Belles & Whistles

23/03/2026

Podcast reco: The Journey with Sandra Moon

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the delightful Sandra Moon for many years in a PR capacity - coordinating interviews, sharing client stories, and helping bring local voices to air on ABC Goulburn Murray Breakfast Radio.

But it’s a good reminder that you don’t always know the full story of the person behind the microphone.

That’s what makes this episode of The Journey so special. Sandra is joined by fellow radio veteran Matt Griffith - two naturally curious, chatty broadcasters in one room. The conversation flows with warmth, insight and authenticity.

It’s a thoughtful, engaging listen that offers a fresh perspective on storytelling, communication, and the vital role local voices play in shaping our region.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Perfect for a walk on these beautiful autumn days. 🍂

Prefer to watch? Head to the BMG Partners website.

Radio 2AY Speak Creative

22/03/2026

Apparently it's National Puppy Day... so it feels like the perfect excuse to introduce the the real team behind Belles & Whistles 🐾

Meet Jeff + Dougal. My co-workers, break-time enforcers, and occasional (uninvited) participants in client calls. Their bark timing is… impeccable 🙄

This photo has been in my camera roll for years. But like so many small business owners, I’m great at encouraging my clients to show up, share their story, and build their brand - and slightly less consistent about doing it myself.

(Sound familiar, plumber with the leaky tap?)

Most of my time is spent working in my clients’ businesses - helping them clarify their marketing, tell their story, and connect with their audience.

But moments like this remind me: people don’t just connect with businesses. They connect with the people behind them (and sometimes, the dogs.)

So here’s a small step toward showing up more consistently.

Jeff + Dougal approve wholeheartedly 🐾🐾

22/03/2026

It has certainly been a little while since I’ve popped up here.
Not because the work stopped - quite the opposite - but sometimes when you’re deep in the doing, you forget to tell the story along the way.

This quote caught my eye recently. It perfectly captures what we were celebrating at the BMG Partners Stories That Bind Us event recently - nearly a decade of The Journey podcast and shining a light on the incredible stories of people in our region.

Because the truth is, people rarely connect with a brand because of a product list or service menu. They connect because of a story they recognise, a value they share, or a feeling they trust.

That’s where the real magic lives. ✨

And that’s why storytelling will always be at the heart of great marketing.

18/03/2026

The unfolding situation between Karl and Jackie O is fascinating from a brand perspective.

Particularly because in this case, the relationship isn’t just part of the show - it IS the show. For years, their chemistry and dynamic have been the product audiences tune in for. So what happens when that relationship that underpins a brand starts to fracture publicly? Suddenly it's not just a personal drama. It becomes a brand story, a media story, a reputation story - for the station as well.

Radio is built on familiarity and trust - the feeling that listeners know the people behind the microphone.

When that changes, audiences feel it instantly.

And when a brand is built on a partnership, any tension doesn’t happen quietly - it plays out in real time.

This won’t be a short news cycle. It’s a story that will evolve.
From a brand perspective… watch this space.

Sometimes the biggest risk to a brand isn’t competition, it’s what happens when the story people thought they knew begins to change.

This is an important reminder that for brands built around people, the personal and the professional are rarely separate - and managing reputation becomes just as critical as the marketing itself.

17/03/2026

Sometimes the most rewarding part of our work happens behind the scenes.

Planning the details.
Coordinating the moving parts.
And then stepping back to watch a room full of people come together.

Stories That Bind Us - celebrating nearly a decade of The Journey Podcast - was one of those moments.

A full room at the Albury LibraryMuseum.
Conversations flowing long after the panel finished.
And a shared sense that storytelling still has the power to bring communities together.

We’re incredibly proud to support BMG Partners in growing The Journey into a platform that shines a light on the people, perspectives and experiences that shape the Albury Wodonga region.

It’s a privilege to play a small part in helping those stories be told.

📸 Cartwright Productions - Video & Photography

BMG Partners Albury LibraryMuseum AlburyCity Radio 2AY

17/03/2026

17/03/2026

26/02/2026

This is why storytelling matters.

A full room.
Open conversations.
Shared laughter.
Quiet reflection.

BMG Partners’ Stories That Bind Us event was a powerful celebration of nearly 10 years of The Journey Podcast - and the remarkable people who make our region what it is.

When brands invest in genuine community connection, the impact speaks for itself.

Proud to be part of the journey behind the scenes.

