Coffs Harbour power couples revealed

They are partners in love, life and in business - meet the power couples making a name for themselves across the Coffs Coast.

They are at the top of their games in business, hospitality, community work and the arts – and they just happen to be partners in love and life as well.

These are the power couples of the Coffs Coast

ELISE AND SCOTT BOCKING

The proud parents of two sons, this active couple moved to Woolgoolga from Sydney in 2008.

Elise established her business Pilates with Elise in 2011.

She was the co-owner of Studiomove for five years then pivoted her business to an online platform due to Covid.

As well as offering group classes at Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio she also offers private and semi-private sessions by appointment at her boutique home studio on the Northern Beaches.

In 2019 she was the winner of Dancing with the Stars Coffs Coast and raised $12,500 for the Cancer Council.

She has performed in the past two cabaret shows for Naidu Theatre Co.

Scott is a business leader and owner of Woodseys Wheels bike shop. He is the vice president of Woolgoolga Mountain Bike Club and worked on the committee to formalise the Wedding Bells Forest mountain bike trail network.

Scott also works with the council on youth engagement programs and consults on adventure tourism opportunities.

LACHLAN TAWHITI AND EMMA HIGGINS

According to Lachlan they are “the OGs of bubble tea” in Coffs, having started their business in 2017.

Lachlan and Emma started their business with a vision of creating fun and happiness with their unique product.

“We started it in 2017 when there was no boba in Coffs,” he said

“There are a couple more now.”

They have a food van and also a shop in Moonee Street.

“When we aren’t working we are creating beautiful memories with our two daughters and soaking up the beauty of the Coffs Coast,” Lachlan said.

“Couldn’t imagine doing life any other way, or with anyone else.”

RENEE AND DAN WEISS

Renee and Dan have known each other for 15 years and have been married for five.

They’ve owned popular Woolgoolga cafe Bluebottles for almost eight years.

“We’ve grown it from nine staff when we bought it to currently 26 - and looking for more,” Dan said.

Four years ago they acquired the tenancy next door to the restaurant and Renee’s vision of a retail store was achieved.

The store sells a vast array of locally produced goods such as relishes, sauces and chocolates and their team of chefs also make take-home family dinners.

The takeaway aspect of Bluebottles has been crucial during the past 18 months of lockdowns.

Renee works tirelessly on all the bookwork and with the team at the retail store while Dan is in charge of all the marketing, social media and sipping lattes and interacting with guests.

Dan has been a single dad to his two sets of twins for the past 16 years. His daughters are now 23 and his sons 19.

“I’m so blessed to have three of my four kids currently working with us at Team Bluebottles,” he said.

He praised his staff.

“They are the best of the best and they need to be to keep up with how popular we are,” he said.

“We have a huge number of the most loyal guests going, for which we are extremely grateful.”

CODI HANSON AND DANNY MOORE

Codi Hanson owns SOS Phone Repairs Australia with her fiance Danny Moore.

Codi bought the Coffs Harbour store in 2018 when SOS had five locations and in 2020 they purchased the franchise.

“Since then we’ve opened 11 locations during Covid and have four more waiting to open now but we can’t leave Coffs,” Codi said.

Codi Hanson and Danny Moore

“We also have our national warehouse opening in Woopi very soon which we’re excited about.

“Being the managing director of a national tech company and also being a female has a whole lot of hurdles but I make it a huge focus of mine to empower other women to learn repairs and bring women into this space.”

She is proud to have five female store managers across the 16 locations.

Codi and Danny have been engaged for four years but business keeps getting busier and they say it’s fun just being engaged, so they’ll get to it eventually.

Their goal is to establish 100 locations Australia-wide.

“We love that Coffs Harbour will always be home base for that,” Codi said.

BIANCA AND STEVE HENSMAN

The Hensmans actually operate two businesses.

They started Harbour Carpet Cleaning in 2012 and added Harbour Skip Bins last year.

They have been together 20 years and have always worked well together.

“We share very similar values on how we treat others,” Bianca said.

