Buddy’s Bakery is a Melton institution and now there’s even more reasons to visit following their recent wins in the Australia’s Best Pie and Pastie Competition. Taking out First Place for their Chunky Plain Beef Pie and Vegetarian Pastie, Buddy’s Bakery also received a wide range of Silver and Bronze Awards for their flavoured beef and poultry pies.

In our final instalment of the Conquering the Crisis video series we speak to Bargain Box Fabric’s Susan Robertson.

The business is an institution in Melton and Susan has owned it since the grand opening in 1995 .

Moui is all about supporting our local farmers in Niue and exporting their taros and local crops to Australia.  

After moving to Melton in 2010, Pearl was unable to source Taro locally, driving 1.5hrs to source a product that she felt was inferior quality. And so the idea of importing and selling Talo Niue (taro) was born. After researching and planning for five years, Moui Produce was launched in June 2020. 

Venture Melton caught up with network member - Annie-Maree, CEO of the Earth Village Community, to find out more about what is on offer and how they have emerged stronger after Covid.

Local entrepreneur Anthony Herrera has had some big changes in his life, migrating to Australia and then opening not one but two businesses.

But this quiet achiever is fine example of hard work and keeping the faith.

Meet Kristina Angelkovski, owner of Trademark Promotions.

Kristina’s journey began 15 years ago as a brand representative of an apparel company, travelling across Australia and New Zealand, selling trending fashion collections to large retailers.

Round Rock Group is offering three different experiences in one venue – Round Rock Taphouse, Winery and Receptions.

Meet Shveta Sharma, Owner/Operator of Kool Kidz Ravenhall.

After over a decade of hard work and perseverance, Shveta achieved her goal of establishing a childcare centre which provides the highest quality care and services to children in the most formative years of their lives.

“I love to entertain and I had made grazing tables for family functions, and then I did a grazing table for a friend’s 50th. People said, ‘you should to it’, so I did.”

That’s what lead Michelle Bailey to kick off local grazing platter service, ‘Graze with Michelle’.

Samanthra Govender set up Alpha Learning to offer inclusive education for children from all backgrounds and cultures.

Samanthra closed her face-to face-business during the early stages of COVID, and reopened by moving to online learning.

Brooke Findley and her partner Ben opened The Organic Place in 2015 after their youngest child – at just three months old - was diagnosed with severe allergies to eggs, peanuts, chicken and beef. 

Juanita Vella’s story is a raw experience of her struggle during COVID restrictions and how she survived by helping her clients to help themselves.

Paul Bailey is a 4th Degree international instructor in Taekwon-do and has been practising for over 35 years with experience in several different forms of other martial arts.

Find out about his scholarship program and how local businesses can help.

When Events 720 owners Leon & Chloe Mortimer needed staff to service their successful pivot from expos and events to children’s toys and street furniture, they turned to the Atherstone Exchange to help them. The Atherstone exchange is a coalition of local jobseekers and training providers who source, train and screen likely candidates for employers.

Jaslar Pearl is a young business owner who has a love for music production and photography, although his main passion is the fashion industry which he’s turned into a successful business.

Amanda had worked hard to establish her business OZ Healing Body Care and had expanded to a second site, shortly before she was forced to close her doors as COVID-19 restrictions were enforced.

Despite opening their new Wallace Square store during the height of the Stage 4 restrictions, Latin Foods and Wines has not only survived but expanded, adding Melbourne-wide delivery runs and supermarket distribution to their operation. The evolution of Latin Foods and Wines has been quite a journey for Marco and Maria De La Plaza, since opening as La Morenita Latin Cuisine in Sunshine North 13 years ago.

Same Day Printing kicked off from a Caroline Springs garage in 2008 at the start of the GFC. "In hindsight it was child’s play when compared to the current day challenges we're all trying to navigate through," says co-founder Tom Dickson.

Pad Thai Melton has been a Melton institution for over 15 years. The owners Pat and his sister Lee started the business to share their love of Thailand and it’s cuisine with the community. Pad Thai Melton now has customers from all across Australia, who use the restaurant for their family celebrations.

Good Mood Food is the signature product of Welliglow, a local business that has just recently launched.  Welliglow is the brainchild of Veni who was able to develop her idea and prepare for the launch of her business by participating in Season 2 of the Hot House Project earlier this year.