FEATURE PROFILE: Stephanie Swift
July 4, 2022
Life has come full circle for Stephanie Swift, née Thomson, whose heart – and future – have always been in Strathbogie Shire.
“I always knew that I wanted to come home,” the Euroa Chamber of Business and Commerce president said of her school-leaver years away from the region.
Raised on a sheep farm at Strathbogie, Stephanie studied massage therapy and personal training in Melbourne after leaving Euroa Secondary College. She headed home most weekends, playing netball for Swanpool, before overseas’ work and travel beckoned.
“There was an opportunity to go to England and to work and travel with my best friend,” Stephanie said.
“I worked for five months as a pre-school assistant at a private school in London. It was a good fun.”
Stephanie now works at Euroa’s 62-year-old family business Thomsons Home Furnishers with her parents Chris and Tracey, and siblings Tyson and Lisa. Her late grandparents Cyril and Lena Thomson opened the Binney St store in 1960, which Chris and his brothers ran until the mid ’90s when the businesses were separated.
“I came back [to Strathbogie Shire] 12 years ago for many reasons: my parents had been running the farm and shop for about 35 years, I wanted to help out so they could travel,” Stephanie said.
Chris and Tracey Thomson now balance work with their adult children and travel, and enjoy visits to the store from their grandchildren, including Stephanie and husband Tim’s sons William, 5, and Freddy, 3.
“I love walking up Binney St, seeing happy faces and businesses open,” Stephanie, now expecting the Swifts’ third child, said.
“I love that there are lots of young families; and older people who knew my grandparents, who I didn’t get the privilege of knowing; so that makes living here really special.
“The community has a great vibe and I love being a part of that. We consider ourselves very lucky to work here.”
As well as joining the third-generation family business in Euroa’s main shopping strip, Stephanie’s 2010 homecoming also closed the loop on piano lessons at her old school.
“I learnt to play piano from Grade 5 to beyond Year 12; the early years were at Strathbogie Primary School, then the teacher visited our home once a week during my high school years.
“When my teacher retired, I took over her lessons at Strathbogie and Violet Town for about six years.”
The venue for Stephanie and Tim’s wedding in 2015 also came full circle in the spectacular rural landscape of her childhood home.
“It was a proud moment marrying at our family’s farm in Strathbogie. We were lucky to get married and celebrate with 160 people at a place that means so much to us, without the limitations of a [function] venue.
“The party continued on the next day with quite a few people staying close by and camping out; Tim and I also woke up on the farm.”
Soon after returning to the region, Stephanie stepped into her dad’s shoes at Business Euroa meetings, the former network of mostly Binney St traders.
“Because I’ve grown up in a family business in this lovely community, it’s always meant a lot to me to support local businesses, whether it’s by shopping or just popping in to say hello,” she said.
“Dad had always had a lot of committee roles, so I wanted to be involved too.”
As part of a small committee, Stephanie helped steer the transition of Business Euroa in the past four years to the more diverse business network − Euroa Chamber of Business and Commerce.
Membership has grown from 40 to 110, boosted by $30,000 from Strathbogie Shire Council at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council grant funded 18-month free membership to the Euroa chamber and the Visit Euroa website, which lists members on the business directory page.
“We work really hard to make the Euroa chamber really inclusive and relevant to all businesses in the region,” Stephanie said.
“Our members are from all business sectors ranging from retail, agriculture, tourism, tradespeople, employers, and sole traders who work from home.
“We support and connect businesses in Euroa, Longwood, Ruffy, Strathbogie, Violet Town and Kelvin View.”
Membership gives access to monthly meetings, training, business networking, links with Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry information and training. In June (2022), a Winter Wonderland featuring ice-skating for families was activated by Euroa Chamber of Business and Commerce, GoNagambie, and Strathbogie Shire Council via Victorian Government funding.
“We were super excited to bring a street event [to Euroa and Nagambie] that was so different and fun for the community and visitors,” Stephanie said.
Supported by Council, the next major event for the Shire’s business community is the 2022 Business Awards (date to be announced) hosted by Euroa Chamber of Commerce, GoNagambie and Euroa Rotary Club.
For more information about Euroa Chamber of Commerce and Business (membership or business directory), visit www.visiteuroa.org.au or email business.euroa@gmail.com