Remarkable Regional Business

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 40 (Part One)

Guest: William Abbott

Business Name: Mount William Station

Website: https://www.mountwilliamstation.com/

What happens when a century old family farm becomes the foundation for one of regional Victoria’s most distinctive luxury destination experiences?

In this episode of Remarkable Regional Business, host Caleb Maxwell sits down with William Abbott, the driving force behind Mount William Station. It is a boutique luxury hotel, dining experience, and events destination set on a historic working property in the Grampians. William shares the journey of transforming a multi generation family property into a sustainable and future focused business, while balancing heritage, succession planning, hospitality, and commercial reality. From communal dining and farm to table experiences to global inspiration and partnerships that help solve seasonality, this conversation is full of practical insights that translate far beyond tourism and hospitality.

Topics Covered

/ Turning a family succession challenge into a destination business

William unpacks how a long and complex succession process led to a bold idea. Create a boutique hotel and events business that could preserve heritage buildings, generate income, and help keep the farm in the family, without compromising the agricultural foundations of the property.

/ Designing a guest experience that feels like home

From greeting guests at the door rather than at a reception desk, to shared meals inspired by family dinners, William explains how Mount William Station intentionally recreates the warmth and generosity of a family home, not a traditional hotel.

/ Farm to table dining with no set menu

The Mount William dining experience has no menu. Instead, guests enjoy chef led seasonal meals sourced from the garden, farm, and local producers, with each dish explained during service. The result is a dining experience built around connection, conversation, and story.

/ Solving seasonality through strategic partnerships

Rather than accepting quiet winter months, William shares how partnerships, including a multi day horse riding experience, transformed low occupancy periods into some of the busiest months of the year.

/ Thinking globally while building regionally

William explains how studying world class destination experiences helped set the benchmark for Mount William Station. It lifted standards, sharpened vision, and informed long term strategy.

/ Marketing a high commitment premium experience

With a remote location and a premium price point, William discusses why emotive storytelling, clarity of offer, and strong partnerships matter more than simply paying for attention.

/ Building high standards through culture and induction

In a regional setting, Mount William Station focuses on warmth, kindness, and genuine country hospitality. William shares how staff induction, cultural buy in, and a strong sense of purpose help maintain quality.

This is Part One of the conversation with William Abbott.

Go to Part Two next to hear more of the story and what is coming next for Mount William Station.

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 39 (Part Two)

Guest: Lou Hopwood, Owner

Business Name: Lou Fit Personal Training

Website: https://www.loufitpersonaltraining.com.au/

Topics Covered:

/ Staying in the Game for 15+ Years

In an industry where most personal trainers last just 3–5 years, Louise shares what it has taken to build and maintain a thriving regional gym in Mansfield for more than 15 years – and why sustainability matters just as much as growth.

/ Avoiding Burnout When You Are the Business

Early mornings, late nights, family life and her own training – Louise breaks down how she manages it all. She talks about the role of recovery, sleep and having a support team around her (myo, massage, mentors) so she can keep showing up for her clients.

/ From “I Can Do Everything” to Zone of Genius

Louise explains how she shifted from trying to do everything herself – bookkeeping, marketing, cleaning and more – to focusing on her zone of genius: being in the room with clients. She shares how bringing in help has allowed her to better serve her community and scale sustainably.

/ Client Wins That Really Matter

From being able to hold a new grandchild for an hour to living independently at 81 and feeling less socially isolated, Louise reflects on the everyday wins that define success for her and why she cares more about real life outcomes than personal bests on a barbell.

/ Collaboration, Community and Reading People

Louise talks about collaboration over competition in regional towns, how partnerships strengthen community, and the skill of reading people – knowing when to push, when to pull back and how to create a genuinely safe space in the gym.

/ Lifelong Learning and What’s Next for Lou Fit

From business mentoring to dropping in on other trainers’ classes while on holidays, Louise explains why ongoing learning is non-negotiable. She also shares what’s next for Lou Fit as her kids grow and she continues to reshape the business to work for her life, not the other way around.

