A local real estate agency raked in the rewards at a national level last week, bringing home Agency of the Year for Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, and Proserpine.

Taylor’s Property Specialists were recognized for their exceptional service at the 2023 RateMyAgent Awards for both buying and selling within the region.

RateMyAgent collates sales-per-suburb Australia-wide before factoring in testimonials for its prestigious national awards.

Principal of Taylor’s Property Specialists Rob Taylor said this was the first time they had received the award for Proserpine but the second year running in Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, and Jubilee Pocket.

“We’re not the biggest company out there which makes us proud to receive these awards again,” Mr Taylor said.

“But it’s not about us, it’s about our customers; if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be here. I can’t thank them enough for the recognition of our team’s work.”

One of Taylor’s agents received major recognition as well: Sales Agent Melinda Butcher became a three-time winner for Agent of the Year in Airlie Beach - winning in 2018, 2022, and now 2023 - and a further back-to-back Agent of the Year for Cannonvale, winning in both 2022 and 2023.

In the past twelve months, the award-winning agent sold 66 properties for a total of $32.4 million in sales, all while maintaining her impeccable five-star review rating.

Ms Butcher was grateful to those she had helped purchase or sell their homes.

“I’m very humbled to have won these awards for a second time, and I am so excited to continue leading the people of the Whitsundays through the best real estate journeys possible,” Ms Butcher said.

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Taylor’s Property Specialists won Agency of the Year for Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, and Proserpine as well as Agent of the Year for Cannonvale and Airlie Beach at the recent RateMyAgent 2023 awards

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As we celebrate International Women's Day in 2023, we are reminded of the importance of embracing equity and the impact it can have on creating a more just and equal world.

The theme of this year's celebration is "Embrace Equity", a call to action for individuals to recognise and address the inequalities that women continue to face, particularly those from marginalised communities.

While progress has been made in recent years towards gender equality, it is essential to acknowledge that there is still a long way to go.

Women from marginalised communities continue to face discrimination and bias in multiple areas of life, such as education, employment, healthcare, and politics.

As we reflect on the achievements of women in our own community, we must also recognise and honour those whose contributions have often been overlooked or ignored.

It is only by embracing equity that we can ensure that every woman has an equal opportunity to thrive.

This International Women's Day, let us work towards creating a world where every woman has equal access to opportunities and resources.

Let us acknowledge and honour the contributions of women from all walks of life and commit to taking action to address the inequalities that still exist.

By working together towards equity, we can create a future where every woman can achieve her full potential and live a life free from discrimination and inequality.

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Jess Hope, Sarah Watson, Elmarie van der Westhuizen, Misty Bland, Nicole Polley, Kath Barker, Tegan Faust, Beth Walters, Jen Walters and Erin Flemming. Photo credit: Norina Jane

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Member for Whitsunday‍

With one of the most recognisable faces in the Whitsundays, our local state member is seen regularly attending events, handing out awards, supporting charity BBQs, manning community stalls and cheering-on sporting teams.

At the forefront of local issues, she is also on the pulse and committed to advocating for our region when she travels down to Parliament House in Brisbane.

Raised in Proserpine, Amanda grew up near the O’Connell River and lived in the Pioneer Valley for much of her teenage years.

Throughout her childhood, she would spend all school holidays visiting family between Proserpine and Midge Point.

She now lives in the Northern Beaches of Mackay, which is the southernmost point of her electorate.

Amanda’s career has been both diverse and varied, from positions in the travel industry to securing charity partnerships with major mining companies.  

She began her career in the sugar industry, transitioning from sugar chemist to farmer and then moved into social and economic development and Local Government, where she served as Mackay’s Deputy Mayor.

“This provided great experience for my current role as Member for Whitsunday with various Shadow Minister responsibilities,” she said.

“No two days are the same in my role as the local member but by far the most enjoyable part is being able to connect with people across the community and help make a positive impact.”

In her own time, Amanda enjoys being with her family, hiking national park trails, doing yoga and has recently taken up playing golf.

She also loves catching up with friends from all over the country, usually over facetime with a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Despite her incredible achievements, Amanda says that her biggest success in life is watching her three children become young adults.

Describe your personality in three words:

Energetic, compassionate, hard-working

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Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council

Bringing with her a wealth of knowledge from 16 years running her own business in the private sector, Julie is both a talented entrepreneur and published author who created an internationally recognised personal development profiling system.

