Today we celebrate International Women's Day 2020. 

What better way to start the Fleurieu App’s Sunday Profile sessions introducing Carolyn Jeffrey. 

Carolyn was the well deserved recipient of the Inspirational Woman in Business for the Fleurieu on Friday - congratulations Carolyn!

Enjoy our Q & A session with this inspirational woman.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your link to the Fleurieu and/or Kangaroo Island:

I’m the founder and operator of CJ’s Business Solutions and the Women in Business Regional Network. I’ve been a resident of Victor Harbor for 24 years, moving to the area to run the local newspaper The Times which I did for 15 years. 

I’ve been involved in various community organisations in a volunteer capacity over the years including the South Coast Choral & Arts Society, Victor Harbor Hockey Club, Victor Harbor RSL and Business Victor Harbor (although it was Victor Harbor Business Association when I was formation secretary).

I recently had the honour of being named the Inspirational Businesswoman at the Fleurieu Community Awards to mark International Women’s Day and was presented with the Community Award by SA Woman Australia.

I’ve spent all but a handful of my years in regional Australia and have a passion for not only the regions, but to also help small business people – both men and women – to realise their potential and to cut their stress levels.

CAROLYN’S TOP TIPS

Best place to....

• Grab a quick bite… KFC if I’m running late between appointments and need to eat on the run (or the drive). 
• Have a more serious feed…I love the Boulevard Café on the Lake at Encounter Bay for lunch and find the dinners at the Grosvenor Hotel in Victor Harbor good value and well prepared.
• Get a cuppa…Again, the Boulevard Café on the Lake. 
• Have a beer (or cold drink)…The Grosvenor Hotel is good for this. The front bar has a friendly atmosphere. (Can you see I probably need to get out more?)
• Taste some wine (or just enjoy the winery atmosphere)...Magpie Springs Winery & Gallery at Hope Forest has a rustic, relaxed garden feel and the artwork by the owner Avril Thomas gives you a whole new perspective on portraiture. It’s a challenge to decide – photo or painting?
• Go for a dip…Don’t swim a lot, more a fisher. Love Cape Jervis jetty or the Causeway at Victor for fishing. Don’t mind a walk and a flick at Kings Beach at Waitpinga too.
• Explore nature…The Heysen Trail offers such an amazing outlook that you don’t notice you’re walking. I’m a bit of an Urimbirra Wildlife Park fan as I’m fascinated by animals. And, for the longer nature treks, it’s Kangaroo Island for me as it has everything, so let’s hope it does recover.

When I’m on the Fleurieu and/or KI, I…

• feel…at home. I travel a lot with the network and nothing beats coming through the roundabout at the top of Kleinigs Hill to see the vista of Granite Island and the Bluff to remind me why I live here!
• always make sure I visit… Urimbirra Wildlife Park if I just need some time out for a wander with nature in a relaxed environment.
• stock up on… Alexandrina Cheese. You can never have enough cheese (says every part of me except my hips!)

Weirdest thing that’s happened to me here: Deciding on a whim to run in the 2018 Mayoral election for the City of Victor Harbor … and ending up a relatively narrow runner-up in a field of five.

Best memory of being here: Meeting my partner of 22 years and going on our first date squid fishing at The Bluff.

Most colourful character I’ve run into: Ida Hanks of Encounter Bay. I had the chance to help Ida write and publish her memoirs of her first 100 years of life. An inspiring, talented and creative lady who continued to be a woman in business despite the fact that failing eyesight prevented her from carrying out her normal art and craft activities.

My best piece of advice for anyone heading to the region: The best parts of the region aren’t always in bricks and mortar. Anyone who says there’s nothing to do here just isn’t looking in the right places.

THE PLUG: 

Tell us about anything you’d like to plug/promote?

If you’re a woman in business in any regional area of South Australia the Women in Business Regional Network would love to hear from you. We hold regular physical networking and learning events in McLaren Vale, Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn, the Adelaide Hills, Murray Bridge, Yorke Peninsula, Port Pirie, Clare and the Riverland, as well as online events for those unable to make it to a physical venue. We’re all about offering support, promotion, education and networking opportunities for business owners, managers, staff and those dreaming of owning their own business.

Any links for further information/social media links for you?

Women in Business Regional Network website – https://wibnetwork.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wibregionalnetwork/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wibregionalnetwork/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenRegional

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/19082601/admin/

CJ’s Business Solutions website – https://cjsbusinesssolutions.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjsbusinesssolutions/

If you know of another inspirational / fascinating Fleurieu Peninsula / Kangaroo Island identity please drop us a line [email protected]