Author: Suzy Michael

A local ‘youngpreneur’ has conquered the global skincare industry, and she’s been making waves across the industry. Donna Fahandezh is only 24 years-old and already has her own successful global empire. At just 19 years-old, the ambitious and savvy teenager bought her first local business. “I bought my first Sparkling White Smile franchise with the help of my dad. Dad lent me about $50,000 and I told him I’m only taking this money if he promises me, and put it in writing, that he’ll let me pay him back. I believe success only comes when you do everything yourself and…

Our exclusive interview with Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek uncovers his true nature: the family man, the local representative, the volunteer at community events and the passion he has for his Bankstown area. Suzy Michael, our editor-in-chief, asked Mayor Bilal some personal and biographical questions about his upbringing, community involvement and professional work. S: You were elected as Mayor following the resignation of Councillor Karl Asfour, to whom you were Deputy Mayor. With over 10 years of serving the community, our readers could benefit knowing more about you…who is Bilal El-Hayek? B: Well, Bilal is a local boy. I grew up…

An exceptional local talent has become the youngest player in history to sign a deal with the Sydney Kings. At only 18 years old, Australian talent Klarius Amir signed a three-year deal with the exclusive club. Before joining the Kings, Amir was a Hills Hornets local player, then relocated to America temporarily where he was recognised by the United States’ ESPN as a four-star college recruit and was ranked among the top 20 prospects in the Western region of the United States. According to Amir, choosing the Kings is the perfect opportunity for him to embark on his professional career. …

Grandpa Guiseppe Paiano, or nonno Joe as he is affectionally known, is an admired member of his local community. He lives a simple, humble life, migrating from the European-rich cultural shores of Italy. He left his young family in Italy to pursue a better life in Australia – a very difficult and brave decision that would later bring nonno Joe happiness and success. Nonno Joe describes himself as “a prisoner of war,” as he, like many families, were simple farmers and lived in poverty, and he served as an Italian soldier during World War II. Armed with courage and willpower,…

From the heart of New York, this local Porte Rican came to Australia in 1997, fell madly in love with an Australian Doctor, married and became a serial entrepreneur. This is where the journey begins for this tenacious, loved-up, impetuous young pillar of humanity, who has an incredibly optimistic and resilient conviction. Stephenie Rodriguez is the founder of Wander Safe: a non-violent personal safety device that pairs with an app. “I was consulting in the digital transformation space between 2009 and 2015,” says Stephenie, “after almost getting raped in an elevator in Geneva and seeing the plight of young women…

Allie Pepper is an experienced Australian mountaineer with 23 years of climbing under her belt. She considers mountain climbing not only a passion but also her business. Her current record-breaking project is to climb to the true summits of all 14 of the world’s 8,000m peaks without additional oxygen in the world’s fastest time, with an aim to complete the challenge by June 2025. The current world record is 16 years, and Allie wants to do it in just over two years! When asked about what support she receives, Allie reveals, “I have four coaches: I have two coaches for…

Ms Tina Ayyad MP, Member for Holsworthy and former Liverpool Councillor and Deputy Mayor, holds a deep affection for her region. She has a proven track record of championing the needs of her constituents, whether it’s through her efforts to safeguard the George’s River, increase infrastructure in the local area or support the residents entrusted to her.    In addition to her public service, Tina is also a devoted mother of three children with her husband, Ned. Her personal experience has taught her the importance of backing families to manage the cost of living, creating a brighter future for the youth,…

Rev Fred Nile, together with his wife Silvana, lead the Revive Australia Party, who holds the belief that restoration, repair, and rebuilding are necessary for Australia in various areas including spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional spheres. The party aims to bring revival to family, governance, health, and education to address these needs. Alex Greenwich MP, Member for Sydney, is someone who has recently experienced homophobic slur through vile and malicious social media attacks by the Hon Mark Latham MLC, prompting former MLC, Reverend Fred Nile to step in. Reverend Nile says, “I thought it was very unfair of Mark Latham…

In the modest neighbourhood of Dean Park, the makings of a remarkable fashion designer were in play. Faten Lawn learned to live a modest life with her Egyptian parents, who taught her to value simplicity over material possessions. Faten recalls her mother, who worked in a factory, often sewed dresses for her, despite Faten’s demeanour being more of a “tomboy than a girly-girl.” Faten was always impeccably colour-coordinated, thanks to her mother’s inspiration. “I learned about textiles and fashion through my mum, who was a seamstress. Because I was such a tomboy, there was no chance I was going to…

Greg Page is famously known as the “Yellow Wiggle” and will be entrenched in history as one of the most globally successful children’s entertainers of all-time. His cardiac arrest at his last concert in 2020 proved one thing to Greg: it was a miracle he was alive. Greg’s near-death experience has propelled him towards devoting his time in raising awareness about the sudden and indeterminate killer. “I survived a cardiac arrest, and not many people do,” says Greg. “When I woke up in hospital and was told I was a statistic of one in 10 to survive, that was a…