Albury LibraryMuseum Radio 2AY AlburyCity

26/02/2026

Thank you Jodie Bruton for the lovely write up about BMG Partners' event to celebrate The Journey Podcast, Stories that Bind Us. 🙏🏻

The Border Mail Cartwright Productions - Video & Photography Albury LibraryMuseum Radio 2AY AlburyCity Speak Creative Sunshine Trust Guru Ghuman La Maison Restaurant

Sliding door moment: the day Guru almost went to Auburn instead of Albury

The Border Mail Article: By Jodie Bruton
https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/9181572/popular-barista-guru-ghumans-journey-from-melbourne-to-albury/?src=rss&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Post&fbclid=IwY2xjawQMehNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJ1dlNPOERjejJKUWc5QW45c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsz3SKMvz9EWcnTIz82w2Tgb5CzDrtNPQbtrn8ccS0xNZdvzQrUfN50Vu5GH_aem_gbLSt_yiDUGLa3WW1_w_Yw

Guru Ghuman had never even heard of Albury when a friend issued an urgent plea for help in his cafe.

Indian-born Ghuman was finding his feet in Melbourne's hospitality sector amid a recession no less when he misunderstood his friend asking him to work some shifts in the inner-city suburb of Auburn.

"I'll see you in 15 minutes," he told him at the time in 2013.

When his friend explained that Albury was 325 kilometres away along the Hume Freeway, Mr Ghuman said he would come to help out anyway.

He embraced the city's hospitality scene and, when his friend moved on, he stayed in the city.

Guided by good vibes, Guru's Cafeteria thrived within three years, staking its claim on nourishing meals, consistent coffee and authentic chai made from an old family recipe.

Mr Ghuman opened a sister store in Wodonga in mid-2023 before adding his flagship restaurant, Blow Horn, the next year and then South Albury eatery Meraki Kitchen.

He said the warm embrace of the Border community had allowed him to flourish.

"Community is everything," he said.

"Our community became our family; it's not just about the business but people supporting each other."

Mr Ghuman shared his journey at a sold-out community event at Albury LibraryMuseum on Tuesday, February 24.

Hosted by BMG Partners, Stories That Bind Us aimed to celebrate The Journey podcast series and the power of local storytelling.

To mark the ninth year of The Journey, 2AY announcer Matt Griffith also interviewed former Sunshine Trust (formerly Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund) chair Michelle Hensel and La Maison Restaurant owner Wassim Saliba, together with Mr Ghuman.

Having opened La Maison in 2007, Mr Saliba said he could never have imagined being interviewed on a panel about his life's work, 25 years after arriving here.

"Community is an integral part of business," he said.

"Especially if you're not in a touristy area, we rely a lot on each other to survive.

"I still clearly remember in COVID, people just came to our business over and over to support us, saying: 'I just want to see you here after COVID is done.'"

Ms Hensel said an incredibly generous Border community had sustained the Sunshine Trust, which ensured the money was spent locally.

A 22-year cancer survivor herself, Ms Hensel, who had also lost both her father and 22-year-old son Braedon to the disease, spoke freely about her experiences.

She felt a responsibility to share her story to help others touched by cancer.

"I embrace it because that's [Braedon's] legacy that I continue to talk about him," she said.

"But I also want to help other people not go through what he went through; what we went through was incredibly difficult as a family.

"So to be able to talk about what he went through and help someone else to not go through that situation; we can't always change the outcome but, hopefully, we can change the journey."

The Journey, a project by BMG Partners and Radio 2AY, has been preserved in the Albury LibraryMuseum collection.

A total of 91 interviews have been captured since 2017.

📸 By Cartwright Productions - Video & Photography: Wassim Saliba, Guru Ghuman, BMG Partners chief executive Stephen Mamouney, Michelle Hensel and Matt Griffith celebrate the importance of local storytelling at Albury LibraryMuseum & Lavington Library

Guru Ghuman Gurus cafeteria La Maison Restaurant Sunshine Trust

26/02/2026

Congratulations to BMG Partners on a wonderful evening celebrating nearly a decade of The Journey Podcast.

Stories That Bind Us was a reminder of the power of local storytelling - and the strength of the Albury Wodonga community.

Beautifully covered in The Border Mail by Jodie Bruton.

Proud to support initiatives that shine a light on the people and stories that shape our region.

These Border residents share a passion for community and coffee!

19/02/2026

Another great event lined up next week to celebrate BMG Partners' The Journey podcast

Cartwright Productions - Video & Photography