Listed: Meet the innovative business women of the South-East
Dominating dance stages, bringing a taste of Argentina to SA and taking the plunge through homelessness – these South-East women are making moves in the business world.
Mount Gambier
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Making waves in the private health sector, dominating dance stages, bringing a taste of their homeland to SA and launching a business while experiencing homelessness, South East women are making moves in the business world.
These are the stories behind ten of the region’s most inspiring and innovative women in business.
Do you know a local business leader we’ve missed? Email arjuna.ganesan@news.com.au
Katy Morrison — Elite Skin and Beauty
Katy Morrison was homeless and living in a hotel room when she hatched a plan to start her own skin and beauty business.
The mum of three has just opened the brand new Elite Skin and Beauty after over a decade in the industry.
Ms Morrison moved out of her Naracoorte home at just 16 to start her TAFE apprenticeship in Mount Gambier.
Her parents were supportive of the move, but boarding several hours away meant she had to grow up quickly.
Now with three kids aged, 13, 12 and seven, all of whom have been diagnosed with ADHD, Ms Morrison said it was not easy to juggle work and life.
With the ongoing rental crisis, Ms Morrison was left homeless a week before last Christmas after her landlord decided not to re-lease the property.
Unable to find another rental in Mount Gambier the family went travelling for three weeks.
Ms Morrison made her initial business plans from a motel room and hoped to demonstrate to her children that “if you want to make something happen — you need to do it”.
Though she’s only been open for just over a month — Ms Morrison said she was looking to get the business involved with several charities.
“I’ve used them and I know how fantastic you know, their support can be,” she said.
Pariya Ziakas and Ruth Stephenson — Artscape Creatives
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Artscape Creatives last month, owners Pariya Ziakas and Ruth Stephenson have been thrilled at the response their studio has generated.
The multipurpose space is used to hold adult and kids art classes as well as themed nights like sip and paint events.
Ms Stephenson said the events were more geared towards people enjoying a nice wine and letting go.
Though there is a plethora of art hung on the walls, unlike most galleries, selling their work is not their “primary drive”.
Yet due to interest, the pair plan to do a print run based on their canvas works.
“That’s not to say that we can’t or won’t sell. But at the moment, that’s not our focus,” Ms Stephenson said.
Mrs Ziakas said they were more interested in breaking down barriers to art and did not want it to be something for the “hoity-toity”.
“For us, it’s really about creating that art community,” Mrs Ziakas said.
“Visual arts can be transformative for people.
“It can entertain, it can teach, it can heal you — you can learn about other cultures through art.”
Tamara Kilsby — Envy Dance Studio
While many of her mates were heading off to university, Tamara Kilsby was learning the rope to operating her own dance studio.
Mrs Kilsby, who trained in classical ballet, was just 19 when she began the process to take over the studio she had dance at for years.
A decade on, Mrs Kilsby said it was quite daunting to be running a business from such a young age, but was fortunate the previous owner was always available if she needed advice.
“It’s lovely to see after so long now how much it’s changed and how if I guess I have grown as a business owner,” she said.
“I’m definitely not the same person I was when I was 19, 20 and starting out.”
Like many gyms and studios Covid-19 was a massive challenge to Envy Dance Studio which was forced to hold all their classes online.
After all her years in business Mrs Kilsby said the best thing she’d learnt was to not worry about the small things.
“We had to make the best out of a worst-case scenario,” she said.
“People are kind and they’re understanding — don’t sweat the little things — they don’t matter the big things and the reason why you’re there — people will see that.”
Camila Del Valle — Argentinian Delights SA
Camila Del Valle was living in Bordertown when the pandemic hit and wrecked havoc among many businesses.
Ms Valle said she began baking alfajores, a traditional Argentinian cookie, as way to earn a living in the new Covid-19 world.
“I was kind of desperate for a job, there were little opportunities in the area where I was living at that moment due to the shutdowns,” she said.
“I always had in my mind opening a business, I decided that that was the right moment to try and give it a go.”
Ms Valle begun by selling at a small stall at SA farmers markets but became “exhausted” from setting up and unloading her car every time she wanted to trade.
“I thought that a food truck might solve this — it’s easier and quicker to set-up,” she said.
“It also gave me the possibility to work during the week if I wish so and not have to wait until the weekend, which was one of the main reasons of opening it.”
Ms Valle and Argentinian Delights SA now travels around the South-East as well as Western Victoria bringing her traditional baked goods to the regions.
“It’s wonderful to see people, mainly Aussies, knowing what alfajores are — it’s even better when they come to the food truck and pronounce it the correct way,” she said.
