South Morang’s Gabby Montagnese on being named one of Australia’s 100 women of influence

Gabby Montagnese. Picture: Joe Mastroianni

What suburb do you live in and how long have you lived there?

I live in South Morang and have been based there for seven years.

 

What is your connection to the community?

I grew up in the northern suburbs and then moved out this way later on in life. I started my business locally and sent my son to kinder and school here, so we now call this area our home. Most of my family has also now moved out this way.

 

What do you love about your community?

I love that everything is so central and convenient.

 

What, if anything, would you change about your community?

If I had to choose it would be the traffic congestion.

 

You were recently named as one of the 100 Women of Influence for 2016. How did that feel?

It’s exciting and unexpected at the same time. It’s great to be recognised in this light, especially when I focus so much of my time on the business, my staff, our customers and the caravan industry as a whole, so it’s really rewarding.

 

What challenges do you face being one of the only female managing directors and owners in the Australian RV industry?

Being recognised that, as a female, I can add the same value as my male peers. There is an old stigma that was attached to this industry when I first stepped in. People would constantly say: “You’re a female, what would you know about caravans?”

I received this line from customers and my peers, and felt that I had to prove to them that I understood the industry, its customers and caravans in order to be heard.

 

How do you like to spend your spare time?

I love spending my spare time with my family. I have a very active and sporty nine-year-old son, who definitely keeps my social calendar extremely busy.