Mobile bra fitter on a mission to help regional women

A central Victorian woman is making sure country women’s bras fit just right. But her goal reaches beyond clothing.

Helen Byrne understands regional women.

After all, she grew up near the Adelaide Hills, and calls Axedale, in Victoria, home.

She knows just how isolated regional living can be, with resources often located in big cities hours away from small towns.

It’s from this understanding Helen mobilised her camper trailer and began travelling throughout regional and remote Australia with her Bra Van.

The premise is simple: Helen will bring her store on wheels to small communities across the country, where she will fit and size women for bras.

“Women are so grateful, that’s probably the first thing they say to me is “thank you for coming to our town”,” Helen said.

“One of the first thing I’ll do is sit down and have a chat, to get to know the women a little more.


Having sized women from all across the country, from age 10 to 96 years old, Helen has had opportunity to get to know women from all walks of life.

And every one of those women has a story to share, she said.

Helen Byrne from Axedale and her Bra Van. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“I’ve formed a lot of friendships. You get to know people really well,” Helen said.

“I've fitted women who’ve had mastectomies, we’ve had tears, I’ve had people share really happy news with me, like that they were pregnant.

Helen said something as simple as clothes shopping – or getting an all-important bra fitting – was often at the bottom of the list when making a pilgrimage into a city.

Adding bra fitting to her services when she worked as a beauty therapist, Helen quickly saw the opportunity and the demand for a bespoke bra fitting service in the regions.

So she fitted out a camper trailer and hit the read.

“It’s been so good, I’ve had such a great response form different communities asking me to come to their area. I’ve travelled to country NSW, I’ve been to Alice Springs, to country South Australia … I’m so lucky to do what I do. I love it.”

While demand from women in city regions has also been strong, Helen is determined to keep the Bra Van a resource solely for country women.

“Firstly I don’t like driving in the city! But my service is for the country. The city has access. My passion is taking this to women in the country and remote areas, I stay true to that,” Helen said.

“I’ve always known country women, and the challenges they face, particularly outback women.”

The Shine Awards is a joint partnership between The Weekly Times and Harvey Norman that is a true celebration of women right across rural and regional Australia.

Use the form here to nominate a rural or regional woman who is making a real difference to her community or industry, and shine a light on their incredible achievements.

Or, send an email to [e-mail]

Nominations close on October 23.