Women of Wynnum Manly - podcast

13/08/2025

Di Catto is the Rotary supported group leader for Days for Girls Australia, an organisation that changes lives for young girls. Finding out about Days for Girls blew me away, as they help make education possible for many, by providing menstruation bags. There is a space in the Bayside where people come together one day a week to make these bags, to be distributed to those in need.

Di is warm and easy to spend time with, and it is clear that she genuinely loves being part of something that is making a difference. I hope that you enjoy getting to know Di, and appreciate the contribution that Days for Girls, under her leadership, is making.

For more information about Days for Girls: http://www.daysforgirls.org

Episode link in the comments, or find on Spotify or Apple podcasts.

31/07/2025

Eleanor travelled all the way from the UK to live in our beautiful part of the world. She is the first podcast guest who as a young woman was inspired to join the Navy by Richard Gere's An Officer and a Gentleman movie 🙂. Doing so she did meet the love of her life and amongst a lot of joy, travel and adventure there has been darkness, which inspired 3Elements coffee. Eleanor and Terry do incredible work to contribute to better outcomes for those transitioning from the military, as well as make great coffee! Enjoy getting to know Eleanor.

3elementscoffee.com is an Australian and veteran owned company, started by Eleanor's husband in 2016.

Listen to the conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Women of Wynnum Manly podcast. Link in comments.

17/07/2025

How delightful it was to spend time with Sharon McRae, who after her own emotional and physical breakdown worked hard to claw her way back to be the best person she could be, and committed to helping others do the same.

Every now and then I have a guest on the podcast who I connect with their value and purpose, and Sharon was one of those. I loved hearing about how she goes about her work in supporting women who are in need of guidance to move forward in the way they live their lives. It was a great chat, and I hope you get to take something from it.

More information and links to what Sharon mentioned in the conversation:

1-on-1 coaching packages are here: https://paperbell.me/sharon-mcrae

The worksheet that changed Sharon's life - The Cycle of Pain - is available as a free download on the same site. (https://paperbell.me/sharon-mcrae)

A weekly email called Resilience Notes is especially for people who are coaching themselves through the hard parts but useful to anyone interested in emotional resilience and well-being. It lives here: https://sharonmcrae.substack.com/



Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Women of Wynnum Manly podcast.

30/06/2025

To say Sharon is important to me is an understatement. She is one of those people I feel like I have known all my life, and from the day I met her I knew I could be completely me with her. We connected about four years ago but the longer we know each other the more we uncover how our lives have intersected over a number of decades. When I thought of doing something to promote op shopping, I knew Shaz was the person to partner with. Of course, when I asked, she jumped in immediately with a yes.

In our chat we talk about our love of op shopping, our hopes for Opportunities by the Bay and just have a good yarn together! I hope you enjoy eavesdropping on our conversation.

Opportunities by the Bay are partnering with Do-Op Shop for a fashion parade at the Wynnum Fringe Community Day Street Party on Saturday 12 July. Come and hang around the stage on Bay Tce at 2.30pm for some country glam fashion fun!

Link to episode in the comments.

27/06/2025

Julie and her husband own Kova Furniture Removals, establishing the business together from one truck not all that long ago. She also finds the time to be the President of the Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Club. This is a big role, and both industries she is involved in are used to men being in charge! I had a lovely conversation with Julie and was interested in hearing her insights into what learnings she has from owning a small business, to position her for the role as President at the footy club. She is one incredible woman, and it is obvious she brings a lot of her wisdom, thoughtfulness and curiosity to both of her roles. Enjoy getting to know Julie.

For more information about Julie's business, check out kovafurniture.removals.com.au

Link to episode in comments, or listen on Spotify or Apple podcasts, or just google "Women of Wynnum Manly podcast". Thanks for all your support!

19/06/2025

I picked up my gorgeous new banner today, showcasing all three books, including my new release, The Girl from Normandy, out next Friday.

🎊🥳 Brisbane friends, are you coming to the launch party?

I'd love to see you there ❤️

Date: Saturday 28th June
Time: 5-7pm 🎊🥳
Venue: Cedar & Pine, 139 Bay Terrace, Wynnum
🍾🥂

Links for tickets in the comments 😊🍾🥂

13/06/2025

Kel was my second podcast guest, and spoke so beautifully about the love of her Nan. She also shared how difficult it was to watch Huntingtons impact on Nan.

This is a community event, and you can register and come along on Sunday, do it virtually in your own time and place, or just buy some raffle tickets to help with the fundraising that all goes towards supporting people experiencing this terrible disease.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YZBapgAtv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Running for Nan's HD is back! 🏃‍♂️

Brisbane, it's time to lace up. Join us on Sunday 15 June at the Wynnum Esplanade for the 9th annual Running 4 Nan’s HD, organised by Kelly and Steve in loving memory of their Nan, who had Huntington’s disease.

🕠 Registration opens at 5:30am
🚩 Run starts at 6:30am (Wynnum Wading Pool)
💰 Entry: $25
🎟 Raffle tickets: $2 each (heaps of prizes to be won)

Can’t make it in person? Join as a virtual runner and we’ll post your medal.🏅

👉 Register + grab your raffle tickets: www.bit.ly/running4nan2025

11/06/2025

The chat with Saalihah was a long time in planning and I am really pleased we finally got there. Saalihah Seedat is doing great work with the Bayside community, with her Health for Life workshops at the Community Centre. She came a long way from Zimbabwe to live in our beautiful country, and I enjoyed learning about the work she does to improve the lives of others. Enjoy getting to know Saalihah.

You can reach out to Saalihah about her My Health for Life sessions on 0404 296 297 or [email protected]

Link to session in the comments.

08/06/2025

Aunty Becky Thompson has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. She is a proud Quandamooka woman and my conversation with her taught me a lot. Congratulations Aunty Becky!

Aunty Becky has been on my podcast interview wish list since 2022.  It was a delight and a privilege to be in her company and hear all about her family as the original "winnamites".  As the Chairperson for winnam.org, the work Aunty Beck...

10/05/2025

Julie Dixon is an example of what makes the Bayside the community it is. I was so pleased to learn from Julie the history of the Shire Cottage, as I was always curious about it. As a volunteer, she is responsible for running the lovely Shire Cottage Markets every second month, and I didn't realise how important they are for the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre income. I head along every time for the Devonshire Tea in the Shire Cottage! A little bonus in this chat was hearing of Julie's connection to a VERY famous Brisbane band. Enjoy the conversation with Julie.

Listen on Apple podcasts, Spotify or google Women of Wynnum Manly podcast. Direct link in the comments.