Jo Schuberth, Emma Hately new owners of Ray White Gayndah

The new owner of a dynamic Gayndah business went from living in rural New South Wales, to cities like Sydney and Dubai, and one of her prime ambitions is to create job opportunities in the North Burnett.

Property manager Emma Hately and principle Jo Schuberth are the new faces of Ray White Gayndah.

After trying her hand in the corporate world, the new owner of Ray White Gayndah has taken the reins and intends to bring more job opportunities in real estate to North Burnett.

Born and raised in the Hunter Valley, in rural New South Wales, Jo Schuberth decided to move to Sydney at 21 and look for a job.

Initially working in the retail and hospitality industries, she studied interior design at night school and graduated after four years.

After graduating, lived in Dubai for “a short stint” of two and a half years before returning to Sydney, where she dedicated 25 years to the design and construct industry, working across all sectors from office, commercial, residential and aged care.

“I was running my own small business essentially; I was the sole trader and designer,” she said.

After working in the design and construct industry for 25 years, Jo Schuberth moved to the North Burnett and started working for Ray White Gayndah, which she now owns.

Prior to moving to the North Burnett, she worked in aged care and residential styling and design.

“I had also been caring for my father, who was living with dementia.”

Her father passed away at the end of 2018, and Mrs Schuberth moved up to Queensland in early 2019.

“We came to this region because my husband is a native tree and edibles grower, and earmarked the region as a place where he could potentially settle in,” she said.

“We ended up putting our two kids in Gayndah Primary School and bought a house from Ray White, Gayndah.

They then offered me a job.”

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Mrs Schuberth said the opportunity was put in front of her.

“I love houses. I have bought, sold and renovated and worked inside those types of environments.

“I love properties and I love people, so to bring the two together, makes them happy and makes me just as happy.”

After becoming licensed and training for two years, she realised there was an opportunity to step into the principle role and buy the business.

“Legislatively, there is a lot to learn in real estate, but business is business,” Mrs Schuberth said.

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“In regional towns we need to create opportunities for people to grow up and stay, or to come back.

“From a regional perspective, where I grew up, I had to leave and move to Sydney because there wasn’t much work in the area.”

Down the track Mrs Schuberth would like offer to work experience and internships at Ray White Gayndah, especially for young people, as well as going to local schools and encouraging the youth to look into real estate for their future.

While she is the Ray White Gayndah principle, the property management side of the business is run by Emma Hately.

Young mum of two, Emma Hately is the new property manager of Ray White Rural Gayndah.

“Emma grew up here, moved away, and then returned with her young family. She and I together are the new face of Ray White, here in Gayndah, ” Mrs Schuberth said.