What do premiership-winning football teams and thriving regional businesses have in common? According to Shaun Mooney, almost everything. In this episode of Launch Spotlight, host Eddie the Chef sits down with one of East Gippsland’s most quietly influential figures — a man who has spent decades building winning cultures both on the football field and in the local business community.

Shaun Mooney is a self-described quiet achiever with an extraordinary record. Over 300 senior games of Australian rules football, three premiership-winning coaching campaigns, back-to-back grand final appearances with Lucknow in the East Gippsland Football Netball League, and now a new chapter as senior coach of Morwell in the Gippsland League. Off the field, he’s spent nearly two decades as a radio sales representative for TRFM and Gold FM (Ace Radio), helping local businesses across the region tell their stories and grow their audiences.

The thread running through both careers? Connection. Shaun talks openly about how coaching and sales demand the same core skill: genuinely getting to know people — understanding how they learn, what motivates them, and what they need in the moment. Whether he’s working with a 17-year-old starting his football journey or a brand new business finding its feet in Bairnsdale, Shaun’s approach is the same: ask questions, listen, and show up consistently.

He shares a compelling philosophy on marketing consistency that every regional business owner should hear: radio’s role isn’t just to sell — it’s to keep businesses top of mind so that when a buying decision arrives, they’re already in the conversation. He draws a direct line between this and football: you train week after week not for the moments when it’s easy, but so you’re ready when it counts. Shaun also opens up about the evolution of Ace Radio’s offerings — now extending beyond broadcast into digital and website services — and how that allows him to be a genuine one-stop marketing partner for clients he’s known for years.

There’s a warmth to this conversation that’s hard to manufacture. Shaun speaks about East Gippsland the way someone does when they truly belong to a place — born at the Bairnsdale Hospital, raised in the high country, moved away briefly for family and career, and came back by choice. He describes the region with genuine affection: the mountains, the 90 Mile Beach, the tight-knit communities that pulled together through bushfires, floods, and COVID. During those crises, he reflects, radio stopped being entertainment and became something closer to an essential service.

With a young family of four, a fresh coaching challenge at Morwell, and a career built on long-term relationships over short-term transactions, Shaun Mooney is a reminder that in regional Australia, the most powerful business asset you can have is trust — earned one conversation at a time.

What do you do when a career-ending back injury takes everything you’ve known for 25 years off the table? If you’re Paul Poulter, you spend your recovery time on the couch, deep in YouTube rabbit holes, and you build a craft distillery. In this episode of Launch Spotlight, host Eddie the Chef heads out to the stunning high country of Glenaladale in regional Victoria to meet the founder of High Country Hooch Distilling Company — a man who turned forced stillness into something seriously impressive.

Paul’s journey began in 2021 after a serious back injury ended his life as a heavy diesel mechanic. With time on his hands and a lifelong love of whiskey, he started distilling as a hobby. When friends tasted the results and told him to sell it, something clicked. What followed was two and a half years of relentless persistence — navigating a council planning process that had never seen a distillery application before, calling planners weekly to stay on their radar, and investing money into a business he legally couldn’t sell from yet. Eight months before they would even accept his application. Another 14 months of back-and-forth after that.

He finally secured his wholesale licence in May 2024, then retail six months later. The results since have been remarkable: from 2,000 bottles sold in his first year to over 6,000 in the six months that followed, and a distribution deal with Australia’s third largest distributor — secured the same way everything else was, by being the squeaky wheel and letting the product speak for itself during in-store tastings that left bottle shop owners shaking their heads in disbelief.

Paul talks candidly about what makes High Country Hooch different: every bottle passes through his hands, every label applied in-house, every batch tasted before it leaves the property. The brand carries the same spirit — irreverent, authentic, and unapologetically regional. Their hazelnut liqueur is called “Nut Job.” Their fermenter is named “The Ferminator.” The still? “Stillvester.” It’s a business that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that personality is exactly what’s connecting with customers.

