Remarkable Regional Business

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 48 (Part Two) Guest: Mathew Goggin Business Name: 7 Mile Beach Website: https://www.7milegolf.com.au/ He did the project management. He ran the Instagram. He recorded the podcasts. He did all of it himself. And the course still ended up rated number three in Australia before it had been open six months. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Mathew Goggin, founder of 7 Mile Beach Golf in Tasmania. The conversation moves into the origin story behind the project, how Mat went from professional golfer to golf course developer, and the business thinking behind what is shaping up to be one of the great golf destinations in the world. Mat also talks through the second course now under construction, the membership model he is moving towards, the partnerships being built with Hobart's best hotels and local Tasmanian producers, and why he still has a bottle of wine he hasn't opened yet because he believes the moment to celebrate is still to come. Topics Covered / The second course and the vision for 36 holes How King Collins Dormer, a group whose first project outside America this will be, are now clearing land for the north course, and what 36 holes makes possible from a business model perspective. / The membership model and how it changes everything Why a membership base can cover half the operating costs before a single green fee is collected, and the careful balance between member exclusivity and resort play. / How 7 Mile Beach achieved its ranking so quickly What Mat did from a marketing standpoint entirely on his own, why it worked, and how the course was winning polls for the world's best golf logo before it had even opened. / Unreasonable hospitality as a business philosophy Why the experience a person has matters more than the green fee they paid, and how every partnership from Sullivans Cove Whisky to The Tasman hotel is chosen to maintain that standard from the moment someone arrives in Hobart. / How 7 Mile Beach is lifting the whole region Why local golf courses are now having their record green fee months and what that has to do with what Mat built. / Business wisdom from a first time developer Know every part of your business inside out. If the thing you are underpinning is not world class you are wasting your time. And yes, Mat still cannot work the point of sale system. Watch Part One to hear what makes the course itself so special, who designed it, and the construction challenges of building something world class on Tasmanian sand dunes. // Links https://www.7milegolf.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 48 (Part One) Guest: Mathew Goggin Business Name: 7 Mile Beach Website: https://www.7milegolf.com.au/ He grew up near the property. Watched it sit there for decades screaming out for a golf course. And eventually decided if nobody else was going to do it, he would. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Mathew Goggin, founder of 7 Mile Beach in Tasmania. A former professional golfer with no background in development, no experience building anything at this scale, and a piece of land he had known since childhood that he believed was one of the best sites for a golf course in the world. Already rated in the top 10 in Australia after opening for public play in December 2025, 7 Mile Beach is being talked about as a future top ten course in the world. And this is the story of how it came to be. Topics Covered / The three ingredients of a world class golf course Interesting topography, great views by the water, and sand. Why this property had all three and why that matters more than most people realise. / What makes the course visually unique How a blown over pine plantation seeded the dunes and created an unusually choppy and irregular landscape that gives 7 Mile Beach its distinctive eye candy. / Why Tasmania is one of the best places in the world to build a links course The cool climate, fescue grass and sandy coastal conditions that put Tasmania in the same band as Scotland, Ireland and the UK. / The designers behind the course How Mat brought in Clayton, DeVries and Pont, whose principals between them co-designed Barnbougle and Cape Wickham, and why having the main guy on site for eighteen months was something most projects never get. / The complexities of building a golf course in coastal Tasmania Wind, shifting sand, construction challenges, and what it actually takes to shape something world class in those conditions. This is Part One of the conversation with Mathew Goggin from 7 Mile Beach Golf. Continue to Part Two to hear the origin story behind the project, how the course achieved its ranking so quickly, the business model taking shape, and what Matt has learned building something genuinely world class from scratch. // Links www.7milegolf.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 47 (Part Two) Guest: Jacqui Naunton Business Name: White Deer Graphic Design Website: https://whitedeer.com.au/ She runs calls at 10am, 1:30pm and 8pm on the same day every fortnight. Because her clients are in Australia, Europe and America. All from her hometown in Bendigo. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Jacqui Naunton from White Deer. The conversation gets into the detail of how each of her three offerings actually works, what people pay, how the Co-Creation Design Club runs, and the marketing channels that have built her a global audience. Jacqui also shares the business philosophy that has underpinned everything, from how she thinks about consistency and showing up even when she doesn't feel like it, to why she acts on ideas within weeks rather than sitting on them for months while other business owners are still ruminating. Topics Covered / The full breakdown of each offering The DIY course for newer businesses, the Co-Creation Design Club for businesses wanting ongoing support and co-creation, and the done for you studio for clients who just want it handled. / How the Co-Creation Design Club works Unlimited Slack access, live calls across three time zones every fortnight, screen recordings, live design sessions and coaching all included, and why no one has ever overstepped what Jacqui thinks is fair. / Price points and how they are structured How Jacqui has anchored each offering to a different stage of business and why the model works across a wide range of clients from solopreneurs to businesses with teams and VAs. / Marketing channels that are actually working YouTube, Facebook ads, Instagram, email list and podcast, what each one does, which ones bring the most clients, and how she knows. / Building a global audience from a regional base How Jacqui has grown audiences across multiple platforms simultaneously from Bendigo, and what she has learned about what works and what doesn't. / The business philosophy behind it all Show up consistently. Act on ideas quickly. Put it out there and fix it rather than sitting on it for six months. And keep doing the monotonous things even when you don't feel like it. Watch Part One to hear how White Deer started, why Jacqui flipped her business model six years ago, and how she sold a course she hadn't written yet from a family holiday in Tasmania. // Links https://whitedeer.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 47 (Part One) Guest: Jacqui Naunton Business Name: White Deer Graphic Design Website: https://whitedeer.com.au/ She sold a course she hadn't written yet, from a family holiday in Tasmania, to 55 people she'd never met. And that was just the beginning. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Jacqui Naunton, owner and founder of White Deer, a design studio based in Bendigo that is serving clients all over the world. But this is not a traditional graphic design story. Six years ago Jacqui flipped her business model entirely and started teaching business owners how to do their own design, because she could see that Canva was changing everything and most people were using it wrong. What followed was a business that now operates across multiple income streams, reaches global audiences across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and podcast, and allows Jacqui to work only a couple of hours a day while being mostly at home with her growing family. Topics Covered / What White Deer actually is A graphic design business with three distinct offerings, done for you design, an online course, and a membership, and why the combination of all three is what makes it work. / Why Jacqui started teaching design to business owners How a suggestion from a business coach turned into a business model, why she initially thought it was career suicide, and why she did it anyway. / The first course launch How Jacqui built an email list, ran a masterclass from a family holiday in Tasmania, sold 55 spots in a course she hadn't written yet, and then created it live week by week as people went through it. / Passive income in quotation marks Why Jacqui wanted a business model that didn't trade time for money, and how that desire shaped every decision she made in the six years that followed. / Building an online audience from scratch Five and a half years of podcasting, two to three years of YouTube, and how consistent content creation became the engine that drives everything. / Understanding what clients think they need versus what they actually need Why most business owners think they have a design problem when they actually have a brand problem, and how Jacqui positions her offerings to meet people where they are. This is Part One of the conversation with Jacqui Naunton from White Deer. Continue to Part Two to hear the full breakdown of each offering, the marketing channels that are actually working, and the business wisdom that has kept her growing. // Links https://whitedeer.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 46 (Part Two) Guest: Michael Robertson & Marc Smith Business Name: JL King & Co Website: https://www.jlking.com.au/ By the time they moved back to Bendigo they had already outgrown the new facility. And they hadn't even moved in yet. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Michael Robertson and Marc Smith from JL King and Co. The conversation moves into greater detail of how to build and run a food manufacturing business at a serious scale. Michael talks through the chaos of operating across six different sheds around Bendigo before the new facility was built, how the Simply Tasty brand came together, and the process behind developing and launching new products. Including a crazy lasagna soup that came from a Chicago supermarket visit but flopped in Australia. Marc brings his perspective as the recently appointed CFO on what the business needs to get to the next level, from systems and data to taking some of the load off a managing director still emailing late into the night. Topics Covered / The Simply Tasty brand How the name was chosen by a vote of ten people and what the product range looks like today across salads, baked dishes, pasta, Asian style meals and pub meals. / Contract manufacturing at scale How JL King and Co produces 24 products for IGA's private label brand and manufactures a Woolworths salad line up the entire east coast of Australia. / New product development How trends, overseas travel, buyer relationships and customer feedback drive the product pipeline, and what happens when a Chicago-inspired lasagna soup flops in 6 months. / Building and outgrowing the new facility The chaos of six different sheds, the decision to build, and what the move to the new site has made possible. / Letting go as an owner/operator Why Michael still holds on to more than he probably should, why the new facility made him want to hold on tighter, and what Marc’s role is helping to change that. / What's next for JL King and Co Systems, data, sustainability, solar expansion, packaging improvements and the growth strategy taking shape right now. Watch Part One to hear the full origin story of JL King and Co, how a competitor's phone call changed it all, and how customer demand turned a produce wholesaler into one of regional Victoria's most significant food manufacturers. // Links https://www.jlking.