These incredible credentials form the foundations of her role as Mayor of the Whitsundays and since August last year she has poured energy, enthusiasm and countless hours of dedication into the position.

Originally from Glenelg, South Australia, Julie moved to rural SA with her family when she was nine years old. Her childhood cultivated a love for regional living and after residing in the hustle and bustle of the Gold Coast for 16 years, she found her paradise in Bowen.

Julie has three grown children and four grandchildren and says they are the best thing that ever happened to her.

On the rare occasion she doesn’t have community commitments on weekends, she enjoys fishing, camping and sailing.

During her life, Julie has held many positions in male dominated fields and during this time she has witnessed firsthand where the renumeration for women in the same role is not always equal, especially in the sales and management roles.

“If you do the same work and the same hours, you should not be discriminated against because of your gender,” she said.

“Life continues to be a challenge for women in the workplace, but I am elated to stay that Council is playing its part in women’s equality.

“Our renumeration packages are equal wages for both men and women in the same role and our indoor and outdoor workforces combined workforce is 60 pe cent Male and 40 per cent female.

“I’ll admit we still have room to do better but it is exciting Council is headed in the right direction.”

Describe your personality in three words:

Workaholic, loyal, fun

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Owner of Core Publishing

Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper

Making waves in the publishing world, Bec’s career has skyrocketed even further into success in the past three years with the introduction of Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper.

Bec started her first magazine when she was just 21 years old and recalls being a young girl with a big dream – a dream that paid off with dedication, perseverance and of course the entrepreneurial grit which has seen her launch several highly regarded publications.

Initially, Bec produced City Life Magazine, a lifestyle publication that began in Cairns and expanded to Townsville and the Whitsundays.

At the time she sold City Life to APN Australian Regional Newspaper, her son, Kaylem was just six months old so she decided to use some of the non-compete period to stay at home with her son and start a completely different business in signage.

Kaylem was 5, when she started making plans to start Core Life Magazine and, by coincidence, APN closed their failed attempt at running City Life the same week as she launched – eliminating her competition.

This was almost 12 years ago, and Core Life has been a cornerstone of the local business community ever since.

Eight years ago, Bec launched Tripping Magazine, a successful travel and leisure publication.  

Then, almost three years ago when News Corp shut down 14 regional newspapers, she launched Mackay and Whitsunday Life Newspaper to give the community back their voice in print.

Bec lives with her husband of 15 years, Paul (Douthy) and her now-17-year-old-son who has just got his P-plates.

In her spare time, she loves renovating the house with her husband, working out at the gym or taking their three dogs for long walks at Conway Beach.

Describe your personality in three words:

Friendly, Ambitious, and Loyal

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Manager/Director and Owner/Director of Cartridge Universe Whitsunday

When Cartridge Universe Whitsunday owner Jen Walters says her business is family-owned and operated, she means it.

Alongside her daughter, Beth, Jen is the face of the printer and printing supply store in Cannonvale, working in the ever-changing industry for over a decade.

Moving to the region 18 years ago from Goulburn in New South Wales, Jen was later followed by Beth in 2015. Bringing their families to the Whitsundays, they now enjoy the lifestyle and work alongside each other as a mother-daughter team.

With assorted backgrounds in various administrative positions in legal and accounting for Jen and a Fine Arts Diploma and Certificate in Visual Arts from TAFE for Beth, the pair have an array of expertise – including Beth's Bachelor's Degree in Professional Writing and Publishing.

While studying, Beth raised her daughters intending to set a great example for them.

“I believe women can do anything and I have always taught my daughters that,” Beth said.

“I have always encouraged them to follow their interests and have goals.”

For the pair, they have seen their share of challenges as a small business, but Jen said the combined cerebral and physical aspects of working in the ever-changing printing industry made it all worth it – as well as working with her daughter, who has been an enormous help in some trying times.

“I recently “kicked cancer’s butt” when I underwent 28 radiation treatments and two rounds of chemotherapy,” Jen said.

“I was fortunate enough to have my daughter Beth step up and to leave the business confidently in her hands while I have been focused on my health.”

Together, they made the enormous decision to withdraw from a franchise in 2021 and became an independent small business, opening their doors as “Cartridge Universe Whitsunday”.

Describe your personality in three words, Jen

Fearless, Determined and Loving.

Describe your personality in three words, Beth

Peace-loving Libran!

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Assistant Principal Primary at Whitsunday Christian College

What is the passion of any great educator? To teach and to see your students flourish --that is “the most rewarding job in the world” and Elmarie van der Westhuizen has been living it for more than four decades.

