Category: News & Media

If you’re looking for a new workspace, look no further than The Collective Cospace. The Collective is a bright and welcoming office space; it’s like your normal office but better! Keep reading to find out why.

The Collective Cospace

Suite 30/108 Franklin St, Traralgon

The Collective Cospace opened on 16 May 2024 and has been well received by the community. One of the co-founders, Jasmine, had a dream to create a space to work uninterrupted. So, with the help of her builder husband Ben and friends Kristina and Matt, the business was born Jasmine describes The Collective as being an innovative space for a range of people.

“We welcome everyone; people in small business,creatives and professionals that might be travelling to the region. We’ve created a flexible and accessible space.”

Located in the heart of the Traralgon CBD, The Collective offers a prime location and the ideal setting for success and growth.

As for the future of The Collective, Jasmine and the team have big dreams.

“We really want to do build our community and host networking events. We also want to look at supporting other small businesses in town by running seminars and workshops.”

Keep an eye on The Collective Cospace website for more details on this exciting new business: www.thecollectivecospace.au

Read latest edition of Connections here.

The staff at Walker’s Doughnuts are certainly treating locals and visitors with delectable treats in Traralgon

Get ready to enhance your taste buds with the most delectable doughnut and hot dog shop in Seymour Street, Traralgon! 

Feel like a superior quality doughnut? Choose from a range of 40 odd, delectable flavours including classic crèmes, original glaze, and the Bronut – which is a local favourite oozing crème bundles and jam.

Is a hot dog more to your taste? Get around the scrumptious hot dog options to satisfy any craving. Don’t worry if you need halal options – Gary has you covered! All meat is certifiably halal and delicious, to cater for the ever-growing multicultural community in Latrobe City. Thanks Gary!

Who’s Gary? Well, Gary Respondino is a well-loved local and all-round nice guy who’s lived in Latrobe City all his life. Encompassing good ol’ fashioned family and community values, we had a chat to Gary about the new journey at Walkers Doughnuts.

“We had lines out the door for the first two to three weeks and it was a struggle to keep up,” Gary said one buzzing Thursday afternoon. “Which was a good thing, but it kept everyone on their toes. People know we are here now, so it’s a bit more flowing.”

There’s options for everyone. “We offer a six pack of doughnuts for $22 or a 12 pack for $34, which ultimately works out pretty cheap.”
As for the future, Gary said it’s a journey but him and his friendly staff are here for the long run.

“We are starting to experiment with more flavours and ideas now,” Gary said.

“Everyone comes in happy and leaves in a happier place. Nine times out of 10, most people have a grin from ear to ear. Especially when they look at all the flavours, they go into this beautiful meltdown of what they’re going to pick first!”

Read latest edition of Connections here.

Thomas & Jean is a seven-month-old clothing and homewares store that has quickly become a local favourite since opening at the end of 2023.

Stocking brands like Country Road, Witchery, Trenery, and Mimco, the store aims to provide regional shoppers with access to premium fashion, eliminating the need to travel to Melbourne for these beautiful clothes. Read on find out more!

Thomas & Jean

95 Seymour Street, Traralgon

“We’ve been blown away by the community’s support. Our customers truly enjoy the experience of browsing our beautiful clothing range and love supporting local businesses,” Melissa said.

The positive feedback has motivated Melissa and her close-knit team to continually enhance the shopping experience.

Grateful for the support from friends and family, Melissa looks forward to welcoming more customers to Thomas & Jean. Visit Thomas & Jean at 95 Seymour Street, Traralgon, to explore the exquisite collection of quality clothing, accessories and stunning homewares, and experience the personalised shopping experience for yourself.

Read latest edition of Connections here.

Calm Within Foods is a range of granolas that are a deliciously crunchy blend of real nuts, seeds, and quinoa that make a healthy snack for the whole family.

Calm Within Foods

Simple yet delicious!

Calm Within Foods is a range of granolas that are a deliciously crunchy blend of real nuts, seeds, and quinoa that make a healthy snack for the whole family.