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 46 (Part One) Guest: Michael Robertson & Marc Smith Business Name: JL King & Co Website: https://www.jlking.com.au/ He got a phone call from the man he was competing against. “Come and have a chat.” And that one conversation changed a whole lot for JL King and Co. In this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Michael Robertson, managing director and owner of JL King and Co, and Marc Smith, the recently appointed CFO. JL King and Co is a family owned food manufacturing and distribution business based in Bendigo that has been part of the region for over a century. Today it produces more than two million meals a week and distributes across the entire country from Broome to Hobart. Michael traces the journey from an eight pallet truck running to the Melbourne market twice a week with docket books and a calculator, to one of the most significant food manufacturing operations in regional Victoria. The business grew one request at a time, from slicing cabbage to cooking potatoes to building a full manufacturing operation from the ground up. Topics Covered / What JL King and Co is today A Bendigo based food manufacturing and distribution business producing more than two million meals a week and supplying customers across every state in Australia. / The history of JL King Over a century in Bendigo, from the King family through to the Quinn family, and how Michael Robertson came to take over the business as a competitor in 1997. / How manufacturing started The customer led evolution from fresh produce wholesaling to coleslaw, to cooked potatoes, to a full prepared meals operation with its own chef and product range. / Simply Tasty and the brand story How a vote among ten people produced the name that now appears on shelves in IGA, Woolworths and delis across Australia. / Community investment in Bendigo From sporting club sponsorships to the McKean McGregor Ball raising close to a million dollars for the hospital are just some of the ways JL King and Co supports the Bendigo community. / Why they chose to stay in Bendigo Despite supplying more prepared food into Queensland than Victoria and even conversations with the Queensland government about grants, Bendigo was always the place to be. This is Part One of the conversation with Michael Robertson and Marc Smith from JL King and Co. Continue to Part Two to hear how the Simply Tasty brand came to life, what it takes to build a food manufacturing operation at scale, and where the business is headed next. // Links https://www.jlking.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 45 (Part Two) Guest: Phil McConachy Business Name: The Mill Castlemaine Website: https://millcastlemaine.com.au/ Don't let the humility fool you. Phil McConachy is a mastermind. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Phil McConachy from The Mill at Castlemaine. The conversation shifts from what The Mill is to how Phil got there, what shaped his thinking, and what it actually takes to build something that becomes a genuine asset to a regional town. Phil talks through the years of farming and raising four sons in Castlemaine, how the skills from his earth moving days turned out to be exactly what he needed when he bought The Mill, and the philosophy behind everything from how he looks after tenants to how he supports the local community. Topics Covered / What the earth moving business taught him Problem solving, communication, and paying people well enough that they give blood when you need it. / Moving to Castlemaine and the farming years How a compass on a map between two sets of parents led Phil and his family to Castlemaine in 1999, and what twenty years of farming and raising four boys taught him. / Community investment and why Phil doesn't see it as an exchange From footy club sponsorships to indigenous organisations to the Botanical Gardens, how Phil thinks about giving back to the town the Mill calls home. / The flood mitigation system nobody asked him to build Why Phil designed a full flood protection system for one of his buildings before he would morally rent it out. / The future of The Mill What is being built right now, who is moving in, and what Phil hopes the site looks like in fifty years even if he won't be around to see it. / Business wisdom from a man who built something remarkable without a plan Human resources as the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity. Communication as a craft. And why Phil always tells new tenants to dream big before they worry about what it costs. Watch Part One to hear the full story of The Mill at Castlemaine, how it came to be, and the remarkable collection of businesses that call it home. // Links https://millcastlemaine.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 45 (Part One) Guest: Phil McConachy Business Name: The Mill Castlemaine Website: https://millcastlemaine.com.au/ He had no grand vision. He put a sign on the fence saying places for lease and just waited to see who came. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Phil McConachy, the owner and developer of The Mill at Castlemaine. Seven and a half hectares, nine thousand square metres of buildings and forty five tenants ranging from a world class cafe and brewery through to clothing makers, potters, knife makers and a vintage bazaar with over 118 stall holders. All built from a former woolen mill that started in 1875 and burnt down three times. Phil is one of the most remarkable people Caleb has sat down with on this show. Phil was a house dad and farmer for twenty years who needed to get back into the community and use his skills for good. What he built in the process is one of the greatest and most loved regional commercial precincts in Victoria. Topics Covered / What The Mill at Castlemaine actually is A town within a town. How 45 tenants across food, health, education, trade and retail came together on a heritage site over eleven years. / The origin story of The Mill How a multinational decided it no longer needed the site, and how Phil ended up with it after some negotiation and a bit of luck. / How Phil selects tenants No grand plan. A sign on the fence, a gut feel, and a commitment to the planning scheme. / The Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar How 118 stall holders operate within a simple square meterage and commission model, and what separates the ones doing really well from the ones just there for the social side. / Tenant success stories From Shed Shaker Brewing to Wonder Pants to Caboose Chocolates, businesses that have grown on the site and what they have in common. / Phil's background before the Mill Fitter and machinist at Ford at sixteen. Earth moving business owner at twenty five. Farmer and house dad for twenty years. This is Part One of the conversation with Phil McConachy from The Mill at Castlemaine. Continue to Part Two to hear how Phil's earlier business life shaped everything that came after, what he has learned about running a place like this, and where The Mill is headed next. // Links https://millcastlemaine.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 44 (Part Two) Guest: Derv McGowan Business Name: Anther Geelong Distillery Website: https://anther.com.au/ They lost 80% of their business overnight. Their response was to give away gin every week and go door to door delivering bottles to strangers. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Derv McGowan from Anther Distillery in Geelong. The conversation picks up at the moment COVID hit, when Anther was about to press go on building their own distillery and the bottom fell out of the industry they'd spent four years building a business in. What came next is a story about resilience, diversification, and finding out what you actually know that other people will pay for. Derv also shares two of the most remarkable product collaborations you'll hear about on this show, one with the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne for their 175th anniversary, and one with the Australian Gynecological Cancer Foundation that has educated thousands of people about cancer at a gin tasting. Topics Covered / Surviving COVID as a small distillery How government support, a rebuilt website, doorstep gin deliveries and a weekly cocktail competition kept Anther alive and connected to its community. / Building the distillery during a pandemic How the generosity of the Hamilton family and their network of trades made it possible when nothing else was moving. / Diversifying beyond gin sales Contract distilling, recipe development, agave spirits research and safety consulting, how Anther turned its accumulated knowledge into new revenue streams. / The current state of the gin industry Why the post COVID recovery never fully arrived for boutique spirits, what is happening at retail level right now, and why Anther has pulled back to protect the brand while it waits for the market to turn. / Leadership lessons from building a business Knowing yourself, knowing your business partner, and why fitting the right people to the right roles took longer than it should have. / The collaborations Fluorescence with the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the gin that has raised awareness of gynecological cancers at thousands of tastings across the country. Watch Part One to hear how Anther started, how gin is actually made, and what the golden years of the Australian gin boom really looked like from the inside. // Links https://www.anther.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 44 (Part One) Guest: Derv McGowan Business Name: Anther Geelong Distillery Website: https://anther.com.au/ She went from a six figure salary managing brands for a big liquor company to three days a week on a very low wage. And she'd do it all again. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Derv McGowan, co-founder of Anther Distillery in Geelong. Anther is a small family run business started in 2016 by Derv and Sebastian Reaburn, when the gin industry in Victoria had fewer than ten distilleries. Today there are over six hundred nationally. Derv had just finished a PhD in molecular microbiology. Sebastian had spent years working in bars and managing liquor brands. Neither of them were happy where they were. So they walked away from good careers, took a punt on a category nobody fully understood yet, and spent ten months developing their first gin from an eighteen hundreds gazette recipe because nobody was going to hand over theirs. The conversation covers the full origin story, from the chance connection that led them to craft distilling, to winning best gin in category at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards just two years in, to the moment Dan Murphy's came calling. Topics Covered / What Anther Distillery is and where it sits in the market A small family run gin distillery in the Federal Woolen Mills precinct in North Geelong, and what makes it different. / The origin story How a PhD in molecular microbiology, a business partner steeped in the liquor industry, and a very beautiful copper still in a Collingwood bar changed everything. / How gin is actually made Heads, hearts and tails, temperature control, reflux, botanicals and why bergamot nearly ended them. / Developing the first gin Ten months of trial and error, an eighteen hundreds gazette recipe, and the scientific method applied to a cocktail bartender's instincts. / The gin boom of 2016 What it felt like to enter a market where the product sold itself and everyone wanted to be your friend. / Growing the brand through Dan Murphy's How trophy wins opened doors, why being kind to staff made more difference than any marketing budget, and the spreadsheet that helped them focus their limited resources. This is Part One of the conversation with Derv McGowan from Anther Distillery. Continue to Part Two to hear how COVID nearly ended everything, how they rebuilt smarter, and the remarkable collaborations that have defined the brand. // Links https://www.anther.com.au/

In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Valentina Coin from Via Technology. The conversation shifts from what Via Technology does to how Val got here, where her thinking came from, and what she has learned building a business alongside her husband from the ground up. Val traces her journey from working in her aunt's villa in Italy at fourteen, through managing a group of hospitality venues on the Sunshine Coast, into a software startup building platforms for the disability industry, and finally into the advisory business she runs today. Along the way she shares the concept that changed how she thinks about growth, creativity and building anything worth building. The conversation also goes deep into change management, why nobody wants to buy it, why everyone needs it, and how Val delivers it without her clients even realising it is happening. Topics Covered / How Val built the knowledge and experience behind Via Technology The journey from hospitality in Italy to software startups in Australia and what each chapter contributed. / Working in business with your life partner What Val and her husband learned the hard way and why getting those lessons early was a gift. / The concept of liminal spaces and why boredom is a business tool How creating emptiness and slowing down is often the fastest way to find clarity and speed up growth. / Change management in disguise Why resistance to change is human nature, how to work with it rather than against it, and why co-creating solutions with the people who have to live them makes all the difference. / The Kubler Ross Curve applied to business How the stages of grief can be used as a practical team tool when implementing new systems or technology. / Three pieces of business wisdom from Val Slow down to speed up. Build a circle of trust. Lead with curiosity. Watch Part One to hear how Via Technology works, the types of businesses it serves, and why most technology problems are not really technology problems at all. // Links https://viatechnology.com.au/

Most businesses think they have a technology problem. Valentina Coin from Via Technology says the technology is usually the last thing that needs fixing. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with Valentina Coin, founder of Via Technology on the Sunshine Coast. Via Technology works with growing businesses to build what Val calls strategic business systems, combining people, process and technology to help organisations scale without things falling apart. The conversation starts with what Via Technology actually does and why it is so difficult to explain. Val unpacks why so many businesses mistake a technology problem for what is really a people or process problem, and why solving all three together is the only way to create lasting change. Val walks through real client examples, from a business with three weeks to migrate its entire operation off a decommissioned platform, to a couple who purchased a business with no systems and all the knowledge walking out the door with the previous owner. Topics Covered / What Via Technology actually does and why it is hard to categorise Why strategic business systems go far beyond software implementation. / The types of businesses Via Technology serves best Why operational complexity, not industry, is the key indicator of a good fit. / Real client journeys Three examples of how Via Technology has helped businesses at very different stages and with very different problems. / Choosing the right technology for the right stage of business Why the software that serves you today will not be the software that serves you in five years, and how to plan for that. / The process Via Technology takes new clients through How a self-assessment tool helps diagnose whether the real problem is people, process or technology before any solutions are proposed. / Why change management never sells but everyone needs it How Val embeds change management invisibly throughout every engagement so clients get the outcome without knowing they needed it. This is Part One of the conversation with Valentina Coin from Via Technology. Continue to Part Two to hear how Val built the business, where her thinking came from, and the three pieces of wisdom she would pass on to any business owner trying to grow. // Links https://viatechnology.