Janet Bond from Wattle Road on the rejuvenation of people, lives and communities coming from the increase in moves to regional Australia

@JanetBond   is the cofounder of @WattleRoad  which, based on this trend of people #movingtotheregions, was launched to guide to people considering this #lifechange, this #lifestylechange, and inspire them by talking to people who'd already done it. Through those stories, we hope that  people will know  what not to do, and what not to do.  The website is focussed on #regionalbusinesses #regionalproperty #regionalliving.

It's best summarised as follows "it's as much about dreams and new beginnings, as it is about finding a house that you will love and a great school for your kids".

Prior to that, she had an extensive career in business and commercial journalism, in both regional and capital cities for companies including #newscorp. Common in the publications was advocating for a city or town, helping to be really proactive about making sure it was a great place to live. 

But in 2019 she left the corporate world to start @WattleRoad after a chance discussion with a close friend who had recently moved to #Japarat - where #RobertMenzies was born. Her friend had escaped lockdown and unexpectedly discovered the real meaning of community;

• going down to the local post office and being known by her name
• eating at the local pub and meeting people

In our wide-ranging discussion we cover;

• why it's no longer people escaping the city but more being attracted by what is on offer in the #regions
• the trends that are showing a return to those days where small towns and towns had their #localbaker, their #localfishmonger, their #localbutcher, their #localbrewer
• #housingaffordability and #livability
• how property prices in #regionalaustralia for the first time in 15 years have outperformed capital city prices
• realising that there's a story that wasn't being told about the regions and immersing themselves in it
• loving what we do
• making better decisions on #treechange #seachange
• how people in regional towns have got the time to talk, and why they really love talking about where they live
• how it's very easy to make connections in regional towns (far more than it was for her in Melbourne and in Sydney)
• when new in town reaching out to people and asking other newbies where they came from, and chat about what their journey was like
• some of the #casestudies

1. a woman who's moved from Melbourne to Apollo Bay and set up his psychology practice, she took her family, and young teenagers to #ApolloBay from #Brighton
2. a #physiotherapist who had a very big practice and was able to exit #Sydney
3. the #Accountant from the #NorthShore, who got out of Sydney, sold his home he bought the local #cobbler - he went #backtoschool  to learn how to repair shoes
4. So then she found herself in the middle of the fires in terrible push ties summer that we had. And she realized that while that was something she hadn't contemplated living in a place of risk, she found firsthand how that community pulled together.

• why the rejuvenation of the regions is actually much but its much about the rejuvenation of people and rejuvenation of our lives and living in a way that perhaps we've always dreamed of
• the key things to do to make making sure it is the right decision
• the value of the local #ChamberofCommerce
• some of the #ABS #netmigration numbers
• the @wattleroad approach of;

1. exploring first, spending time (weekends away) to see if you think might be a good fit
2. looking at property
3. looking at jobs (and how it's a suprise to most people when they hear that there are 66,000 job vacancies in regional Australia at the moment - July 2021)

• why sometimes people may need to consider starting or acquiring a business
• how the region's do so well in promoting the local produce and the opportunities this is creating;

1. #craftbreweries - why two-thirds are in the regions and how they convert many of old pubs on the market e.g. #smeaton

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-smeaton-135538834

• how  #rejuvenatedpubs #brewpubs can be part of the community, the #localmeetingplace, and also put the place on the map
• #forrestbrewery is a great example of that
• great country pubs, pasties, vanilla slice
• #awardedbakeries around the country and #australiasgreatestpies
• with a heightened awareness of where our #foodproducts come from how the regions are owning #localproduce
• @thevillageco - based in #regional #NewSouthWales and putting some pretty #tech into #supplychains to #Keepthemoneyinthevillage
• wanting a different life, wanting to be more connected
• why #transport #majortrainline is such a really big factor when you're choosing a place to live
• #camperdown - one of the most beautiful #historicstreetscapes in Victoria 
• #remote work
• #bandwidth for communication  #NBN
• the importance of getting #infrastructure right and why it will follow the #growth
• the #vicgov putting departments in regional towns to #createjobs

www.kerrcapital.com.au

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Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.

michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.au

www.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au