Every granola is packed with nutrients that make for a cracking brekky, dessert or straight-out-of-the-bag snack.

Jo, owner of Calm Within Foods, said the idea of the brand came after struggling to find a breakfast meal that suited her needs.

“It was really difficult to find a healthy breakfast meal that didn’t contain oats and is gluten free,” Jo said.

A scrumptious range of dairy free, gluten free and vegan granola recipes are available from Calm Within Foods. Jo uses coconut oil and maple or rice malt syrup as the primary liquids in her recipes, as well as nuts and seeds.

“Many of my customers love the cranberry and coconut flavours the most, which is available at The Daily Cafe in Morwell,” Jo said.

Organic granola flavours available also include fig & walnut, original, and grain-free – including low FODMAP varieties.

With a treasure trove of mouth-watering marinades and sauces, The Marinade Man turns ordinary meals into extraordinary feasts.

The Marinade Man

With a treasure trove of mouth-watering marinades and sauces, The Marinade Man turns ordinary meals into extraordinary feasts.

A scrumptious lineup of 26 unique marinade flavours and three speciality rubs elevates customers grilling game to new heights.

Owner Chris Papanikolaou started experimenting with flavours after two years of development and trail testing.

“What started off as a need to replace the marinade at our local chicken shop turned into a passion that I love doing,” Chris said.

The Marinade Man’s full range of flavours are locally made in Gippsland, something Chris finds important. All the flavours are gluten free, with vegan and vegetarian options available.

Growing up in Latrobe City and helping out with the family business in Manny’s Market, Chris discovered his passion for marinades while on the job.

“Experimenting with flavours and seeing people’s faces light up for the first time they’ve tried the marinades is something I find really rewarding.”

Chris sells to businesses wholesale as well to individual customers around the region.

“I hope to see many families siting across the table enjoying feats together. That’s my biggest aspiration for The Marinade Man.”

Paddy brings much of his experience to workshops and classes around Latrobe City, most notably the Arc in Yinnar.

Paddy McKenzie has vast experience in Blacksmith and various light and heavy metal work skills.

The experienced blacksmith runs his own business in Morwell.

Paddy brings much of his experience to workshops and classes around Latrobe City, most notably the Arc in Yinnar.

Paddy loves attending local markets and brings his creations along made of local steel. Paddy cleverly re purposes items such as utensils, farm machinery and other bits and pieces into works of art.

“I create items made of local steel and scrap metal and take them around to markets,” Paddy said.

“I always try and get around to local markets as much as I can!”

Husband and wife duo Reuben and Alysha made the country change to Boolarra a few years ago and started their own home-based business.

R&A Handcrafts are best known for their unique handcrafted chopping boards.

Sourcing local Australian wood, these chopping boards make a beautiful addition to any home.

Husband and wife duo Reuben and Alysha made the country change to Boolarra a few years ago and started their own home-based business.

“During lock down, Reuben and I started making chopping boards to keep busy and that’s how it all started,” Alysha said.

“We use a huge range of wood but our favourite would probably be Jarrah and Huon Pine from Tasmania,” Alysha said.

R&A Handcrafts has now expanded to creating a wide range of handmade crafts such as jewellery, pens and ornaments.

“We’ve now evolved to working with resin and macrame – we even tumble our own crystals!”

The community spirit is the best part of market days for the duo.

“It feels nice to be part of the community during market days and chatting with people – this is the spirit of local markets.”

Amber started Blooms on the Hill after being inspired by a Pinterest photo online full of buckets of dahlias.

Blooms on the Hill

Blooms on the Hill is a flower farm situated in the hills of Budgeree in Central Gippsland, 15 minutes east of Boolarra.

Specialising in dahlias with over 1800 plants, Blooms on the Hill also grow spring and summer annuals and perennials.

Fresh blooms are available to pick up on farm, from farmers markets and local delivery.