There’s a long game being played here too. Paul’s vodkas and liqueurs fund the cash flow while whiskey barrels quietly age in the background — years away from generating revenue but already filling up. And out on the farm, a converted shearing shed is becoming a tasting room, a grain silo has been transformed into a toilet block, and another is being turned into a band stage. A Scottish Highland Festival is already booked. Sixty to eighty visitors every weekend is the 12-month goal.

Paul’s advice for anyone thinking about turning a passion into a business? Be prepared for the long game. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And if something is worth building, build it as if you’re never going to sell it. At knock-off time, he sits in his tasting room, looks out at the mountains, drinks a glass of his own whiskey, and feels completely at peace. That’s what success looks like in the high country.

What does it take to build a regional hospitality empire from scratch — and then buy out your biggest competitor? In this episode of Launch Spotlight, host Eddie the Chef sits down with David Schmidt, the visionary entrepreneur behind three thriving venues in Bairnsdale, Victoria’s East Gippsland: Mr. D Food & Coffee, Aroma Coffeehouse & Eatery, and the Catering Events Co.

Dave’s story began with a simple observation: regional cafes were closing at 2pm and leaving locals with nowhere to go. Rather than accept the status quo, he opened Mr. D with a bold commitment to trading seven days a week, from early morning until 6pm — a model the locals questioned but ultimately embraced. Over nine years, that instinct to push boundaries has shaped everything from his extended trading hours to his menus, his staffing philosophy, and his approach to growth.

One of the episode’s most compelling moments is Dave’s account of acquiring Aroma — a business he’d always identified as his fiercest competitor. When a broker called out of the blue one Saturday afternoon, Dave didn’t hesitate: there was only one café in Bairnsdale he’d ever want to buy, and it had just come on the market. He shares how the acquisition was handled amicably, how the community reacted — with both congratulations and scepticism — and why the two venues remain deliberately distinct despite the common ownership.

COVID tested everything. Dave opens up about watching Daniel Andrews announce the first lockdown on a Sunday night and telling his 26 staff it’d “only be a couple of days.” Fortunately, a renovation months earlier had already introduced a dedicated takeaway window and online ordering — giving Mr. D a critical head-start when dine-in vanished overnight. He’s candid about the financial pressure of carrying staff with no government support in those early weeks and the mental toll of sole ownership across three businesses.

The conversation covers the innovations that set Dave apart in a regional market: partnering with Code Black specialty coffee (now moving 86 kilos per week at Mr. D alone), using AI tools to match staffing levels to sales data and weather patterns, and managing a rotating team of 40+ personalities across all three businesses. He also shares the launch of the Catering Events Co. — a fully equipped mobile catering operation born from growing demand for high-end external events.

Dave doesn’t shy away from the harder truths. He speaks candidly about the mental health challenges of running a seven-day operation solo, the importance of building better structures earlier, and the $25,000 annual community grants budget his businesses quietly run — no social media announcements, just quiet commitment to giving back. His advice to his younger self? Don’t try to do everything at once. Delegate, focus, and build your structure from day one.

With plans for a potential fourth venue already forming, David Schmidt is proof that regional Australia is where real innovation happens — one bold idea at a time.

Dale Reynolds' journey from $30 to becoming one of Australia's largest gluten-free chocolate manufacturers is a testament to resilience, innovation, and refusing to quit when most people would have walked away.

At age 30, after his fiancée unexpectedly left him while they were running a café together, Dale found himself with just $30 and a dream. He discovered a 140-year-old truffle recipe in a family trunk from his great-great grandparents who had migrated from Scotland in 1882. Using his chef qualification and that $30, he bought chocolate and ingredients, made a small batch of handcrafted truffles, and sold them to one Lakes Entrance café in 2010. Within days, they sold out.

Within three months, Dale expanded from one café to 60 across regional Victoria. His strategic brilliance was recognizing the gluten-free market 15 years before it became mainstream. He developed 26 varieties of handcrafted truffles and innovated from round to square shapes, creating custom moulds with engineers to dramatically increase production efficiency.

