Welcome to a woman who lives by the quote on her business page. "There is a place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.Seek that."

Moving to the beautiful seaside township of Goolwa during the year and already feeling right at home. Kathy truely loves what she does, it’s not just a job - its her life passion. She lives and breathes the philosophy of taking good care of body, mind and soul, and the environment we live in.

You are a naturopath, herbalist and kinesiologist. Have you always been in this line of work? No, I started my career in nursing (feels like eons ago!) and quickly progressed to Midwifery. I loved my vocation, but there were a few factors, both personal and professional, that led me on the path to study natural medicine which opened up a whole new world and a new way of looking at health and healing, and helping people. All up, I have been a health professional for almost 40 years, 20 of those as a Naturopath.

What gave you the passion for your wellness work and the desire to start your own business? I was a new mum, with a serious health issue that was treated medically (because that was all I knew!) and my condition was only made worse by that treatment. Also, my young children were constantly getting sick around that time as well. I was desperate to be well and for my children to be well, and I decided I wasn’t going to settle for the “just learn to live with it” stance that the doctors were telling me.

So I started learning as much as I could about other options, I sought out natural practitioners, and our results were nothing short of amazing. I was hooked! I signed up to study to be a naturopath, and I haven’t looked back since. I am addicted to learning about all things to do with natural healing. The transition to starting my own business just flowed from the day I qualified. I continued to work as a Midwife, while trying to establish a private practice, and eventually had to resign from midwifery as I almost burnt myself out because things just got so busy for me.

You are relatively new to Goolwa. What created the desire to move home and work to this lovely seaside town? I moved here in June this year, so it is quite early days yet, but I love this area! We had visited the Fleurieu many times over the years, and attempted numerous times to make the move here but things never worked out. The timing obviously wasn’t right. I moved from Mount Gambier in 2019, and had been living in Adelaide, but really yearned for the quiet easy pace of a smaller community again. The pull of the Fleurieu was really so strong, I turned my attention to moving, and here I am! I had no idea if I was making the right choice or not, but I figured that if I found joy and peace in where I am living, then everything else will fall into place from that. So far, my trust in that concept has been confirmed, through the lovely people I have met and the welcoming community I feel a part of. And, I get the benefit of walking my dog along the river track, or heading to the beach just a short drive away, or into the hills even! The best of everything, what better environment to live in! There is peace, tranquility, yet vibrancy as well.

Has South Australia / Fleurieu always been home to you? If not, how did you end up here? I have always lived in SA, born and raised in Whyalla, in its heyday, moved to Adelaide for a while, then down to Mount Gambier, then back to Adelaide, and now the Fleurieu will be my permanent home, and I feel very much at home already.

What is it that makes you proud of the place you live and work? This area is such a gem. There is peace and tranquility, yet vibrancy at the same time. There is a good community vibe, and how could we not be proud of all this region has to offer.

On a more personal note, tell us a little about Kathy and what you love to do out of work. I’m a shy, quiet person normally, quite the homebody. As I mentioned before, I am addicted to all things natural healing related, so I find my spare time often being consumed with reading, reading, and more reading! Then there is my garden, I love gardening (though it is probably debatable whether I am actually any good at it!), preferably vegetable/edible gardening. But also I am a bonsai enthusiast. I have about 40 bonsai plants that need my care and attention quite regularly, it brings out the creative aspect of me. Recently I’ve started experimenting with using native Australian plants as my bonsai stock, which I am enjoying a lot. My family and beloved fur kid are naturally my biggest focus, and also spending time exploring nature. Somedays there aren’t enough hours in the day for all the things I enjoy.

What is something many locals/work colleagues would not know about you (that you are willing to share!) Ooh, that’s a hard one, I think I’ve said a fair bit and can’t think of anything else at the moment.

Anything else you would like to share? I’m looking forward to visiting lots of places and exploring this region in more depth now that I’m here permanently. I can’t believe that I am born and bred in SA, and have never been to Kangaroo Island, so that is definitely on my list of things to do soon!

YOUR TOP TIPS for the Fleurieu Peninsula / Kangaroo Island:

Best place to....

·      Grab a quick bite… haven’t worked that one out yet! Any tips greatly appreciated :-)

·      Have a more serious feed…Motherduck! Also enjoyed a lovely meal at Whistlestop.

·      Get a cuppa… Motherduck.

·      Have a beer (or cold drink)…Oh dear! I’m going to sound boring - I obviously don’t get out enough.

·      Taste some wine (or just enjoy the winery atmosphere) …as above.

·      Go for a dip… I’m looking forward to trying all the beaches once the weather warms up.

·      Explore nature…walking along the river, the bird life is great.

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

·      feel…peace, tranquility, at home

·      always make sure I visit…the wharf at Goolwa, and the Willunga markets. 

·      stock up on…fresh produce from the markets, there are some really good ones around the place. 

Weirdest thing that’s happened to me here: Maybe I haven’t lived here long enough yet!

Best memory of being here: Feeling at home almost immediately.

Most colourful character I’ve run into: Ooh, again - maybe I haven’t been here long enough yet?

My best piece of advice for anyone heading to the region: Plan to stay as long as you possibly can! There is so much to see and do, a day or 2 just won’t be enough.

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