Kristy Wreford – Speech pathologist
After over a decade of working government departments as a speech pathologist, Kristy Wreford has entered private practice.
Mrs Wreford started her career working in paediatrics with Education Department before working with adults with the Mount Gambier Hospital.
Though she loved her work as the senior rehabilitation specialist for Country Health SA, Mrs Wreford said she moved into private practice for greater flexibility to support her family life.
“It worked better — to set my own hours,” she said.
Private practice also allows Mrs Wreford to stay with her clients for longer and focus on the “next step” after people go through the hospital system.
“I’ve got a passion for following people right through and trying to continue to help with their speech, language swallowing and cognition,” she said.
One of the reasons Mrs Wreford typically focuses on adult clients is they are usually people who have experienced “massive trauma and changes”.
“You want to be able to try to support them and to restore some function that they’ve lost or help with adjustment to life,” she said.
Tia Loulas — Khama Coffee
Tia Loulas got her start selling doughnuts through Soma Espresso Bar, which opened its doors last year.
With popularity taking off Ms Loulas decided to branch out opening her own brick and mortar spot and expand into serving coffee.
She has named Khama Coffee in honour of her two daughters, Kahtia, 4 and Marsha 2.
Ms Loulas said the region’s growth has continued to support Mount Gambiers bustling coffee culture.
This latest offering, has moved into the iconic Funk Lounge, converting the entrance into its pit-stop cafe.
With the upstairs space currently unused, Ms Loulas said she was considering converting the it into a cocktail bar.
“Our idea is to still use the entrance here — everything we’ve done here is able to be moved quite easily,” she said.
“Everything’s still exactly the same apart the features around the outside.
“The signs can all be changed and switched over — the doughnut stand you can literally lift it and move it.”
Ms Loulas said the bar would have a “chill” speak-easy vibe.
“You can come there for a casual drink or you can come up with a group of friends for a birthday,” she said.
El Heesakkers — Best of Bali
Mount Gambier born El Heesakkers left for the city at 18 to live “wild and free” while studying photography at university.
After years in, Ms Heesakkers was “tired of the city” and sick of the lifestyle — returning to Mount Gambier, with her partner.
Ms Heesakkers who runs Mount Gambier’s Best of Bali, said the retail store would be celebrating its one year anniversary in a week’s time.
The store’s origins trace back to 2017 following a family holiday to Bali.
“It really started out with my partner and her dad as a family business,” she said.
“My partner actually had a car accident, not long after we met. So she was in a position where she couldn’t work a full time job anymore.”
Having fallen in love with the art and culture the family decided to bring the pieces they loved back home.
“It was run sort of like a hobby — it was very relaxed,” she said.
“The business was at a position where it was starting to get more than a hobby, and they really needed someone to step up and move it on.”
Ms Heesakkers, who identifies as a lesbian, was conscious of returning to her hometown to launch Best of Bali remarking small town life had not been ideal for people who were LGBTQIA+.
“It was still very ‘hush hush’ at the point in the early 2000s,” she said.
Since making the move Ms Heesakkers said the South-East had become more inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Bianca Rayner — Independent support worker
Bianca Rayner first became involved in the disability support space after a serious accident left her father wheelchair bound.
Ms Rayner said caring for her paraplegic dad, who has since passed away, opened her eyes to the possibility of helping others who needed assistance with daily life.
After speaking with a friend Ms Rayner said things “snowballed” and turned into a 14 year career, that is still going strong.
Ms Rayner moved into the private sector in June this year and said she wished she had made the move years ago.
“It was just spur a of the moment thing where I thought stuff it — I’m going to go and get my ABN and open a business account,” she said.
“I’m not going to lie, the pay is so much better and I have no one to have to answer to except for myself and my clients.”
Becca Healey — The Bubbly Mummy Boutique
Self-described entrepreneur Becca Healey has been selling bridal jewellery through various pop-ups around Mount Gambier.
Ms Healey first started selling jewellery through Melbourne based company Ms Allure before she launched her own brand – The Bubbly Mummy Boutique.
After featuring her jewels at various markets and events, like the Twilight Markets, Ms Healey moved into Little Blue Wren Gifts and Arts on Commercial St West in Mount Gambier.
Though her stay at the studio was a short-term contract, which has recently ended, she said the experience was invaluable.
Like many women Ms Healey said she struggled at times to juggle her commitments to her family but said she would not do it if she did not “love it”.
Ms Healey said her family does take up a lot of her time, especially as her son lives with special needs.
However, after being forced to terminate one of her pregnancy due to medical issues and suffering one miscarriage she considers herself “lucky”.
“I’m an optimist,” she said.
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