Regional South Australia punches well above its weight when it comes to contributing to the prosperity of the State. With just over a quarter of the population, the regions are responsible for nearly half of the State’s exports and add $25.5 billion to the economy each year.
There are many great success stories behind this figure and a number of them were shared at the recent 2016 Regional Summit in Mount Gambier. The summit coincided with Entrepreneurs Week, with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Some of the regions’ most successful entrepreneurs shared their stories of what set them on their paths and helped them succeed. Inside South Australia recorded their presentations to inspire others.
Jon Lark – Kangaroo Island Spirits
Despite no business plan or gin making experience, Jon Lark decided to start a gin distillery. Amazingly, in just a few short years, Jon has gone on to produce award-winning gins. He and wife Sarah say their success comes from infusing the flavours of Kangaroo Island into their gin. KI has also benefitted as it now is a new tourist attraction.
Download/listen to Jon Lark’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Ben Hood – George the Farmer
Limestone Coast creative consultancy Hello Friday faced tough times during the GFC. It looked for new revenue streams before deciding to focus on educational apps. The app, George the Farmer, which shares the story of farming, was only born when Hello Friday learned 75 per cent of Year 6 Australian school children believed cotton grew on animals and 27 per cent thinking yoghurt grew on trees.
Download/listen to Ben Hood’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Bill Butterfield – Butterfields Farm Direct Horse and Stock Feed
Bill Butterfield was looking for ways to even out the income flow of his grain farm on Eyre Peninsula. Rain, price fluctuations and pests meant each year was a different result. A chance discussion led to him working with a local milling company to produce high quality feed pellets from his grain. Within a year he had sold 1,000 tonnes of pellets. Bill has since gone on to buy the mill and is now looking to build a second.
Download/listen to Bill Butterfield’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Sally Hood – Hoods Earth Eggs
Sally Hood was petrified of chickens, which seems an unlikely start for a person who now makes a living from them. After a career of raising calves, Sally was burnt out by the 24/7, 365 day commitment. So, Sally and her husband Bill left it all behind and hit the road for a long trip around Australia. It wasn’t until she reached Townsville when a lousy serve of eggs started her on a new career path.
Download/listen to Sally Hood’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Malcolm May – Balco Australia
A business that now has a $100 million dollar turnover was started from a simple question: ‘Who wants to start a business?’ Malcolm May posed the question at a Balaklava Economic Development Board meeting in the 80s. The board was trying, without success, to attract businesses to their shrinking town. Those who stuck up their hands decided transforming the town’s economic outlook was up to them.
Download/listen to Malcolm May’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Robbie Davis – Potatoes South Australia
Each year in Australia, $20 billion dollars of food is wasted pre and post farm gate. South Australian Rural Woman of the Year, Robbie Davies, is on a mission to change that and she’s starting with potatoes – the third biggest agricultural commodity in the world. Robbie is collaborating with the University of Adelaide and South Australian Research and Development Institute to reduce waste, develop new value-added products and transforming the industry along the way.
Download/listen to Robbie Davis’ speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube
Nick Hutchinson – Fleurieu Milk Company
Faced with tough times in the dairy sector, two farming families knew they couldn’t overcome the odds by themselves. While chatting on holiday, they began to brainstorm some possible solutions. Soon they were sharing costs and combining resources to attract capital to produce their own milk. They soon called upon their family, friends and business contacts to help sell the first of their bottles of milk. Fast forward 10 years later and the Fleurieu Milk Company is a success story in what some would call a difficult industry.
Download/listen to Nick Hutchinson’s speech at the 2016 Regional Summit via SoundCloud
Watch via YouTube