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 42 (Part Two) Guests: Kate & Todd Newman Business Name: Todd Newman Builders Website: https://www.toddnewmanbuilders.com.au/ The building industry has changed dramatically in the last few years. Construction costs have increased, regulations have become more complex, and homeowners are navigating a far more challenging environment than they were a decade ago. In Part Two of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the discussion with Kate and Todd Newman from Todd Newman Builders in Bendigo. With more than two decades of experience building homes across regional Victoria, they break down the realities behind residential construction and the challenges facing both builders and homeowners today. The discussion moves into the technical and practical side of building, including the impact of modern energy efficiency standards, the complexity of renovations, and the importance of planning early in the building journey. Kate and Todd also explain how strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers help maintain quality across every project. Topics Covered / The rising cost of building homes How materials, labour and market conditions have reshaped the economics of construction. / The growing complexity of building regulations What new standards like seven-star energy ratings mean for home design and construction. / Renovations vs building new Why renovating an existing home can often be more complicated than starting from scratch. / The importance of early planning Why builders encourage clients to discuss budgets, land and design before committing to a project. / The role of subcontractors and trade relationships How long-term partnerships with local trades help maintain consistency and quality. Watch Part One to hear how Todd Newman Builders started, the lessons they learned from rapid growth, and why they ultimately chose to scale the business back to a sustainable size. // Links https://www.toddnewmanbuilders.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 42 (Part One) Guests: Kate & Todd Newman Business Name: Todd Newman Builders Website: https://www.toddnewmanbuilders.com.au/ Most people assume a successful business should always keep growing. Kate and Todd Newman learned that growth can sometimes create more problems than it solves. In Part One of this conversation on Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell sits down with the founders of Todd Newman Builders, a Bendigo-based residential building company that has been operating for more than twenty years. The discussion begins with the early years of the business, when Todd and Kate started from a home office while raising young children and slowly built a reputation in the Bendigo building industry. Along the way, an unexpected opportunity maintaining fuel stations across Australia created a commercial arm of the business that helped stabilise income while the residential side continued to grow locally. The conversation also explores a major turning point for the company. After winning Bendigo Business of the Year 2016, demand for their services surged. The business expanded rapidly, but the growth quickly stretched systems, staff and management capacity. Kate and Todd share the lessons that came from that period and the decision that ultimately reshaped the business. Topics Covered / How Todd Newman Builders started and grew in Bendigo The early years of building a reputation while running the business from home. / The unexpected commercial opportunity How maintaining fuel stations across Australia helped stabilise the company financially. / Winning Bendigo Business of the Year 2016 How the recognition triggered a sudden surge in demand. / When rapid growth becomes a problem Why the business expanded faster than its systems could support. / The decision to scale the business back How reducing the size of the operation ultimately created a stronger and more sustainable company. This is Part One of the conversation with Kate and Todd Newman from Todd Newman Builders. Continue to Part Two to hear their insights on the modern building industry, rising construction costs, and the realities homeowners should understand before starting a build or renovation. // Links https://www.toddnewmanbuilders.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 41 (Part Two) Guests: Bonnie Phillips & Stefan Manche Business Name: Coulter Legal Website: https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/ They rebuilt their whole office and the interesting part was not the design. It was why they refused to follow the open plan trend. In Part Two of this episode of Remarkable Regional Business, Caleb Maxwell continues the conversation with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche from Coulter Legal. The discussion shifts inside the business to explore how leadership works, how the firm approaches workplace design, and how modern law firms are rethinking the client experience. Bonnie and Stefan explain how the director group shares responsibility while still maintaining client work, why their new office design prioritises focus and confidentiality, and how changes to pricing and intake processes are helping reduce stress for clients. Topics Covered / Leadership structure and shared responsibility How the four directors divide portfolios, manage governance, and make strategic decisions without becoming overwhelmed by operational detail. / Balancing leadership and client work Why maintaining client involvement helps leaders stay connected to the realities of the business. / Designing a workplace that supports better work Why Coulter Legal chose private offices over full open plan, and how their new Geelong headquarters was shaped through staff input. / Modern client experience