The Assistant Principal of Whitsunday Christian College’s Primary School has been an educator all her life, moving from South Africa to Australia to pursue the career which is “in her veins.”

“Both my husband and my parents were involved in Education,” Elmarie said.

“My husband, Frans, is a teacher and we have two beautiful daughters, Twane’ and Elmie, who are both in Education, too. I love what I am doing with my life – to Educate the youth of Australia.”

Elmarie has spent the last 23 years living in Cannon Valley, with 20 of those at Whitsunday Christian College in various roles and responsibilities: as a Prep teacher, in the school’s management team, and now as Assistant Principal Primary.

Education has provided her with unlimited fulfillment, allowing her to guide the next generation, as well as an appetite for what’s new in the teaching sphere.

“I am always keeping up to date with the latest developments in Education,” she said.

And like every Whitsunday resident, she enjoys the lifestyle it has provided when she steps away from her passion on the weekends.

“The best thing that’s ever happened to me is moving to Australia with my family,” Elmarie said.

“When I am home, I spend my time with my husband in the garden or going out for a lovely lunch at one of our beautiful restaurants in Airlie Beach. We also enjoy spending time on the water in our boat, fishing and appreciating the beautiful region.”

Describe your personality in three words

Dedicated, committed (hardworking) and patient

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Owner/Director Lohst (Luxe On-site Hair Stylist)

With an adventurous spirit and a creative mind, Erin recently embarked on a new business idea that led her to relocate to the Whitsundays 12 months ago.

For years she had been dreaming about uniting her two passions – travel and hair-dressing – and when her sister decided to have a destination wedding in Airlie Beach it got her thinking.

“I realised how I’m going to do it!” she said.

“Travel to beautiful places and do hair for destination weddings - now here I am, in a beautiful spot, doing exactly that.”

Originally from Toowoomba, Erin has experienced a range of diverse jobs, from the gym to medical receptionist to working in a bar in Canada.

With a passion for connecting with people and a strong creative flair, however, she was soon drawn to the hair industry and was quick to flourish and progress.

Winning multiple awards in various competitions, Erin earnt a spot at the National Workskills Competition, placing 8th in Australia.

After this, she managed a salon for a short time and then opened a small boutique salon in Toowoomba which she ran for three years.

“It was this experience that gave me the confidence to push myself further that has ultimately led me to where I am today,” she explains.

“I can now say that I have successfully made it through my first wedding season and am looking forward to what the future holds for me.”

Erin enjoys travelling and spent several months living in Canada and taking adventures all over America, Mexico and Cuba.

Back in Australia, she loves the outdoors, mountain bike riding and going to parkrun on Saturdays.

She also enjoys having coffee with friends, exploring new places and being creative.

Describe your personality in three words:

Bright, bubbly and adventurous

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Licenced Real Estate Agent and Auctioneer from Polley's Realty‍

Returning to the region she loves a year ago, Kath and her husband, Dan, have settled down in Cannonvale and it feels fabulous to be home.

It was 1980 when her beloved father moved to Airlie Beach and Kath has many happy memories living with him over the years.

During this time, her father owned a local private charter yacht and Kath worked as a crew member and cook.

It was during this time that she fell in love with the Whitsundays and has always remembered those days fondly.

Tragically, her father passed away some years ago, but Kath says that returning to the area to live with her own family has made her feel closer to him.

Originally from Sydney, Kath has spent the last 18 years operating a construction business alongside her husband.

Deciding to pursue a new direction but drawing on her experience in the housing and building sector, Kath decided to embark on a career in real estate on the Gold Coast 2019.

Recently, when she moved to the Whitsundays, she became happily employed at Polley’s  Realty where she is a Licenced Real Estate Agent and also the resident auctioneer.

Kath has two adult sons called Alex and Daniel, a grandson named Oak, and daughter-in-laws Kat and Keele.

She also has two Russian Blue Cats Tilly and Paul, a Cavoodle named Bailey and a best friend called Sharon.

One of her lifelong favourite memories has been visiting Borneo three times where she met Dr Birute Galdikas and was able to interact with Orangutans in the wild.

Back on Australian soil, Kath loves spending her weekends boating, swimming, snorkelling and enjoying time with family and friends.

Describe your personality in three words:

Caring, effervescent, dynamic

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Digital Marketing and Design Manager from Polley’s Realty‍

With a head for business and a heart for animals, Misty Bland balances the demands of her dynamic career by spending time on her property caring for her cattle dogs, ducks and chickens.