Connect with Louise: Train with Lou from anywhere via her live virtual and in-studio classes, and get a feel for the community on Instagram: @loufitpt

If you enjoy this episode, make sure you subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss upcoming episodes. And if you know a remarkable regional business with a story worth sharing, dob them in at: https://hebronfilms.com/podcast

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 39 (Part One)

Guest: Lou Hopwood, Owner

Business Name: Lou Fit Personal Training

Website: https://www.loufitpersonaltraining.com.au/

Topics Covered:

/ Building a Thriving PT Business in a Town of 12,000

How do you grow and sustain a successful personal training studio in a regional town at the base of Mt Buller? Louise shares the story of building Lou Fit Personal Training over 15 years in Mansfield, and what it really looks like behind the scenes.

/ Creating a Community-First Studio for Ages 10–83

Lou unpacks how she’s created a genuinely welcoming space for people aged 10 to 83 – from the “one-percenters” and small personal touches that make clients feel seen, to turning her gym into a true community hub rather than just a place to work out.

/ Pivoting to Virtual and Building a Hybrid Model When COVID hit

Lou pivoted overnight to virtual classes to keep her clients moving and connected. She explains how that shift not only kept the doors open but also evolved into a hybrid model that still serves her regional community today.

/ Designing Memberships for Real Regional Life

From uni students and “mature moves” clients to farmers juggling seasons and long hours, Lou shares the creative ways she packages memberships so people at different life stages can still access consistent training and support.

/ Consistency, Women’s Health and Competing Kindly

Lou talks about running women’s health events for eight years, why consistency matters so much in small towns, and how she chooses to “compete kindly” in a crowded local fitness market – believing there are “enough people for everyone” if you stay in your lane.

This is Part 1 of the conversation with Lou – jump into Part 2 next to hear more of her story and practical wisdom for regional business owners.

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 38 (Part Two) 

Guest: Paul Olsen, General Manager

Business Name: ISH24 Safety and Rescue

Website: www.ish24.com.au 

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/paul-olsen-bendigo 

Topics Covered:

/ Navigating Growth and Challenges in a Niche Market

Paul continues the conversation, sharing insights from leading ISH24 through a competitive and highly specialized safety and rescue industry.

/ Standing Out in a Competitive Industry

Paul highlights the breadth of ISH24’s services — from equipment sales and servicing to expert training — and explains how their integrated approach sets them apart in a crowded market.

/ Training for Community Safety

The discussion turns to the vital role of skilled first aiders on site. Paul shares how ISH24’s training programs, led by current and former paramedics, help businesses maintain safety and preparedness across industries.

/ Adapting and Thriving During COVID-19

Paul recounts the challenges of the pandemic and how ISH24 adapted strategically, supporting clients while navigating uncertainty. Their approach to recruitment and operational flexibility ensured continuity and growth.

/ Growth Through Adversity

Despite industry setbacks, ISH24 leveraged opportunities to expand, ultimately tripling their business and securing major new clients. Paul reflects on how resilience and strategy fuelled this remarkable growth.

/ People, Culture, and Regional Impact

The conversation wraps with insights into proactive recruitment, strong team communication and building a company culture that supports growth — demonstrating how a regional business can have national influence.

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 38 (Part One) 

Guest: Paul Olsen, General Manager

Business Name: ISH24 Safety and Rescue

Website: www.ish24.com.au

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/paul-olsen-bendigo

Topics Covered:

/ The Journey to 300 Employees

Paul Olsen shares his journey from stepping into a completely new industry to leading one of Bendigo’s fastest-growing businesses. Today, ISH 24 employs more than 300 people across Australia, delivering specialist safety and rescue services to high-risk industries.

/ Understanding Confined Space Management

Paul breaks down the complex world of confined space management – explaining the systems, training and teamwork required to keep people safe in some of the most hazardous environments.

