We caught up with Deb Saunders from Wallabi Point ahead of her appearance as a guest speaker at this Sunday's International Women's Day function at Club Taree.
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You've been invited as a guest speaker at this year's International Women's Day at Club Taree, how are you feeling in the lead-up to the event?
I feel great, it is really an honour to be asked. There have been some incredible ladies speak at this event. Our daughter Luca spoke last year. That was a very proud moment for Andy and I. We couldn't be present as we were on The Block but we watched a recording and it was so amazing and emotional. I have to follow some incredible women including our Luca who is amazing. No pressure ha ha.
What will you talk about and do you have a key message?
I will speak about life in general, being a proud Mum, a proud local and getting out of my comfort zone on The Block. Also that you can do things you wouldn't think possible as the human spirit is strong and resilient.
IWD celebrates women and their achievements. What do you see as some of your greatest accomplishments in life?
My greatest achievements would be my family. My children and Andy. We have been through some ups and downs. We are a strong bunch and not quitters. I also place great value on my relationships with my family and friends. I've come to realise how the people in my life are so valuable and those relationships we share are an achievement and are to be treated with respect and care.
What do you think is the most important thing when it comes to achieving things you set out to do?
I think the most important thing is to know that you can go beyond what you think your limits are and never let anyone else set your limits, you are in charge of you and all you do! Also you can do your thing from anywhere.
We love our area and really love living here. Lots of people have asked us if we are moving now that we have done The Block but we have no plans to leave here any time soon. How could you ever leave here! We have some fun things happening in 2020 that may require a few nights away here and there but no permanent moves on the horizon.
How would you like to inspire or motivate other women to chase their dreams and believe in themselves?
I would look at the women who have inspired me and hope that I can do the same for others. I have many inspirational women around me. My Mum who raised us to believe in ourselves and who placed so much trust in us. Mum really loved her female friends too. We grew up seeing women supporting women and genuine happiness for others when they achieved their dreams and goals whatever those goals may have been. Jealousy just wasn't a thing at home growing up. Mum loved seeing everyone living their best life. I would say to everyone to set your goals and work hard towards them. It doesn't matter if it's big or small if it's what YOU want don't stop until you smash them.
This past year your profile has risen across the country with The Block. How has that been for you (and Andy) and did that experience change the way you approach your life and how you show up in the world?
This past year has been a really crazy one that's for sure! The Block experience certainly changed us. You get thrown in to so many different situations and I was way out of my comfort zone often but there was no time to dwell in that headspace, you had to be switched on or you'd be left in the dust and rubble of the fast moving world of television renovating! This was really good for me as it challenged me in ways I would never have imagined. We were mic'd up as soon as our feet hit the floor in the morning (if we had slept), then we were on camera all day and most of the night for 102 days straight, after we wrapped filming and it went to air we watched it back at the same time as everyone else did. We never knew what they would show. You really see yourself in a whole new way both physically and emotionally that's for sure.
Anything else you'd like to mention that I might have missed?
After we wrapped filming and the show was on air we were doing live television crosses, live television in the studio, live interviews in front of large crowds with network and show executives present, live radio interviews and lots of recorded television and radio too.
It's like an intensive TV training camp from day one onsite until the end of all the promotional commitments and there's zero preparing before you start, you are just thrown in and you learn as you go.
These are all things that once would have scared me. Now it's not scary, it's really fun and we were like seasoned pros after a while just doing the TV thing like it was nothing. We also met some absolutely incredible people in the cast, crew and our tradies.
We got so close as you are stripped raw, it's real, there's no pretending when you haven't slept or showered for 48 hours and you are relying on each other so much to just get through each moment.
We have hit some lows and people we only just met helped get us through.
It forms fierce bonds. I love my Block fam and it's an unexplainable connection.
All that amazing stuff aside we also built a three storey mansion in the heart of St Kilda and sold it for $3.42 million dollars all in the space of just four months!
I think you do show up in the world different after all that. You don't sweat stuff, you just get it done and I'm calmer in a crisis now, I know there's usually a solution to most problems.
So to finish I have to say it has been amazing and it makes me feel extremely grateful for the opportunity and outcome. If we can do this anyone can.
The fourth International Women's Day luncheon in support of the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat in Forster is on this Sunday at Club Taree.
Bookings have closed.
Joining Deb, co-owner of The Shed Luxe, as guest speakers are Barbara Ryan, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia and Kate Darnell from Gumboots By The Sea.
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