Buck & Todd Optometrist: Free counselling extended after Mackay business loses thousands in break ins

Video has captured the moment a Mackay optometrist had his business ransacked by opportunistic thieves. Now he’s trying to bounce back with support.

When burglars raided Ieuan Rees’ shop front twice in under two years he didn’t know who to look to for help.

“The first time it was looking for money and they broke $19,000 in equipment,” he said.

“The last time they stole $8000 worth of stock.”

Mr Rees runs Buck & Todd Optometrist in Mackay and said that while incidents like these have become more frequent in the past, small business owners like himself have lost confidence in the system as many are left without any answers moving forward.

Mackay small business owner Ieuan Rees from Buck & Todd Optometrist who's business was broken into twice between 2021 and 2024

“It’s the time and it’s the effort you’ve got to go to try and fix these things, repairing and insurance bills go up because of it,” he said.

“You never hear back from them so your whole confidence in the system just goes out the window because you never know what occurred.

“So, without knowing what happened you can’t move forward from knowing what else you could do.”

Financial and counselling professional Kristy Wilson said small business owners like Mr Rees are virtually isolated in the community due to a range of ongoing challenges, some that have been brewing since Covid.

“I would say 90 per cent of my clients have a past trauma that they have never dealt with and we are the first time that they’re uncovering and speaking about that with a professional,” she said.

“They don’t have people to talk to on their level because you can;t be dumping personal issues on your employees or that causes other issues.”

Thanks to a Queensland Government led Small Business Support Network program, Ms Wilson has become the first point of contact for struggling small business owners offering free financial and counselling services.

Minister for Small Business Steven Minnikin at Community Cabinet breakfast function at Flinders Lane in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

The three year old program was due to expire on Monday but a $16.8m injection announced in the state budget last week will extend it until June, 2028.

The budget also announced $40m for the Secure Communities Partnerships Program to help protect small businesses from crime and economic losses, through the installation of vital safety and security infrastructure.

Councils can apply for up to two grants worth $400,000 each to fund crime prevention measures to improve the security of business strips, including CCTV, bollards, lockable fencing, and improved perimeter security.

“That’s working hand in glove with local councils,” Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said.

While investigations are still underway for the December 2021 and April 2024 Buck & Todd Optometrist break ins, Mr Rees said he wished he’d been aware of the services available to him at the time.

“I think I heard more about the help that’s somehow available today than I’ve ever known existed,” he said.

“The problem is small businesses don’t even know the help is there.”