/ A National Footprint and Award-Winning Growth

ISH24’s commitment to excellence has earned them both the Business of the Year 2025 and the National Global Footprint Award. Paul reflects on the recognition, the hard work behind it and what it means for a regional business making national impact.

/ Training, Consultancy, and Capability

As a Registered Training Organisation, ISH24 delivers industry-leading safety education and consultancy services. Paul shares how the company continues to build capability across mining, emergency response and essential services sectors.

/ Growth, People, and Purpose

From managing a growing national team to maintaining strong client relationships, Paul discusses the challenges and lessons of scaling a regional business with purpose and integrity.

References:

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 37 (Part Two) 

Guest: Bianca Tarrant, Co-Founder

Topics Covered:

Bianca shares how Our Cow grew by surrounding themselves with skilled mentors, industry experts, and a hand-picked leadership team—despite her and Dave's lack of formal business backgrounds. Their approach: hire people better than you and grow into your leadership role.

/ Leading with Culture and Self-Development

As the business scaled, Bianca and Dave learned the importance of personal growth and letting go of control. They focused on improving workplace culture, empowering staff, and showing up as the best versions of themselves.

/ The Power of Storytelling and Marketing Through Authenticity

Our Cow’s success was largely driven by grassroots, video-first storytelling on social media. Bianca discusses how transparency, daily farm life, and staying relatable helped build trust with a city-based customer base—and how they inspired other farmers to do the same.

/ Evolving Strategy While Staying Customer-Focused

Bianca details how their early desire to serve everyone led to strategic shifts: refining product range, raising prices, and attracting a customer base that values quality and ethics over price. Knowing their customer became key to sustainable growth.

/ Navigating Industry Perception and Carving a Niche

Initially met with skepticism, Our Cow earned the respect of the wider agriculture industry by proving their value as a complementary market—not competition. Bianca reflects on their position as industry advocates and change agents.

/ What’s Next for Our Cow

With national reach and processing in place, Our Cow is focusing on growing its subscriber base, staying true to its meat-first model, and exploring future retail and international expansion opportunities.

/ Women in Agriculture: Breaking Barriers

Bianca speaks candidly about being a young female leader in a male-dominated industry. She shares the challenges of gaining respect, the crucial role of female leaders in Our Cow’s success, and her mission to model inclusive leadership.

/ Lessons in Resilience, Delegation, and Asking Bold Questions

From staffing to scale, Bianca shares valuable takeaways—including how asking the right questions led to major breakthroughs (like nearly securing a $10M investor), and why letting go of operations enabled true leadership.

/ The Role of Team, Culture and Motivation

Bianca explains how a strong, unified team in Casino has powered their success. Through hiring for attitude, promoting from within, and building a culture of autonomy and trust, they’ve created an A-team that fuels growth and morale.

/ Introducing Their New Podcast: Paddock Talk

Bianca announces their new podcast aimed at telling more farmer stories and connecting even deeper with their community.

References:

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 37 (Part Two) 

Guest: Bianca Tarrant, Co-Founder

Topics Covered:

Bianca shares how Our Cow grew by surrounding themselves with skilled mentors, industry experts, and a hand-picked leadership team – despite her and Dave's lack of formal business backgrounds. Their approach: hire people better than you and grow into your leadership role.

/ Leading with Culture and Self-Development

As the business scaled, Bianca and Dave learned the importance of personal growth and letting go of control. They focused on improving workplace culture, empowering staff, and showing up as the best versions of themselves.

/ The Power of Storytelling and Marketing Through Authenticity

Our Cow’s success was largely driven by grassroots, video-first storytelling on social media. Bianca discusses how transparency, daily farm life, and staying relatable helped build trust with a city-based customer base – and how they inspired other farmers to do the same.

/ Evolving Strategy While Staying Customer-Focused

Bianca details how their early desire to serve everyone led to strategic shifts: refining product range, raising prices, and attracting a customer base that values quality and ethics over price. Knowing their customer became key to sustainable growth.

