October is Small Business Month! And to celebrate, we’re highlighting some of the great small businesses we have throughout the New England and North Coast. See all the stories here.
Today for Small Business Month, we’re celebrating three very different businesses making a difference: practical tech support that makes life easier and more accessible, a family cleaning and pest control business built on personal service, and a unique regional venue keeping Australian poetry and performance alive.
Sam the Computer Man
Technology made easier, more accessible and less frustrating
Wauchope / Mid North Coast
Technology is supposed to make life easier, but when a computer stops cooperating or the Wi-Fi won’t reach the back room, it can quickly become frustrating. For Wauchope’s Sam the Computer Man, the answer is simple: provide practical solutions, explain them clearly and make sure people feel comfortable with the technology they’re using.
Independently owned and operated by Sam Moffitt, the business provides tech support, repairs and customised digital solutions for households, local businesses and care participants across the Mid North Coast.
What makes Sam’s approach different is his combination of technical experience and a background in aged and disability care support. That means he can not only solve technical problems, but also consider how technology can be made easier and more accessible for the person actually using it.
From simplified interfaces, large-text displays and voice-controlled technology through to family connection systems, Sam takes a patient, practical approach without relying on technical jargon.
There’s an even more unusual side to the business: custom 3D printing and design. Sam can design and produce items such as ergonomic grips, button pushers, key turners and custom brackets, as well as replacement parts that can be difficult to find commercially.
Whether it’s fixing a sluggish computer, improving Wi-Fi coverage or creating a customised solution, customers deal directly with Sam from start to finish.
For Sam, good technology support isn’t simply about fixing the problem. It’s about listening to the person, understanding what they actually need and finding a solution that makes everyday life a little easier.
Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control
A family business with a personal touch
Bingara, NSW
When Kim and Glen started Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control, they wanted to create more than a business that simply turned up, did the job and moved on. As a small family-owned and operated business, they’ve built their service around personal relationships, honest advice and taking pride in their work.
Based in Bingara, Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control provides a range of cleaning, carpet cleaning and pest control services to the local community and surrounding areas. Between them, Kim and Glen bring more than 20 years of industry experience to the business.
Being small is something the couple sees as a strength. Customers deal directly with Kim and Glen, rather than being passed between different staff, and they take the time to get to know the people and properties they work with.
They also understand that working in someone’s home or on their property comes with a responsibility that goes beyond simply completing the job. Particular care is taken around homes, properties and animals while work is being carried out.
For Kim and Glen, good service is about the little things – being approachable, doing what they say they will do, treating people and their property with respect, and taking pride in the finished result.
There’s also room for a bit of fun along the way. As Kim puts it, they work hard, have a laugh and enjoy being part of their local community.
It’s that combination of experience and personal service that Rebel Cleaning & Pest Control hopes will keep customers coming back – and recommending a local family business they know they can rely on.
Australian Poetry Hall of Fame
Where Australian poetry comes alive
Guyra, NSW
Step inside Guyra’s historic Arcadia Theatre and you’ll find something a little different from your usual regional attraction. Since 2020, the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame has been bringing together poetry, performance, art and Australian literary history under one roof.
Housed in the 1929 theatre, the Hall of Fame celebrates Australia’s rich spoken and written traditions, from traditional bush poetry through to contemporary verse and performance poetry. Visitors can explore exhibitions, original portraits and curated collections, while workshops and educational programs offer opportunities to get involved rather than simply look at displays.
And there’s plenty happening beyond the exhibitions. The venue hosts live poetry, music, storytelling and theatrical performances, alongside an on-site plant-based café and curated vintage and secondhand book offerings. It can also be hired for private functions and performances.
At the heart of it all is founder and director James Arthur Warren, known professionally as Thundercloud Repairian. A poet, portrait artist and educator, James is also an active performer, bringing his own experience of the creative world to the Hall of Fame. When he’s not competing on the national performance circuit, he can be found hosting shows, leading workshops or welcoming visitors to Guyra.
The result is a cultural space that feels very much alive — where Australian poetry and storytelling aren’t simply preserved, but performed, shared and experienced.
Throughout October, we’ll run stories highlighting the great local businesses we have right here in our communities. This is a free service – the businesses highlighted have not paid for this story.
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