Kim Storer – Chairperson
Koorda Community Resource Centre
Kim has been the Manager of the Koorda Community Resource Centre for over 10 years.
Kim believes that collaboration is key for the success of the CRC network. Like many small businesses we lack power as individuals. There is a bucket load of untapped potential in idea sharing and collaborative teaming. I feel it is more important now than ever to develop business opportunities that build long term relationships and networks that include both Not-For-Profit and Profitable businesses.
Chloe Whitwell – Vice Chair
Wave Rock Short Stay – Hyden
Chloe started her small business, Wave Rock Country Cottage, in 2011 at the age of 25. Since then the business has expanded and rebranded. Wave Rock Short Stay offers quality accommodation including, The Cottage, The Bungalow, The Camp (11 sites) and The Silos (16 ensuite rooms). The last 11 years have been challenging and rewarding with many lessons learnt along the way. Chloe has a passion for Women in Business, specifically in rural areas and is excited to be able to share her knowledge through the Wheatbelt Business Network. Chloe has been an WBN member since its conception and has assisted and spoken at several WBN events. Chloe is an active member of her community and has undertaken various volunteer roles on committees, which in turn has provided her with invaluable skills to run her own business.
Chloe is a qualified bookkeeper which is a great asset, not only for her business, but assists her with helping run her husband’s broadacre farming enterprise. Chloe lives in Hyden with her husband Craig and 3 young children.
Dale Payne
Paynes Pest Control – Bruce Rock
Dale Payne is the owner of Paynes Pest Control in Bruce Rock, WA. Growing up in the small Wheatbelt town of Bruce Rock, Dale relocated for a few years to obtain his Pest Control license and decided to return to his hometown to start his own business in 2021.
Dale’s determination and exceptional business values has in turn won Paynes Pest Control two awards at the WBN Business Excellence Awards for the 2022 Digit Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the 2022 Caroline Robinson Start-Up Business of the Year.
Outside of the business, Dale spends time with his partner Hayley and son Eli and volunteers his time to local community groups.
Nick Rogers – Finance Committee
Kylagh Cattle – Tammin
I grew up on our family farm in Tammin, which had cropping and sheep enterprises when I was younger, but now focuses on cropping and grain-fed beef cattle. I went away to Perth for boarding school from 2005 – 2009, and continued on to study a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce at UWA, which I completed in 2015. This led me to a short career as a lawyer, before returning to the farm in 2018.
I am now the feedlot manager of Kylagh Cattle, which involves coordinating the team to ensure the cattle are healthy, happy and well-fed each and every day of the year. We have a passionate team of about 15, who hail from the wheatbelt and beyond.
Outside of work I am still enjoying a kick of footy (although feeling older than I should), having a hit of golf and getting away overseas or up north for a fish whenever I can!
Christy Petchell – Finance Committee
Petchell Mechanical – Wyalkatchem
My name is Christy Petchell, and I originally grew up in Perth. I moved to the Wheatbelt at the beginning of 2010, when I took up my first teaching position at Dowerin DHS. A few years later, I married a local Wylie boy, had two children, and made Wyalkatchem my forever home.
I am the owner of Petchell Mechanical, alongside my husband, Steven. We first started our business in 2014 out of a field service vehicle. We now own a workshop, and a parts shop in town. We specialise in heavy diesel, agricultural and light vehicle repairs.
Outside of the workshop; I volunteer on many different committees, I’m a Shire Councillor for Wyalkatchem and have just restarted the Wyalkatchem Business Association – with a focus on business/community growth and mental health.
Elyssa Giedraitis – Finance Committee
EJG Creative
You know when you were in school and you reached year twelve with absolutely no idea what you wanted to do? That was not me. I always wanted to write. Writing began as a way for me to express myself, what I was feeling, but soon became a hobby. I’ve written my blog, The Introvert Archive for seven years now, I’ve written for online sites like Mamamia and Boss Mode Radio. I continue to write a lot, even when I “don’t have time”, I make the time. Writing is my outlet, it is a lot easier for me to write something out than it is to form the words and speak out loud.
After high school I discovered I also liked the marketing world. This was discovered when I took over as Admin and Marketing manager for the family business. I spend my days in my office doing both work for the business and my own work. We are an agriculture business, manufacturing spraying equipment and repairing machinery that has been damaged (believe me- I hear some funny “how I broke something” stories, every single day).
I created EJG Creative with these small, farming businesses in mind. The businesses that don’t have a big budget for these services, the businesses that don’t have the time to think about their marketing and their websites, or in some cases they don’t really understand how to do that. EJG Creative is for the little guys, because I am one of the little guys.
The Wheatbelt's Leading Business Network
Our Mission
We aim to work proactively with members to grow their business and their communities while creating a positive atmosphere through professional development, one on one business support, networking events, and economic development initiatives.