Advertising

The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times is an independent magazine committed to reflecting the fascinating mix of people who live, work and run businesses in our region.

Owners Heatley and Michelle Gilmore purchased the paper from Michael Berry and Faith Baigent in November 2013. Under their stewardship, HT have won the Hinterland Times best newspaper in country Queensland awards with the Queensland Country Press Association over the past three years.

Working in the newspaper game is no new role for Heatley. He started in advertising for the Toowoomba Chronicle, and then developed the Rural Weekly, a paper that still exists today. Promoted to advertising manager at Mackay’s Daily Mercury, Heatley learnt how all departments in a regional daily worked together.

Heatley and Michelle moved on to establish their own business coaching company, working with a wide variety of small to medium businesses.

Having coached and mentored over 400 individual businesses in the areas of sales, marketing and business development, in Australia and the UK, Heatley understands the challenges businesses face across industry sectors – from trades, agribusiness, agricultural services, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, tourism, health and fitness and professional services.

Heatley and Michelle Gilmore appreciate how important it is to reflect the interests of the local community and business. They also produce their monthly Rainbow Beach Cooloola Coast Community News, and quite separately provide an internet marketing service for resorts and accommodation.

Heatley and Michelle met at university when Heatley, who had grown up on the land, studied agricultural economics and Michelle, science. Michelle went on to complete a Master of Science and, from 1993, worked as a dietitian in Ipswich, Toowoomba and Mackay.

She travelled to rural towns helping older people and people with disabilities. She has also run her own private practices, as well as spending seven years as the Gympie Community Nutritionist for Queensland Health.

In that role she worked with council and schools to improve food security in the Gympie region, including the Mary Valley, focussing on access to fresh produce and healthy options.

A few years ago, Michelle closed down her private practice to devote more time to the couple’s marketing business, liaising with resort owners and producing newsletters for their guests.

The majority of their hospitality clients are based on the Sunshine Coast and include the hinterland, so she has been writing about the area and promoting its wonders for at least five years.

They have a lot of experience in web development and online marketing such as social media, newsletter database marketing and website development. Utilising these skills with their current newspaper has led to developing an online presence, higher readership, and more social interaction.

The Gilmore family has grown as they have travelled throughout Queensland and overseas with the four children born in Toowoomba, Mackay and London.

In the last year, they have written and edited entire editions on-line, from ads to photo captions, understanding publishing and web requirements, but find it very exciting to be working with such an accomplished team of local writers and designers.

They are already working closely with business owners and community groups as well as a dynamic team of local writers and designers to ensure that HT maintains its high regard in the community.