October is Small Business Month! And to celebrate, we’re highlighting some of the great small businesses we have throughout the region.
Today we have a Taekwondo academy, a manufacturer of show jumping equipment, and real Christmas trees.
Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy 🖥️
Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy is Tamworth’s Premier Taekwondo school.
With two great locations in Tamworth, Northside in Oxley Vale and Southside in Hillvue, the Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy has now opened up a branch in Walcha.
The Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy also runs school sporting programs throughout the New England area including;
- Bendemeer PS
- Blackville PS
- Calrossy Anglican School
- Hillvue PS
- Moonbi PS
- Niangala PS
- Oxley Vale PS
- Somerton PS
- St Patrick’s PS
- Walcha
- Tintinhull PS
- Tooraweenah PS
- Woolbrook PS
The Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy has been running in Tamworth for over six years. The academy is owned and run by 5th Dan Black Belt Instructor David Jackson who has over 40 years’ experience in training Taekwondo.
The Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy teaches Traditional Taekwondo and Olympic style Taekwondo.
The Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy is affiliated with and accredited by Australian Taekwondo, the national body for Taekwondo in Australia. Being affiliated and accredited with Australian Taekwondo allows schools to apply for grants through Sporting Schools Australia to run the Kickstarters Taekwondo Program at their school at no cost to the students.
Students of the Fit-For-It Taekwondo Academy also have access to state and national tournaments with talent identification pathways to the Australian Institute of Sport which could lead to World Championships and Olympic Games selection.
The Jump Shack 🖥️
Inverell’s Suzi Mills has been making waves in the equestrian community with her business, The Jump Shack, where she creates unique show jumping equipment from her home. Since 2016, Suzi has crafted colourful, durable products using stabilized vinyl, a process she developed through trial and error.
“I was tired of painting poles, which doesn’t last if not done properly,” Suzi explained.
“I wanted something more efficient and long-lasting, so I designed these pole sleeves myself.”
Her innovation, which removes the need for messy paint jobs, has made life easier for riders. The vinyl not only adds colour instantly to arenas, but it’s also low maintenance and lasts much longer.
Suzi believes she was one of the first in New South Wales, and possibly Australia, to offer these specialized pole sleeves. Her products are now used across Australia and New Zealand.
“I do everything myself—cutting, sewing, and designing,” Suzi added.
“It’s rewarding to see my products helping people save time and effort while still looking professional.”
You can order from their website or contact them for a quote on a custom order.
Hillview Christmas Trees 🖥️
Locals in the New England Region can look forward to a fresh, sustainable option for their Christmas celebrations in 2024, thanks to Kim and Rob Sizer, who are offering real Christmas trees grown on their farm outside Tamworth.
The Sizers planted their first batch of seedlings in 2021, and this year marks their first harvest. These trees are set to be available across several locations in the Tamworth region, as well as in Quirindi, Gunnedah, Uralla, and Coffs Harbour.
The venture is inspired by Kim’s family tradition—her father grew Christmas trees on the coast for over 20 years. Drawing on Kim’s father’s experience, and starting with 100 seedlings from his farm, they embraced the challenge of growing Christmas trees in their new setting.
A key feature of this initiative is the Sizers’ partnership with local community groups, including the Friends of McMaugh Gardens in Uralla. These groups will help distribute the trees, with a portion of the proceeds going back to them to support their efforts.
With sustainability in mind, the Sizers hope to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to artificial trees, encouraging families to choose locally grown, real Christmas trees. Orders will be available online for the 2024 season, offering a traditional, festive option for homes across the region.
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.
Please share this story to help support New England businesses! See all our Small Business Month profiles here.