“We are consistently voted in the top three carpet cleaners in Coffs and in one short year, we have more five-star google reviews than any other rubbish removalists in Coffs,” Bianca said.

“Team work makes dream work.”

ENVER AND TANYTH KAPUKAYA

Originally from Penrith, where they met, Enver and Tanyth moved to Coffs just over a decade ago with their children Bailie, 18, Taylan, 15 and Ryder, 10.

“Together we have over 45 years experience in the food industry and almost 20 years together - that’s the big achievement,” Tanyth said.

They bought Kebab Zone in Coffs Central from a family member in 2011, although Enver had helped set up and establish the business between 2002 and 2004.

They also owned and ran Empire Kebabs from 2004 to 2005 before returning to Sydney for a period of time to be closer to family.

About 18 months after buying Kebab Zone they relocated upstairs to the terrace food court in Coffs Central as part of the Gowings redevelopment trading as Origin Kebabs.

In 2020, with a new lease and a fresh new look they changed their name to Istanbul Kebabs which is the city where Enver spent most of his childhood.

LYNNE AND SHANE SECCOMBE

Offbeat Operations is a family affair with Lynne and Shane Seccombe at the helm.

Offbeat Operations books more than 40 artists, major festivals and events, and looks after more than 14 venues in NSW and Queensland.

Shane books the big guns and coordinates the outdoor festivals.

Shane and Lynne have two children - Micky, who is a drummer and Sharni, who works alongside mum Lynne behind the scenes.

Sharni and Mick were born into the music industry and have been around music and bands, back stages and beer gardens since they were babies.

Sharni and Lynne work together liaising with venues, booking local and national artists and also booking musicians for functions including weddings.

In 2019 they started a production company called Offbeat Production and Events which supplies touring acts and events with staging and production and event management.

RAYNA AND SAM HILL

Married for 22 years with two daughters and two chihuahuas, the Hills are popular Woolgoolga business owners.

Their foray into business as a couple was the first time they had owned a business and worked together and after nearly three years, they still get along.

Sam has a 30-year background in the automotive industry and has been heavily involved in motorsport.

He owns a rally car he’s keen to drive again whenever Coffs gets a local round.

Rayna previously worked for the department of education and is a trained beautician.

Together they enjoy walking the Solitary Islands Coastal walk, driving in the country and enjoying a wide variety of local foods and drinks (most recently gins and vodkas from their local distillers).

At the Woolgoolga Service Centre they service, repair and tune cars, bikes, 4WDs and vans.

They also operate the BP retail fuel outlet which is open seven days a week.

Staff are known for their willingness to come out and help customers - they can pump your fuel, check your oil and water or check your tyre pressure.

BEC AND IAN GILL

This dynamic duo both volunteer for the Coffs Harbour SES Unit - that’s how they first met.

They’re both rescue team leaders in the unit.

Ian has been a member for 23 years and Bec for almost 12.

They married in 2011 using one of the rescue trucks as the bridal vehicle.

They have two children together and Bec has a son.

“We both enjoy volunteering for the SES and that we get to give back to the community that we love to live in,” Bec said.

JAMIE AND ANGIE ABELL

Jaimie and Angie own Bakers Delight stores at Toormina and Coffs Central.

They both worked at Bakers Delight Toormina before purchasing it five years ago and bought the Coffs store two years later.

They are the proud parents of two young boys.

MELISSAH BARRETT AND DANNY GREEN

This power couple have big plans for the future.

Currently they run a professional fishing company.

Melissa works full time as a nurse and is also a beauty guide with Limelife by Alcone.

“I enjoy helping women bring back their confidence,” Melissah said.

Until June this year she was part of an advisory committee for the NSW Department of Primary Industries - Young farmers Business Program, which she said she thoroughly enjoyed.

Danny is an Ocean Watch Australia master fisherman.

“Our dreams are to have a few acres where we can grow our own food, live a country lifestyle with chickens, using regenerative practices in our farming,” he said.

“This is our goal.”