Jessica Cane knew from primary school she wanted to be an accountant. She studied full-time at Deakin University while working full-time at a local practice, demonstrating remarkable drive and ambition. However, her first role at a traditional accounting firm nearly ended her career before it began. As a young woman seeking career progression, she found herself in an environment where advancement seemed impossible. Discouraged, she told her parents she was considering leaving accounting altogether.

Her mother's advice changed everything: try six other places first. Within days, Jessica had a new job at a modern, people-focused practice. This was "modern accounting" - strategic thinking, forward planning, and genuine client connection. After just eighteen months, the partners offered to sell the practice to just two staff members. At only 26 years old, Jessica was one of them. Despite the daunting debt and responsibility, she took the leap.

Fifteen years later, Accounting Solutions Victoria thrives on Jessica's unwavering focus on people and culture. Her philosophy is simple: you can teach technical skills, but you cannot change someone's attitude. The practice operates on making complex financial matters simple, ensuring every client understands their situation completely. As an SMSF specialist, Jessica navigates Centrelink and aged care complexities, holding clients' retirement dreams in her hands.

The practice has grown entirely through word-of-mouth referrals, serving clients across Australia including Queensland, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. Jessica maintains a strong preference for face-to-face meetings, believing personal connection is irreplaceable. She and her team actively support local sports clubs and schools, embodying her belief that in small regional communities, everyone needs to do their bit.

Jessica is honest about the challenges - the early years were brutal, filled with long hours and constant worry. Her survival strategies include reframing her mindset (from "I have to" to "I GET to"), finding trusted mentors, and sleeping on difficult decisions. Her family remains her biggest support network.

Staffing remains the biggest regional challenge, especially after the local RMIT accounting program closed. Jessica addresses this by hiring young people and supporting them through their studies while they work, creating deeply invested team members. Despite challenges, she loves the regional lifestyle - stunning natural beauty, close-knit community connections, and genuine client relationships.

Her advice to aspiring business owners: "You are more capable and stronger than you think, and you can handle anything that's thrown your way." Find somebody you can trust to talk through challenges - verbalizing problems provides relief and clarity.

Today, Accounting Solutions Victoria stands as testament to what's possible when you combine professional expertise with genuine human connection, prioritize people over profits, and stay deeply rooted in community.

Contact: accountingsolutionsvictoria.com.au | McLeod Street, Bairnsdale | Contact Susan for community support inquiries

Ian Pearson - Pier 70 Bar and Restaurant

In this episode of Launch Spotlight, host Eddie the Chef sits down with Ian Pearson, co-owner and driving force behind Pier 70 Bar and Restaurant, one of Paynesville's most beloved waterfront dining destinations.

From Europe to East Gippsland

Ian's hospitality journey spans continents—from kitchens in the UK, France, Greece, and Italy to Melbourne's vibrant café culture in the 1990s, before settling in the Gippsland Lakes region. His story is one of passion, perseverance, and creating authentic experiences in a stunning lakeside setting.

Surviving and Thriving Through Adversity

Pier 70's journey hasn't been easy. Opening just before the devastating 2019-20 bushfires, followed immediately by COVID-19, Ian and his business partners George and Rod faced extraordinary challenges. Yet through community support, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to quality, they've built a thriving restaurant that's become a regional icon.

The Philosophy: Simple, Seasonal, European

Ian brings a distinctly European approach to dining: exceptional local ingredients, simply prepared, in a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. "What grows together goes together" isn't just a saying—it's the foundation of Pier 70's menu, which celebrates Gippsland's incredible produce from suppliers like Forge Creek Lamb and local seafood.

Hospitality First

"I want them to feel welcome. That's it—hospitality," Ian emphasizes. This philosophy permeates everything at Pier 70, from the moment guests arrive on the Esplanade to their last sip of expertly crafted cocktails while watching boats drift past.

Building a Team, Creating Careers

One of Ian's proudest achievements is nurturing young local talent. Staff members often start at 14 or 15 and grow with the business, many returning even after moving on. This stability and culture of development has created a team that embodies Pier 70's values.

Staying in Your Lane

Ian's advice to aspiring restaurateurs? "Stay in your lane." Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, Pier 70 focuses on what they do exceptionally well: quality seasonal dining, stunning location, genuine hospitality, and creating memorable experiences—whether it's an intimate dinner, waterside cocktails, or a special celebration.

Looking Ahead

While maintaining their core identity, Ian sees opportunities in expanding functions and events, particularly during quieter seasons, and potentially taking their catering expertise to new venues across the region.

The Pier 70 Experience

Located at 70 The Esplanade in Paynesville, Pier 70 offers fresh Gippsland produce, an extensive wine list featuring local and international selections, innovative cocktails by award-worthy mixologist Matt, and arguably one of Victoria's best restaurant locations overlooking the water.

Visit: pier70.com.au | Book: Online or call for reservations

In this episode, host Eddie the Chef sits down with Chef Josh Thomas, the creative force behind East Handy Store—an intimate 20-seat degustation experience housed in a beautifully restored 1923 Art Deco milk bar in East Bairnsdale.

Josh's culinary journey reads like an adventure novel. As a teenager, he was dragged through France on cheese-making tours by his uncle, pioneering Australian cheesemaker Richard Thomas. He worked as a private butler in Irish stately homes, trained alongside legendary chefs from Movida and Key in Dinner Plain, and threw acclaimed Spanish-style feasts at his family's Tambo Upper property before discovering the abandoned corner store that would become his life's work.

Where others saw only possum droppings and banana-shaped walls, Josh saw potential. Despite 14 months of VCAT delays and multiple financial setbacks, he transformed what locals called "the Bronx of Bairnsdale" into a destination where diners gather around a courtyard fire before moving inside for a chef-curated journey through East Gippsland's finest produce—all prepared using traditional fermentation techniques including house-made sourdough, cultured butter, and cured meats.

Josh shares the philosophy behind his "fine dining meets fun dining" approach, why he chose a neighbourhood with a rough reputation, and how creating emotional connections matters more than any menu. With reviews comparing East Handy Store to Melbourne's best, this is the story of vision, community, and the belief that a corner store can once again become the beating heart of a neighbourhood.

Book your experience: easthandystore.com | bookings@easthandystore.com