Home » Features » My Neighbourhood » South Morang’s Gabby Montagnese on being named one of Australia’s 100 women of influence

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

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.

Digital Editions


  • Additional health test for newborns

    Additional health test for newborns

    Victoria has become the first Australian jurisdiction to include sickle cell disease in its universal newborn health screening program. This expansion brings the total number…

More News

  • Celebrity alcohol ads slip into teens’ Insta feeds

    Celebrity alcohol ads slip into teens’ Insta feeds

    Celebrities are promoting their own alcohol products on Instagram without a clear disclosure of advertising content and almost all posts are visible to underage users, according to new research from…

  • Funding to improve road safety across Victoria

    Funding to improve road safety across Victoria

    Victorian community organisations and groups will get a total of $600,000 in grants from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to develop and implement local road safety projects. The funding, part…

  • Multicultural health committee expanded

    Multicultural health committee expanded

    Victoria’s Multicultural Health Advisory Committee has been expanded in an effort to make the state’s health system more inclusive and increasingly diverse. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas unveiled the strengthened and…

  • NFL coming to Melbourne

    NFL coming to Melbourne

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 178232 The National Football League has confirmed that the San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in…

  • Footy films initiative returns

    Footy films initiative returns

    Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), AFL, and VicScreen have announced that Footy Shorts will return in 2026. The first Footy Shorts lineup proved a winner with audiences, reaching more than…

  • Big boost for Bundoora

    Big boost for Bundoora

    Bundoora United has received a massive boost ahead of the Victorian Premier League women’s competition. After finishing third last season and making the grand final, the side is aiming to…

  • Multicultural bazaar supports diverse entrepreneurs

    Multicultural bazaar supports diverse entrepreneurs

    The Australian Multicultural Community Centre (AUSMCC) hosted its annual multicultural bazaar in Roxburgh Park on 11 February, celebrating culture and entrepreneurship. The event brought together emerging entrepreneurs, established business owners,…

  • Jumpstarting young driving journeys

    Jumpstarting young driving journeys

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 228084 A new program will help young people from refugee backgrounds learn to drive. Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne announced the…

  • Out and about

    Out and about

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532105 Each week Star Weekly photographers are out and about capturing events and people across the Macedon Ranges, Hume and Whittlesea.

  • Plea to save bus stops

    Plea to save bus stops

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 533386 An Epping man is calling on his neighbours and the wider community to help save the bus stops along Lyndarum Drive and Rockfield…