Ariarne Titmus and Katie Page celebrate all things Aussie in Cairns

Olympian Ariarne Titmus and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page are in Cairns to celebrate all things Australian made, ahead of their keynote speeches at the Cairns Crocodiles convention.

Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page will both be speaking at the Cairns Crocodiles media, marketing and advertising conference. Picture: Brendan Radke

Olympian Ariarne Titmus and Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page celebrated all things Australian made ahead of their keynote speeches at Cairns Crocodiles on Tuesday.

“I’m someone who’s been proud to represent Australia for almost a decade and when I was approached to do this campaign I felt like it resonated a lot with me,” Ms Titmus said ahead of Australian Made Week from May 19-25, which she is an ambassador for.

“We’re actually quite a small country in the scheme of things and trying to support people that are really doing their best and that Aussie battler mentality I think is really important.”

Ms Page, who was born in Mareeba, said it was “easy” to take business overseas but there was a demand for Australian made products.

“The customers want it,” she said.

“The quality is fantastic, you’re employing people, the price is great.

Picture: Brendan Radke

“When you have a look at the comparisons, the Australian manufacturers really can compete against the rest of the world, but it’s our job to make sure that we’re in there supporting those manufacturers.”

Ms Page said up to 85 per cent of Harvey Norman’s sleep surface stock was Australian made, with Aussie furniture accounting for about 20-25 per cent of furniture on offer.

“You’ve got to show customers that it’s Australian made, and so this week you’ve got a week where, not just us, but lots of companies supporting Australian made are making sure Australians can come in to retailers like us and ask for that product,” Ms Page said.

“Even if they don’t ask, having (a sign) on the product very clearly that it’s made in Australia helps enormously as well.”

The pair will speak at the Cairns Crocodiles media convention on Tuesday, May 13.

The highly anticipated event will attract media juggernauts from across Australia for the three-day event.

“There’s so many exciting things that are happening at the conference,” Ms Page said.

“It’s good to be back, I get off the plane and I go — I love that smell.”

Originally published as Ariarne Titmus and Katie Page celebrate all things Aussie in Cairns