Sarah Thomas grew up on Leonard Street in Waimate, where food was grown and cooked at home.

Years later, that upbringing helped shape Blended by Sarah, an award winning business supplying whole-food enteral meals across Australia and New Zealand - on the cusp of global expansion.

CEO of Talking Tree Hill, Kirsten Simmons, was raised on the family farm in Waimate district - which shaped her early years and has never really stopped pulling her home.

Originally from Ealing in West London, Lorraine landed in Waimate 23 years ago and never left.

These days she’s bringing colour, creativity and commerce to the main street via the The Quirky Magpie.