Town and country: Their drive for success is the same
The Advertiser, Feb 25, 2009, By Frances Stewart
OUTBACK PRIDE:
Mike and Gayle Quarmby at Reedy Creek
In the remote settlement of Reedy Creek, Mike and Gayle Quarmby
sell traditional Aboriginal bush foods to customers around the
globe thanks to communications technology.
Nine years ago the couple set out to bring employment to outback
communities by creating a bush food company. Now produce is grown
and managed by 20 indigenous communities in South Australia and the
Northern Territory. Outback Pride produces sauces, jams, relishes
and herbs for sale globally.
The sheer distances involved in the business would be daunting
without modern technology. Instead of wasting hours driving, they
use mobile phones, laptops, wireless technology and digital
photography to manage their business.
If there are problems with the bush fruit, a member of the
community managing the site takes digital photos and emails them to
the Quarmbys.
Mrs Quarmby said wireless technology meant she could switch on
her laptop anywhere and do the wages.
"To pay wages and to deal with emails we used to have to drive
500km to Coober Pedy to sit in a little internet cafe." she
said.