/ Navigating Industry Perception and Carving a Niche

Initially met with skepticism, Our Cow earned the respect of the wider agriculture industry by proving their value as a complementary market—not competition. Bianca reflects on their position as industry advocates and change agents.

/ What’s Next for Our Cow

With national reach and processing in place, Our Cow is focusing on growing its subscriber base, staying true to its meat-first model, and exploring future retail and international expansion opportunities.

/ Women in Agriculture: Breaking Barriers

Bianca speaks candidly about being a young female leader in a male-dominated industry. She shares the challenges of gaining respect, the crucial role of female leaders in Our Cow’s success, and her mission to model inclusive leadership.

/ Lessons in Resilience, Delegation, and Asking Bold Questions

From staffing to scale, Bianca shares valuable takeaways – including how asking the right questions led to major breakthroughs (like nearly securing a $10M investor), and why letting go of operations enabled true leadership.

/ The Role of Team, Culture and Motivation

Bianca explains how a strong, unified team in Casino has powered their success. Through hiring for attitude, promoting from within, and building a culture of autonomy and trust, they’ve created an A-team that fuels growth and morale.

/ Introducing Their New Podcast: Paddock Talk

Bianca announces their new podcast aimed at telling more farmer stories and connecting even deeper with their community.

References:

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 36

Topics Covered:

Scott and Sam McLarty share how Connecting Futures helps young neurodiverse people (ages 15–25) transition into meaningful employment. Drawing from their own lived experience, they explain how adapting the environment – not the individual – enables long-term success.

/ Building an Inclusive, Award-Winning Culture

The pair reflect on winning the Diverse and Inclusive Workplace category at the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards. Their focus on staff engagement, trust-building and shared purpose has created a team culture that empowers both workers and participants.

/ Expanding Through Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA)

Connecting Futures has been selected to deliver the Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) program across several regional areas including Bendigo, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Echuca, Shepparton and the Sunshine Coast. This expands their reach beyond NDIS to include people with a disability, injury, or health condition.

/ A Personal Mission Rooted in Lived Experience

As parents of neurodivergent children, Scott and Sam bring empathy and deep understanding to their work. They describe their journey from navigating the school system to creating a service that now supports over 70 young people each week through mentoring and team-based projects.

/ Transformational Participant Journeys

The episode features powerful success stories, including:

Henry, who went from struggling to secure interviews to becoming a permanent V/Line employee and purchasing his first home at 22.

Sammy, who built confidence, moved out of home, and started an IT career at Coliban Water after completing cybersecurity studies.

/ Partnering With Industry to Drive Inclusion

Scott and Sam outline how they collaborate with businesses to create neurodiverse-friendly workplaces. This includes training, sensory spaces and leveraging government funding to support onboarding and workplace adjustments.

/ Demystifying the NDIS System for Families

They discuss the complexity of the NDIS and the importance of empowering families and young people to understand and manage their own plans. Practical tools like the NDIS app and informed advocacy play a key role in increasing self-determination.

/ Sustainable Business With Purpose

From their early days as a one-person NDIS support service, Connecting Futures has grown through clear values, participant-first design and a deep commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in communities across Victoria and Queensland.

References:

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 35

Topics Covered:

/ Community-Centric Property Development

/ The Role of Regional Expansion

/ Urban Planning with a Human Lens

/ Affordability and Accessibility in Housing

/ Sustainability and Innovation in Development

/ Career Journey and Passion for Community Building

References:

Remarkable Regional Business – Episode 34

Topics Covered

/ What is Strategem? A 90-Year Legacy with a Modern Twist

/ The Dual Engine: Accounting and Investment Services

/ Flexible Work Models and 9-to-3 Shifts

/ Building Careers, Not Just Jobs

/ From Shoebox to Strategy: Evolution in Client Services

/ Bendigo to Collins Street: A Regional Business with City Reach

/ The Strategem Community Foundation: Giving Back with Impact

/ Leadership Lessons: Sustainable Performance and Calm Under Pressure

/ A Career Rooted in Business Families

References