A registered cattle dog breeder, Misty also runs a herd of Droughtmaster cattle who all have names, and she finds that she is often as busy at home on the farm as she is at work.

Loving being around people almost as much as she loves being around animals, Misty has enjoyed an expansive career that has spanned many different industries, all of which have a common thread – caring for people and their happiness.

From beauty therapy and remedial massage to managing the public relations and events portfolio for a dairy company down south.

Most recently, Misty is heading up the digital marketing and design aspect of Polley’s Realty whilst studying for a postgraduate in Digital Communications with QUT.

Originally from South Africa, Misty immigrated to Australia with her family in 2009. She met her husband, Rob, when they were Year 12 dance partners and the couple have now been together for 24 years. They have two adult children, Edward and Kimberly.

One of Misty’s most cherished life moments is falling in love with the idyllic Whitsundays and the spectacular locals, who have adopted them as their family.  

But life has not always been clear sailing, in fact, Misty has written a book about her life and the rare cancer journey they've faced, which she hopes to one-day self-publish.  

She founded a cancer charity in 2015 and had the support of several Australian celebrities in producing a vintage inspired calendar. She is also the Australian Ambassador for the Chordoma Foundation based in America.

These days, you can find Misty spending her weekends on the farm where she is renovating her home, gardening, cooking and spending time with the family.

Describe your personality in three words:

Caring, determined and innovative

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Director of Polleys Realty‍

Falling in love with the Whitsundays on her wedding day, Nicole married the love of her life at Coral Sea Resort and the couple honey-mooned at Hydeaway Bay.

It was here that they spotted the house of their dreams, and they made an offer, securing the property as their home the very next day.

Nicole has been working in the real estate industry since she was 15 years old and quickly rose through the ranks, from front desk to director.

At the age of 20 she was honoured to give a speech at a national real estate conference.

It was in 2018 that Nicole opened the doors to her own real estate agency in Brisbane and she now employs six staff.

When her family relocated to the Whitsundays two years ago, she expanded her agency, opening a second location, with an office in Airlie Beach opening its doors last year.

Nicole has two sons with her husband of 18 years and the family has two dogs, a mini dachshund called Porshe and Heidi, a multi pom.

When she is not selling houses around the region, Nicole can be found enjoying the outdoors, fishing and swimming or with her kids on the footy field watching them play.

Since moving to the Whitsundays, Nicole has mastered a new and unique approach to local realty which has proved both successful and popular with clients at all stages of life.

Her central office is located above the NAB bank, on the main street in Airlie Beach and has a modern, boutique feel where customers can relax, unwind and feel both spoilt and inspired.

Dedicated to putting her clients first and matching people with the lifestyle of their dreams, Nicole is a living example of how to create a successful Whitsunday life.

Describe your personality in three words:

Bubbly, headstrong and driven

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Owner of Women’s Well Co.

With a mission to give all women the opportunity to exercise in a safe and supportive environment, Tegan opened the doors to Women’s Well Co. almost two years ago and in a short time the business has grown to employ six instructors.

The studio, located in Proserpine, offers a range of fitness activities such as Pilates, Barre, Yoga and Boxing and is a family-friendly facility where children of all ages are welcome.

“What makes us stand out is our sense of supportive community and that we are women empowering other women of all ages to be the best version of themselves,” said Tegan.

“Our youngest member is six years old and our most experienced is 87 years old!”

Originally from a small country town called Condamine in Southwest Queensland, Tegan brought “another Faust back to Proserpine” when she married a local and they decided to settle in the Whitsundays three and a half years ago.

The couple now have three daughters and they live on a little property with cattle, horses, chooks, dogs and a cat.

Tegan has been in the fitness industry for 20 years and studied a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.

She also has a Diploma in Remedial Massage Therapy and an array of Fitness, Pilates and Barre courses.

Before becoming a mother, she competed as a Professional Figure competitor and won several state and national titles including The Natural Olympia in the USA and a particular highlight was winning the World Title in Greece.

“I have trained my body to extreme levels, but nothing has challenged me more than juggling three daughters with big personalities, a business and a husband who works away!”

Describe your personality in three words:

Driven, Caring and Daggy

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Owner, Manager and Audiometrist at Whitsunday Hearing

Opening up a whole new world of freedom and confidence for her clients, Sarah uses her skills as an Audiometrist to evaluate hearing and then prescribe the best solution for the individual. Often, this can transform lives.

