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Name: Jonathon JJ Cowley.
Suburb: I live in Manly West, work in Wynnum West, and I volunteer in Manly and Wynnum.
What’s your business? Rosies – Friends on the Street (full-time volunteer management role), Manly-Lota Scout Group (volunteer leader) and Wynnum Manly Community Bank, Branch of Bendigo Bank (volunteer on Board).
Do you have any fun/interesting stories about your job? As a manager of volunteers it always blows me away how rewarded volunteers tell me they feel when they realise they have made a difference to someone’s life, and in my current role the person they have assisted was often unknown to the volunteer until they met through outreaching on the street.
What’s your favourite local dine-in and take-away?Dine-in: Wynnum Manly Leagues Club – a walk from home and the renovations are incredible. Take-away: The Tasty Pocket food truck is the flavour of the season in our house.
Best local activity? Scouting – taking young people out of their comfort zone and proving to themselves they can do more than expected and over time seeing them grow into wonderful individuals is awesome. Building an individual’s character is an integral part of what communities should be aiming to achieve.
The last book you read? Volunteer Program Management: An Essential Guide. Learning how to empower people to empower people.
The last tv show or movie you watched? The Last Full Measure (movie) – respect to all those who serve/d in the armed forces.
Is there anything you’d like to see happen in the local area? Business and community groups working together to improve the lives of those who live and visit our bayside. Space, facilities, equipment, food – there is so much more we can do with the resources we don’t use all the time.
Is there a local business/community group/club you’d like to give a shout-out to? All community groups deserve a ‘shout out’ as the more options we have available for people the more likely they are to seek assistance, or our kids have activities to keep them busy and develop their skills, or the more opportunities we have to provide assistance by volunteering a little bit of our time to improve the lives of others – try it and feel rewarded.
Name: Lauren Micale.
Suburb: I live in Wakerley, and work in Manly.
What’s your business? Bayside Admin – Virtual Assistance/Bookkeeping/NDIS Plan Management.
Do you have any fun/interesting stories about your job? Our new Sage Room – we are fab together – as independent business owners working and supporting each other to grow and live our best. I love working in Manly Harbour Village and getting to meet all the local business communities.
What’s your favourite local dine-in and take-away? Dine-in – Tide on the Jetty. Take-away – I can’t go past Bay Blends’ dumplings in Wynnum…yum!
Best local activity? Open Mic Night at Cedar & Pine.
The last book you read? The Dry by Jane Harper.
The last tv show or movie you watched? Beauty and the Geek – yes I know, but it is so good.
Is there anything you’d like to see happen in the local area? We live in a fabulous area – I love it all. It would be good to see the Brisbane bayside lifestyle extend to more local suburbs so we are inclusive and play a part in the sustainable development of our area.
