When Renee Collocott returned permanently to Forster she wanted to bring together a creative space, a space where the community could connect, enjoy good company, and of course good food and coffee and the occasional pop-up space for people in the and small businesses.
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In just under three years, Renee, caterer husband, Heath, fellow creative brother Caine Miller and dietitian and nutritionist sister-in-law Erin have pooled their skills, pulling together a unique environment that supports local producers and growers, showcases the talents of local artists through Blue Dust Collective, hosts holistic health workshops, and weekend evening music under the banner of Plunge Forster.
Renee and her partners mapped out their ideas and the community responded.
"We wanted to be the community connector," Renee said.
"You write it down and put it to the universe," she said.
"(In the end) everything has worked out."
Like so many before her, Renee has done the full circle, growing up and receiving her secondary school education locally before moving on the tertiary studies, a career and travel before returning to their roots.
Renee's journey began at Newcastle University studying visual communications majoring in graphic design.
A trip to Indonesia as a 17-year-old in the 90s fuelled her obsession for travel, and for a couple of years Renee lived and worked in pubs and bars across London, and used her graphic design skills on the side.
"The reason you work in bars is you live in the city which makes life easier to travel."
Her nomadic lifestyle and thirst for knowledge continued on her return to Australia following her jaunt across the United Kingdom and Europe.
We wanted to be the community connector.
- Renee Collocott
Eager to experience a different lifestyle and culture at the coalface Renee went back to Indonesia where she studied Bahasa, the country's most common language, then visited Eastern Europe and the USA, which included a mammoth road trip from New York to LA in a $900 campervan, before back home to undertake a Masters in Journalist at the University of Technology Sydney.
"In particular, I had an interest in environmental journalism"
A short stint with the Sydney Morning Herald followed before Renee was offered a position with Surfing NSW and Australia as its media communications manager.
"I loved that job; it gave me the freedom to write, edit, take photos, and film and travel up and down the coast and work with other journalists."
The lure of more adventure and eager to dip her toes into a new career Renee headed to Darwin and a job as media adviser with the territory's top public servant, and first Indigenous chief minister (of the day), Adam Giles.
"It was an incredibly eye opening experience," she said.
Responsible for business, infrastructure, transport, multicultural, youth, seniors and veterans affairs and Asian engagement and trade portfolios, Renee witnessed two 'coupes' including the controversial lease of Darwin port to China.
"I had never had a desire to work in politics.
"But, it was such a fascinating time for me.
"And, what I loved about living in the Territory, there were always things happening."
But, Renee knew when it was time to leave when on a trip home and her young nephew didn't know who she was.
Returning to Sydney she met partner Heath worked briefly for Mike Baird and travelled for an extended period to India with her mum.
"It was incredible travelling through India and Nepal; you don't (often) get to travel with your mum after you turn 18."
The stars certainly aligned for the group when they secured the Plunge site, a site which had had a strong connection with both Renee and Caine during their youth.
"We had a love for this place; we lived on this strip."
"This used to be the hottest destination in the 90s; we wanted to make this a destination."
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