Welcome to our “Local Business Highlight” series, where we feature a local businessperson who is making a significant impact in our community.
Name: Kristy Perkins
Role: Director, John Wallace Swim School.
Q. How long have you been operating in Aura, and what changes have you seen in the area over time?
A. The John Wallace Swim School opened its doors to the Aura community in January 2021.
It’s been amazing to witness firsthand the rapid growth in Aura and its community – it has a beautiful family feel to it which is great for a small business like my own.
Q. What do you love most about doing business in Aura?
A. I love the location and accessibility; we have families who walk or ride to their swimming lessons and then there are others who travel from the hinterlands, finding it easy to just ‘come down the hill’ (as they say) and not need to head all the way into town.
The swim school is positioned in a great little pocket of this centre, it’s perfect for families to attend swimming lessons, grab a coffee and some groceries or have some lunch at one of our local cafés/restaurants.
Q. Can you share a memorable success story or milestone your business has achieved here?
A. There are many memorable moments but one in particular was holding the Sunny Coast’s BIGGEST swimming lesson with HOT 91.
It was a huge success with HOT 91 broadcasting live from the centre which brought families to the area whilst creating awareness of the importance of water safety.
Q. How does your business contribute to the local community, and what community initiatives are you involved in?
A. The John Wallace Swim School is a regular sponsor to many local schools and community focused events.
We also hold many free events for our swimming families such as monthly race nights and also support external fundraising campaigns like The Pyjama Foundation.
Q. What challenges have you faced as a business owner in Aura, and how have you overcome them?
A. I opened my doors towards the end of COVID which was a huge challenge in itself, let alone a starting business.
With the support of Stockland and the understanding of the community we were able to successfully hold swimming lessons in a safe environment with little disruptions to the students and their swimming progression.
Q. What future plans or upcoming projects do you have for your business, and for Aura?
A. My goals for each year are forever evolving however one focus is to work towards creating our own swimming club.
This will allow our squad swimmers and those who are striving towards that level to have the opportunity to swim at a competitive level, all whilst representing the Aura community.