At its peak, Dale's business reached 360 venues including Young and Jackson's, Caulfield Race Club, and Wild Oats in Sydney. He handcrafted 50,000 truffles monthly with 20 staff, personally visiting every venue and delivering all Melbourne orders in his 1995 Ford Fairmont to guarantee quality.

Then disaster struck—multiple times. An industrial mixer incorporated too much air into his filling, causing mold. He recalled and replaced products at 150 venues at his own cost. In 2017, BWS ended their contract after seven years, eliminating 300 venues overnight. Dale refused to declare bankruptcy, instead working seven days a week for 12 months to honor every debt. "You can't walk away from your debts," he insists. "You have to be able to walk feeling comfortably that you've done the right thing."

After surviving bushfires and relocating twice, COVID-19 forced him to close his Bairnsdale shop and move manufacturing to a shed. But Dale turned crisis into opportunity. After five years perfecting a gluten-free liquorice recipe with multiple flavour layers, he posted a video that went viral. Within one day, his Shopify website generated $25,000 in sales. He converted a caravan into packaging space to fulfill the overwhelming orders from across Australia.

Today, Dale operates the magical Wonka Do Lounge in Lakes Entrance—an immersive chocolate experience featuring a working pianola, model train, vintage teaspoons, and hot chocolate served in antique cups. He's earned recognition as Best Candy Store in East Gippsland with 95% customer satisfaction and status as one of Australia's largest gluten-free manufacturers.

His philosophy? "There's no such thing as can't. You just haven't looked at the other avenues yet." He emphasizes knowing your core business, creating memorable experiences, and never counting the hours when you love what you do.

After 16 years of extraordinary challenges and triumphs, Dale continues innovating new products while planning to automate partially for an eventual sale in 10-12 years. His journey proves that with passion, persistence, and adaptability, it's possible to build something magical from almost nothing.

Eddie the Chef sits down with Davina Ross to explore how Bloom Hearing Specialists transformed from a small independent Bairnsdale clinic in 1997 into one of Australia's busiest hearing care providers—all while maintaining the personal, community-focused approach that makes regional businesses special.

Locals Helping Locals In 2013, Bloom strategically acquired trusted independent clinics—including Bairnsdale—and enhanced them with global backing and cutting-edge technology without losing what made them special. As Davina puts it, it's never about the hearing aid. It's about the people. Their motto says it all: "People first, and the financial rewards are a result of this effort."

Breaking the Stigma Davina candidly tackles the elephant in the room: people resisting hearing tests because they don't want to feel old. She's heard every objection. The conversation highlights how hearing loss creeps up gradually—the TV getting louder, saying "yes" without understanding, or withdrawing from social situations. Eddie even admits he probably needs a hearing test himself, which keeps things relatable and fun.

The Technology Revolution Modern hearing aids are a far cry from the chunky, squealing devices of decades past. Davina walks Eddie through Bluetooth connectivity, overnight rechargeability, advanced noise reduction, geotagging (hearing aids that auto-switch settings when you arrive at your local café), remote telehealth adjustments, and even GPS tracking. A standout story involves a grandmother whose hearing aids automatically switch to the perfect program when she drives into the swimming centre car park for her grandkids' lessons.

The Sound Experience Bloom's signature offering lets clients actually try amplification in simulated noisy environments before making any decisions. It removes the fear and mystery, letting people hear for themselves what modern hearing aids can do.

Comprehensive Community Care Bloom goes well beyond fitting hearing aids—offering microsuction wax removal, home visits, nursing home services, satellite clinics in Lakes Entrance, on-site repairs, and government funding navigation. Many services come at no out-of-pocket cost. They also run a graduate program that brings young audiologists to regional locations, and many stay because they genuinely love working with regional communities.