Amber, owner of Blooms on the Hill, has a degree in writing and photography, a Certificate II & Diploma in Agriculture, and also studied floristry at a floral art school.

“This is my third season doing Blooms on the Hill, which started in 2020,” Amber said.

Amber started Blooms on the Hill after being inspired by a Pinterest photo online full of buckets of dahlias.

“I then started growing my own dahlias on our farm, there were so many blooming that I just started making bouquets,” Amber said.

Blooms on the Hill also run workshops around cut flower gardening, growing, harvesting and arranging dahlias – workshops creating bouquets.

“We also offer days of when people can come visit the farm, let loose in the paddock, and cut as many flowers are they like!”

Growing up in Gippsland, Kylie started making her own wheat bags after being diagnosed with endometriosis.

Colourful and unique wheat bags is Kylie’s passion.

Growing up in Gippsland, Kylie started making her own wheat bags after being diagnosed with endometriosis. Making wheat bags helped ease her pain and so her business started in 2018.

Sourcing unique fabrics designs, Kylie creates fun designs with her sewing machine that are often Australian-themed as well as fun and cheerful patterns.  

Kylie is also a big believer in helping other fellow small businesses. “Being able to help people is just really lovely,” Kylie said. “It’s not something that I first thought about, but as it’s come along, and hearing stories from customers that their special wheat bags have made their day or brought small pockets of joy to lives.” 

This includes sourcing local wheat suppliers. 

Kylie said that what started initially as an ‘accidental hobby’ after changing career paths, helping people deal with all kind of pain has been truly humbling.  

“Five years ago, I could have never imagined how popular the wheat bags had become. I stock all over Australia, and although it’s a lot of work, it’s fun. I love finding unique fabrics and giving people a reason to smile though colourful patterns.” 

When asked about how her business started, Kylie said it took her by surprise how quickly the popularity soared. “Hearing stories from people that wheat bags have helped growing pains for kids, or older pets that have arthritis – hearing all those stories is really lovely.”  

“My greatest inspiration is being able to help people who are in pain, give some comfort and joy to people.”  

While juggling her growing family, business and market days, Kylie said her market days are also “me time.” 

“Markets are my me time, where I get to have one on one interaction and have something that I enjoy while working. It’s been an incredible journey so far.” 

Kate is a jewellery and textile designer who loves to create extravagantly colourful patterns on her versatile range of accessories – including tea towels, headscarves and earrings.

Kate Billingsley

Colourful jewellery for the joyful maximalist is Kate Billingsley’s signature style.

Kate is a jewellery and textile designer who loves to create extravagantly colourful patterns on her versatile range of accessories – including tea towels, headscarves and earrings.

After completing a Certificate IV in Design and Diploma in Surface Design, Kate wanted to venture into a creative business that would fuel her for art.

“When I came back from studying, I thought about whether I wanted to work for somebody or work for myself,” Kate said.

“Because I loved designing fabric, I thought about what else I could put patterns on.”

Kate was inspired to create big and bold earrings that were lightweight. Kate’s jewellery is created from lightweight polymer clay and acrylic, featuring hypoallergenic high grade 304 surgical steel posts.  

“This material is ideal for earrings because it’s really lightweight. I wanted to make earrings that are big but not heavy, which is how it all came about!”

“It was just when polymer clay was kicking off in Australia – you can use polymer clay in all kinds of different styles but a lot of people make slabs and make patterns on it,” Kate said. 

“Once you’ve finished creating the patterns, you put it in the oven and bakes. It then combines all together and becomes solid.” 

Kate said her biggest inspiration is her mother.

“My Mum is a big garden nut – she has the most beautiful garden and loves roses. She has over 500 types of roses in her garden.” 

Kate explained when the bushfires of 2009 came through, her mother rescued a whole bunch of roses bushes that were burnt to a stump and revived them. 

“There are always happy little critters in my mother’s garden, and I draw so much inspiration from those memories and nature all around me.”  

Kate also teaches workshops throughout the year – mostly at the arts space in Mirboo North, where she also volunteers.