Originally from Geelong in Victoria, Sarah spent some time travelling after school and enjoyed 12 months living in the UK.

After returning to Australia and exploring a few career options, she decided to start her training as an Audiometrist in Geelong and qualified in 2005.

She then moved to Brisbane in 2006 and gained invaluable experience working for several hearing organisations and in 2014 she took a leap of faith, opening the doors to her own hearing business in Brisbane.

It was almost five years ago that Sarah made the move to the Whitsundays with her family when she bought Whitsunday Hearing.

In July 2021 she opened a new purpose-built clinic at the 121 Business Centre in Cannonvale.

Sarah has one adult child and two grandchildren, plus twin teenage boys with her husband Stephen.

She also has a five-year-old Labradoodle named Blaze.

In her spare time, she loves the outdoors, especially running or walking.

With two young boys in high school, the family’s weekends are often full of children’s sport and trips to Mackay.

In her own time, Sarah likes to pick up a good book to read.

Some of her greatest achievements in life include being the first paid employee for parkrun in Australia, the birth of her three children and of course meeting her husband and moving to sunny Queensland.

“Certainly, my biggest personal challenge is running my hearing business and the family at the same time, as well as looking after myself. It’s challenging but rewarding!” she said.

Describe your personality in three words:

Happy, determined, and friendly

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Office Manager/Co-Owner at Lightning Comms Pty Ltd.

The great challenge of Sarah Watson’s life has been building her business from the ground up – but it has also been one of its greatest rewards.

The co-owner of Lightning Comms Whitsundays endeavoured on a varied career path before settling down and starting her own business in the region. She took what was at the time a road less travelled for women, completing her Automotive Engineering certifications in her homeland of New Zealand.

“When I left school, I successfully finished my studies and work experience intending on a career as a mechanic,” Sarah said.

“It was difficult to obtain an apprenticeship in what was a male-dominated industry -- that was a real character-building experience. It was then I decided to move away from it.”

She met her husband in Australia, and Sarah soon went into hospitality, spending two years in the industry in the United Kingdom running a successful cafe in London. When the pair moved back to Australia, it was to the Gold Coast, where Sarah managed holiday resorts before moving to the Whitsundays.

“Once here, I worked for a local five-star Resort on the front reservations desk full time,” Sarah said.

“That all became part-time once we started our family, and then the business which I’ve been working in for the last few years. We specialize in Information and Communications Technology and Security - it is our expertise and is such a great, evolving industry.”

Sarah’s role is “all things behind the scenes,” including invoicing, marketing, quoting, scheduling, parts ordering, and more.

Alongside starting the business, Sarah said starting her family is one of the best things that ever happened to her, with the couple now raising their three kids: Ruby, Xavier, and Willow.

Describe your personality in three words

Focused, loyal, compassionate

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Owner of Protect and Sanitise

Bringing a shine to any grime, Jess discovered an unexpected passion for cleaning when she and her husband, Mike, bought Protect and Sanitise nine years ago.

From carpet and upholstery to tile, grout and air conditioner cleaning, their business offers a multitude of services to households and businesses in Airlie Beach, Proserpine Bowen and Hamilton Island.

Jess has a Diploma in Tourism and Business and spent many years working in the sector, but a growing demand within their own business saw her slowly transition over.

Two years ago, she committed full-time and loves being the friendly person who answers the phones and responds to the emails at Protect and Sanitise.

Three days a week, she also takes a van out herself to help the team cleaning carpets and couches.

Always a hands-on business owner, Jess gets immense satisfaction out of her work and loves the rewarding results of cleaning, aiming always to exceed customer expectations.

With an Australian mother and a New Zealander father, Jess spent her childhood living across both countries.

She was born in New Zealand and went to primary school in Charters Towers before moving back to New Zealand for high school, where she met Mike at 17.

The couple decided to move to Australia and travelled Queensland for several years, fruit picking.

When they stopped in Airlie Beach 17 years ago, they both loved the area so much that they decided to stay.

They now gave two sons, aged 11 and nine, and the family spend the weekends watching the boys play cricket.

Jess is the Treasurer of the Proserpine Junior Cricket Association and Mike is the Vice-President.  

In her downtime, Jess enjoys camping, gardening, reading and taking her dog Milo to Conway Beach.

Describe your personality in three words

Positive, hard-working and caring

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