The Human Impact The interview keeps returning to what truly matters: people staying connected to their lives. Hearing loss leads to isolation, reduced safety, and loss of independence. Bloom's goal is enabling people to stay part of conversations, enjoy family gatherings, and live independently longer.

This episode is essential for anyone over 60, families worried about loved ones, and regional business owners looking for a masterclass in community-first success. The tone is warm, humorous, and genuinely inspiring—it feels less like a business interview and more like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend.

Contact: bloomhearing.com.au | Bairnsdale, VIC (also servicing Lakes Entrance and surrounding East Gippsland)

In this compelling episode of Launch Spotlight, the business growth podcast illuminating entrepreneurial journeys across regional Australia, host Eddie sits down with Daniel Eastman, Director of Evergrow Landscapes, for an honest conversation about building a professional landscaping business in East Gippsland.

Dan's story is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to raising industry standards. After a decade working in Melbourne's landscaping industry, Dan and his wife—both Bairnsdale locals—moved home in 2022 following the birth of their second child. What he found missing in the regional landscaping scene became his business opportunity: professional accountability, proper building standards, and the peace of mind that comes with fixed contracts and warranties.

As one of the rare registered builders operating in the landscape construction space in regional Victoria, Dan brought metropolitan professionalism to East Gippsland without losing the community values that make regional business special. Through Evergrow Landscapes, he offers clients something many local landscapers don't: fixed-price contracts, 10-year warranties on construction work, permit management, and the legal accountability that comes with being a registered building practitioner.

But Dan's journey hasn't been without its trials. In this remarkably candid interview, he opens up about facing a perfect storm in 2024—a non-paying client, losing a key employee to injury, and his own mental health challenges. His honesty about asking for help, leaning on family support, and learning to run a business without sacrificing his wellbeing makes this episode essential listening for any entrepreneur navigating the pressures of business ownership.

Throughout the conversation, Dan shares insights about:

• The importance of comprehensive contracts and professional relationships, even in close-knit regional communities
• How membership in Landscape Victoria provides networking, mentorship, and access to industry-leading resources
• Balancing metropolitan standards with regional community values
• Building a sustainable business model that prioritizes family time and mental health
• The future of landscaping in regional areas facing development pressures
• His philosophy on hiring team members who think independently and problem-solve

What sets this episode apart is Dan's genuine reflection on the lessons learned through hardship. From the naivety of his early subcontracting relationships to the systems he's now implementing for sustainable growth, listeners gain practical wisdom they can apply to their own business journeys.

Dan's vision for the future focuses on consolidation rather than rapid expansion—building robust systems that allow his apprentice to step into supervisory roles while Dan transitions from full-time site work to strategic business management. It's a masterclass in intentional growth that puts quality of life alongside business success.

For anyone in the trades, aspiring entrepreneurs, or business owners facing their own challenges, Dan's advice rings true: talk to everyone, seek professional help, get everything in writing, and never try to soldier through alone. The strength to ask for help isn't weakness—it's wisdom.

Tune in to hear how one regional entrepreneur is proving that professional standards, community values, and family priorities can coexist in building a thriving trade business in East Gippsland.

Connect with Evergrow Landscapes:

Website: www.evergrowlandscapes.com.au

Phone: 0449 253 693

About the Guest
Gillian Wells is an accomplished English author who has made Victoria, Australia her home for the past 31 years. Living with her beloved cattle dog Jess, Gillian has established herself as a distinctive voice in Australian literature, particularly known for her compelling stories set in the outback.

Gillian's path to becoming an author is as inspiring as it is unconventional. Though she dreamed of writing since childhood—boldly telling her father as a teenager that she would become an author—life intervened, and that dream was put on hold. It wasn't until after her children had grown and she found herself with more time that she finally sat down to write.
Her writing career began with children's books inspired by her grandchildren: the Bub and Tub series (volumes 1 and 2) and Boots and Scoots—stories she originally told to her grandchildren before committing them to paper. From there, she transitioned to adult fiction, and in just ten years has written an impressive 20 books (with more in the pipeline).