How relationship first intake and value based pricing reduce client stress and provide greater certainty. / What makes a great lawyer Why rapport, empathy, and the ability to ask better questions often matter more than technical expertise. / Personal brand and community connection How lawyers are encouraged to develop their own professional brand while staying deeply connected to the regional communities they serve. This is Part Two of the conversation with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche from Coulter Legal. If you have not listened to Part One yet, start there to hear the full story of how the firm grew to where it is today. // Links https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 41 (Part One) Guests: Bonnie Phillips & Stefan Manche Business Name: Coulter Legal Website: https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/ So we were talking about why some firms grow and others fall apart… and honestly it usually comes down to one thing. Not strategy. Not marketing. Just whether they actually have the right people in the room. In this episode of Remarkable Regional Business, host Caleb Maxwell sits down with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche from Coulter Legal in Geelong. With offices across Geelong, Torquay, Barwon Heads, and Melbourne, Coulter Legal has grown into a mid sized firm of more than eighty people while staying deeply connected to the communities it serves. Bonnie and Stefan share how the firm has grown through major workforce change, including rapid expansion during COVID and the shift to hybrid work. They unpack what it takes to scale a professional services team without stretching people to the point where quality slips, and why hiring for culture is often more important than hiring for technical ability. Topics Covered / Growing from Geelong to a multi office firm across Victoria How Coulter Legal expanded beyond its regional roots while maintaining strong community connections. / Hiring for cultural fit and capability Why recruitment is treated as high stakes, and how cultural alignment protects both team wellbeing and client outcomes. / Scaling a legal practice sustainably How the family and relationship law team grew from four lawyers to around thirty while maintaining service quality. / Building systems that support people and clients How resourcing, support staff, and pairing senior and junior lawyers helps manage workload and maintain standards. / Leading culture in a hybrid workplace How communication rhythms, team meetings, and intentional connection help maintain culture across multiple offices. This is Part One of the conversation with Bonnie Phillips and Stefan Manche. Go to Part Two next to hear how the firm approaches leadership, workplace design, and modern client experience. // Links https://www.coulterlegal.com.au/

Bendigo Business Excellence Awards Winners 2025 Awards Category: Creative Industries Business Name: Hebron Films Presented to: Caleb Maxwell // About the business Hebron Films is a boutique Bendigo-based video production and storytelling studio that helps regional businesses grow with strategic, high-value video content. They partner with companies and marketing teams to craft creative films backed by clear strategy—bringing stories to life that attract attention and drive results. Known for personalised collaboration, they handle everything from concept to production, delivering engaging videos that elevate brands on the world stage. // Links https://hebronfilms.com https://bbea.com.au/

Bendigo Business Excellence Awards Winners 2025 Awards Category: Health and Care Award Business Name: 3D Physiotherapy Health Group Presented to: Julie Sheahan // About the business 3D Physio Health Group is a purpose-driven physiotherapy and wellness clinic in Bendigo and Boort that goes beyond pain relief to help people move better, recover faster and live stronger. Their personalised care uncovers root causes, builds strength, and boosts confidence through evidence-based treatment, exercise programs and rehabilitation. With friendly physios and tailored plans, they support injury recovery, pain management and long-term health for every body. // Links https://www.3dphysio.com.au/ https://bbea.com.au/

Bendigo Business Excellence Awards Winners 2025 Awards Category: Climate Leader Award & Social Procurement Award Business Name: Flash Farm Presented to: Kristy Kemp // About the business Flash Farm is a farm-based allied health service near Myers Flat, Victoria that uses nature, animals and evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support people’s wellbeing, skills and confidence. Founded from a vision that connection with animals can enhance therapy, Flash Farm offers individual and group programs—like life skills, social development and horticultural activities—framed around personalised, experiential learning to improve mental health and life outcomes. // Links https://www.flashfarm.org/ https://bbea.com.au/

Bendigo Business Excellence Awards Winner 2025 Awards Category: Young and Professional Award Business Name: Beck Legal Presented to: Shaun Stephenson // About the winner Shaun Stephenson is a senior associate at Beck Legal in Bendigo and the 2025 Bendigo Business Excellence Awards Young and Professional Award winner. A commercial lawyer specialising in mergers, acquisitions and succession planning, Sean is recognised not only for professional excellence but for his deep commitment to mentoring, education and community leadership—reflecting Bendigo’s culture of developing talented young professionals who give back and help others thrive. // Links https://becklegal.com.au/asset-protection/meet-our-team-shaun-stephenson/ https://bbea.com.au/