I loved hearing her talk of how supportive the other female business owners of Wynnum Manly have been of Ellie and her business and how they all have each other's backs.
You can find out more about the store and how to book high tea with Ellie at fleurbyellie.com.au
Dee Hughes owns the Yoga Bayside studio, and has created a really beautiful and welcoming yoga and pilates space. She also has an amazing Irish accent and I have always been intrigued as to how Dee got to be teaching yoga in Wynnum. The conversation did not disappoint, with a back-story I did not expect.
We spent about an hour after recording chatting more, and I seriously could have recorded a part 2. Dee did share in the offline chat that the trigger for her to move from corporate world to yoga teaching was in fact reading Eat, Pray, Love. Side note, neither of us loved the book, but there must have been something in there that was enough to point Dee down the path she is now on.
You can find out about the classes on offer at Yoga Bayside at yogabayside.com.au or check out the hilarious daily videos that Dee creates on Instagram at yogabaysidebrisbane
This was a lovely chat with Kel Connolly, who moved to the Bayside 5 years ago.
Kel shared with me her reflections on blended family parenting, the joy of becoming a grandmother and the love of her beautiful Nan. There were several very touching moments throughout this episode, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
For more information about Huntingtons Disease, go to huntingtonsqld.org.au
To check out the BlacKcandleS Scents for the Senses online store, go to blackandles.com.au
Al Lowson is the heart and soul of Blood Sweat and Beers, the Bayside running group. My chat with Al explored the long road it took for her and husband Verne to get to the Bayside - it was quite the journey!
For more information about BSB go to https://www.facebook.com/bloodsweatandbeer/
Women of Wynnum Manly - coming in July 2022.
I am looking forward to sharing the stories of the women of the Bayside with you.