Gillian's work has received significant recognition in the Australian literary community. Her novel Alone was nominated for the prestigious 2021 Miles Franklin Award, followed by her sequel Consequences earning a nomination for the 2022 Miles Franklin Award. When asked about these nominations, Gillian was characteristically humble, admitting she was "completely blown away" and initially wondered if it was a mistake. She expressed being thrilled simply to be nominated alongside renowned writers like Tim Winton, never expecting to win but honored to be part of that conversation.

Gillian's rich life experience deeply informs her writing. Before becoming an author, she worked as a milliner, trained horses, performed as a concerto singer, and farmed in England. This diverse background, combined with decades of observation and her fascination with people and relationships, gives her work an authenticity that resonates with readers.
Despite being English, Gillian has captured the Australian outback with such accuracy that during her book tour for Alone through Queensland libraries, every reader told her she had "nailed it"—a compliment she treasures. She feels genuinely at home in the outback and in wild, isolated places, which comes through powerfully in her writing.

Advice to Aspiring Writers
When asked about her advice for new writers, Gillian keeps it simple: "If there's a story within you, then you need to sit down and write it." She encourages practicing and drafting until it's right, emphasizing that writing must come from within—from the heart. As she puts it, "practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you'll get."

For more information about Gillian Wells and her complete catalogue of books, visit https://gillianwellsauthor.com.au/

Listen to the full inaugural episode of Launch Spotlight Podcast to hear Gillian's warm, engaging conversation with host Eddie about her journey, her craft, and the stories that drive her to keep writing.

Jessica Cane knew from primary school she wanted to be an accountant. She studied full-time at Deakin University while working full-time at a local practice, demonstrating remarkable drive and ambition. However, her first role at a traditional accounting firm nearly ended her career before it began. As a young woman seeking career progression, she found herself in an environment where advancement seemed impossible. Discouraged, she told her parents she was considering leaving accounting altogether.

Her mother's advice changed everything: try six other places first. Within days, Jessica had a new job at a modern, people-focused practice. This was "modern accounting" - strategic thinking, forward planning, and genuine client connection. After just eighteen months, the partners offered to sell the practice to just two staff members. At only 26 years old, Jessica was one of them. Despite the daunting debt and responsibility, she took the leap.

Fifteen years later, Accounting Solutions Victoria thrives on Jessica's unwavering focus on people and culture. Her philosophy is simple: you can teach technical skills, but you cannot change someone's attitude. The practice operates on making complex financial matters simple, ensuring every client understands their situation completely. As an SMSF specialist, Jessica navigates Centrelink and aged care complexities, holding clients' retirement dreams in her hands.

The practice has grown entirely through word-of-mouth referrals, serving clients across Australia including Queensland, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. Jessica maintains a strong preference for face-to-face meetings, believing personal connection is irreplaceable. She and her team actively support local sports clubs and schools, embodying her belief that in small regional communities, everyone needs to do their bit.

Jessica is honest about the challenges - the early years were brutal, filled with long hours and constant worry. Her survival strategies include reframing her mindset (from "I have to" to "I GET to"), finding trusted mentors, and sleeping on difficult decisions. Her family remains her biggest support network.

Staffing remains the biggest regional challenge, especially after the local RMIT accounting program closed. Jessica addresses this by hiring young people and supporting them through their studies while they work, creating deeply invested team members. Despite challenges, she loves the regional lifestyle - stunning natural beauty, close-knit community connections, and genuine client relationships.

Her advice to aspiring business owners: "You are more capable and stronger than you think, and you can handle anything that's thrown your way." Find somebody you can trust to talk through challenges - verbalizing problems provides relief and clarity.

Today, Accounting Solutions Victoria stands as testament to what's possible when you combine professional expertise with genuine human connection, prioritize people over profits, and stay deeply rooted in community.

Contact: accountingsolutionsvictoria.com.au | McLeod Street, Bairnsdale | Contact Susan for community support inquiries