What do you see yourself doing at 92 years old?

Still living independently, overseeing the running of your sheep farm and growing 200 Como Polly Dahlias each year for the sheer joy of it? That’s what Joyce Toone is doing, and she has no plans to stop anytime soon. This month, Gavin and Bec were delighted to sit with Joyce in her cosy kitchen warmed by her 60-year-old wood stove and hear her story over a cuppa and some double coated Tim Tams.

This month’s Coffee with is taking us 4,263 km away from Albany – to Maneroo Station, 3 hours south of Darwin, the home of cattle farmers Phil and Annette Howie.

Grace Schlager is the Director of Schlager Architects and owner of SA Design Collective, a furniture store and design resource.

Kym Arnold and Caitlin Davidovic sat down with Grace to discuss her journey to success and the benefits of adopting an Architect in our everyday lives.

77 years ago in the small town of Caltowie, near Port Pirie in South Australia when Keith Hillam was in year three, young Janet came to that same school in year one. That was the start of a very special personal and business relationship.

Brooke Pearson runs a small women’s only gym in Albany called Just Move. We sat down with Brooke to find out what makes this wonder woman tick and how she’s made Just Move such a special place to train.

This month Rob and Tom both tentatively put on boxing gloves and jumped in the ring with Rob Lovett from Lovett Muay Thai. They discovered how a teenage boy with plenty of energy to burn, initially fell in love with martial arts movies and later became the owner of a successful Muay Thai gym right here in Albany.

Pam recently spent an informative and entertaining half hour with Nikki Milne of The Perth Collective via Zoom. Nikki has become an expert in her field and has scaled a successful business, after identifying a niche in PR and Digital Marketing. Today, Nikki owns an online educational school and a successful PR and Marketing Agency.

Meet Don Boyle … Farmer in Broomehill, gun shearer, stalwart of the wool industry. Don sat down with one of our Managers, Amy Sims, and our Receptionist, Kate Wilson (who also happens to be his granddaughter) to tell us his story.

This week Carryn and Brendan travelled to the Chambers farm, 40kms north east of Ravensthorpe to chat with this very busy person. A Coffee with Jenny Chambers, Farmer, Community Champion, Mother of five, Grandmother of seven.

What was supposed to be a relaxed coffee was, in fact, us sitting at the kitchen bench asking questions while Jenny whipped up lunch for 9 adults and five energetic grandchildren.

This month Pam and Tayla had a zoom chat with Charles Hill and Steve Richardson from Raptor Group. Initially starting their forestry land clearing business in March 2018, they are now Albany’s largest family owned and operated machine hire company.

Their success stems from their ability to adapt swiftly to market challenges and opportunities, a remarkable skill for any business.

David Steytler is one busy guy. He owns Three Anchors, the White Star and is President of the ACCI. Somehow he managed to find some time to sit down with Rob to talk about how he keeps on top of everything and how he has managed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local business owners Darren and Jess Wood who own Albany Eco House and Solahart Albany & Great Southern. Since taking over the Albany Solahart branch 5 years ago they have expanded the business significantly.