Sunshine Coast amputee Paula Gowland employs 30 people, authors book

After losing her leg in a freak home accident, an inspiring mum is about to reveal the secrets to how she beat the odds and built her business empire from rock bottom.

Paula Gowland. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A freak accident while changing curtains cost a Sunshine Coast mum her leg and two years of her life in hospital, but it hasn’t stopped her becoming a business success.

Paula Gowland lost her left leg after breaking it in four places, after she fell from a bed while trying to hang curtains in her Kawana Island unit on June 1, 2014.

After undergoing seven operations, the mum-of-three and grandmother had her leg amputated at the Norwest Private Hospital in Sydney, where she remained from 2014 to 2016.

It was a troublesome time for Ms Gowland and her family, losing their business and home.

“My family and I went through some pretty traumatic times,” she said.

“We had to come back and basically learn to rebuild our family.”

After moving into a two-storey rental at Buderim, Ms Gowland set about rebuilding her life, but not before hitting rock bottom.

Paula Gowland with her family (LtoR) Ashlee, 13, Jess, 18, Ethan, 7, and husband John. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily

“There was a crazy time where unfortunately my prosthetic leg malfunctioned, I tripped over and I broke my other leg,” she recalled.

“I had no choice but to be in a wheelchair.

“That was the part that nearly broke me, from losing a leg, coming home, to trip over and break my other leg, that just left me quite devastated. It took a lot of mental strength on my behalf to get over that hurdle.”

Paula Gowland had her leg amputated after contracting compartment syndrome. She is pictured at Norwest Private Hospital in Sydney.

Ms Gowland recovered and set about looking for work, but when that proved difficult, revived the family cleaning business Chemdry Suncoast with her husband John.

The couple rebuilt the business back up to sell it, going onto acquire Caloundra Art and Framing Gallery in 2018, changing the name of the business to Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery in 2019.

Paula Gowland. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We purchased the business with four staff members at the time and today, Sunshine Coast Art and Framing Gallery has 20 staff,” she said.

“We have also extended and built a brand new workshop, as well as added a gallery cafe and opened a second store in Noosaville.”

After growing that business, Ms Gowland and her husband then purchased Sunquest Signs in December, 2022, employing 10 staff.

“We are in the growth stage and hoping to add more team members at Sunquest Signs,” she said.

Paula Gowland. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Now, Ms Gowland, who is also a guest speaker and coach, was putting the finishing touches on her tell-all book ‘Legless – Trauma to Triumph’, set to be released in March next year.

“The book is based on my story and my journey through trauma,” she said.

“Trauma can change lives, it doesn’t always mean that it will change your life for the worst, it can actually change your life for the better.”

The 2022 Sunshine Coast Sustainable Business Women of the Year award winner felt that expression was the case for her lived experience.

“If I look back on my life when I had two legs I think I'm a much better person now,” she reflected.

“Since everything I’ve gone through, I’ve learnt a lot about myself, I’ve learnt a lot about how to overcome obstacles and challenges, and I’ve learnt how to be resilient.

“It was quite challenging for us as a family and for all of us to still be together and happy, but being able to be back to being a normal functioning family is quite remarkable.”