International Women’s Day 2025 has the theme of ‘accelerating action’. This considers data from the World Economic Forum which suggests true gender equilibrium is over 130 years away.
The Canungra Times has featured several local business women in recognition of the integral part women play in the town’s economic and social identity.
Working mums in action: Sam and Noela at Trilogy Accounting
Samantha (Sam) Newsham and Noela Lee have been business partners, company directors and CPA accountants at Trilogy Accounting since 2011.
Both Sam and Noela have gone through the trials of being working mums, and in an office full of women, find that working mums are the best staff members.
“It’s a big juggle when you’re trying to work full-time and have children,” says Sam.
“I still wanted to be the soccer mum and be at sports days.”
Working for herself offered Sam the flexibility to be able to work around her obligations as a mother, even though she would often find herself reviewing client work while watching the kids play sport.
When Noela’s children were young, she worked for her husband and stepped away from public practice to work from home.
Noela believes that in today’s fast-moving world it would be more difficult for mothers to take a break from their career.
“You’d need to stay in contact with work because you’d virtually be starting all over again due to changes in regulations, competition and professional development,” she says.
“I really think you would need to stay in your career to progress in the current environment we live in.”
Embracing opportunities: Nambok Intharangsy
Nambok Intharangsy balances the roles of chief operating officer at Aquis Farm, business owner of Clandulla Cottages and Canungra community volunteer.
Nambok progressed through Aquis Farm from administration to Chief Operating Officer by taking opportunities whenever offered.
“My advice from my experience would be don’t say no to opportunities,” she says.
“Give it a go and then figure out whether it will work for you or not. Sometimes you work that out very quickly.”
There have been moments she says where her input was not as considered due to her gender and multicultural background.
“You become very calculated and thoughtful about what you do and say,” she says.
“It doesn’t stop me from doing or saying whatever I want to, it means I have to be more thoughtful about how I execute it.”
Nambok was President of the Chamber of Commerce for two years. To say she is involved in the Canungra community is an understatement.
“It was some very busy times, but the positive outcomes and the change that you can bring was always a reason to strive to do more,” she says.
“I think it’s important for women in the Canungra area to realise that there is a great community of women, we should find ways of connecting with each other.”
Women in arms: Anna Day
A relatively new addition to Canungra is Anna Day, owner and operator of Wildewood Tattoo Studio, who has had nothing but pleasant experiences with the local business world.
“When I moved here I noticed that many local businesses were owned by women,” she said.
“It’s a very strong representation of really healthy and diverse women-run business ownership.”
Anna didn’t have any concerns about opening her tattoo studio as a woman.
“I didn’t think that we were still in a time where male or female tattoo studio image is an issue,” she says.
“I’m really pleased with the evolution that has occurred in my industry.”
“It’s less of a force in our culture now.”
Anna’s business brings in clientele all the way from Perth who rave about how great Canungra is.
“My clients go next door to get a coffee, they come back and love the interaction they had.”
When asked if she had any ideas of what Canungra businesswomen can do to support each other, Anna responded:
“Just keep doing what we are doing”
“I’ve had nothing but pleasant experiences, there’s nothing I could say that we need more of.”
“It’s really empowering.”
Paving the way: Erin Quinlan
After four years in the turf industry, Erin Quinlan was asked to speak at a function about her time working as a woman in what used to be a male dominated industry.
Fourteen years later, Erin is the general manager at Australian Lawn Concepts.
“It was a big honour to be invited to speak in front of Turf Queensland to speak on my experiences as a manager and a woman in the turf industry,” says Erin.
Key notes of Erin’s speech highlighted that women offer different skill sets than men in the workplace, including a strong attention to detail and methodical mindset.
When asked what advice she would offer to young women venturing into the business world, Erin strongly suggested taking opportunities whenever offered.
“Don’t be afraid to ask to learn more,” she said.
She said wanting to broaden her experience was how she got to the position she is in today.
Although Erin’s journey hasn’t been totally smooth sailing.
“We get customers who assume I couldn’t know more than I do; they demand to speak to a male director. Fortunately, my immediate boss John (Keleher) is good at backing me,” she says.
“We also have lots of female staff out on the farm on tractors.”
Importance of support: Nora Jones
Nora Jones, owner of the Shoe Vault and Louie and Oopsie, has run her own businesses for nearly 40 years.
Throughout her working life, Nora has seen positive changes for working women.
“I think that women in business are accepted a lot better these days than they were 40 years ago,” she says.
Support and love are Nora’s secret to success.
“It doesn’t matter what job you’re doing if you’re a woman in business, just embrace it and love it and do it well, that’s how you succeed in business.”
“I love Canungra because the ladies that are in business in this town are very, very supportive of each other.”
“It’s wonderful.”
Knowing that her mother would be proud of how far she has come has been Nora’s greatest reward.
“I’d like to say that I’ve made my mother proud. She never got to see it,” she says.
“I owe everything I am today to her.”
