The Splendid Word in Echuca, Victoria | Media agency

The Splendid Word

Locality: Echuca, Victoria

Phone: +61 409 239 577

Address: 15 Crofton Street 3564 Echuca, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.thesplendidword.com.au

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25.01.2022 School’s back in regional Vic! What a sight for sore eyes. If you’ve just waved your kiddos off for the first time in way too long what was your overriding emotion?... *Utter* relief over here. {image description: six primary school aged kids walking down their street together to catch the school bus}

25.01.2022 We’re so sad about this news.... Not just because it means we won’t get to interview the artists and write the stories for the festival program, but because it’s our favourite social event on the EM calendar. Our hearts go out to David Frazer and the entire Riverboats crew. ... We’ll be waiting for you all with open arms in 2022!

24.01.2022 We’ve been crushing on Pru Chapman and the crew at Owners Collective for years now. And ‘One Wild Ride’ is hands down one of our all time fave poddies to wrap our ears around. (If you haven’t come across it yet get to it!) Fair to say I’m beyond excited to have this trailblazing woman (and her team of mavericks) as my biz mentor for the next five months - such perfect timing as I step in to steering this ship and amazing team of freelancers in to 2021 (and beyond) as sole d...irector. Here’s to stretching, growing, learning and switching things up! If you could choose anyone in the world as your business coach and mentor who would it be? Lee. {image description: a picture of 4 Owners Collective products stacked on top of each other. At the bottom is a workbook for the High End Hustlers Program, on top of that is a black note book, then volume 1 of the One Wild Ride magazine, and on the very top is a postcard that reads ‘all great things are wild and free.’}

24.01.2022 And we have a date! 19 days to go. Nov 23 can’t come quick enough!!

24.01.2022 Calling all small businesses! We were excited to be back in the podcast studio (aka our home offices) today to chat via Zoom about change - both personally and professionally. Oh, how exciting it will be to finally chat in person! ... Anyhow, we were chatting with our podcast pal Katrina Myers about how change - and adapting to it - is very topical right now, along with uncertainty and vulnerability. Thank you COVID-19! We were also chatting about an exciting new project for our Spreading the Good Stuff Podcast happening during October with the crew at Murray River Council for Small Business Month. Over four episodes we'll be chatting about running a small, regional business during a global pandemic and honing in on those who have successfully adapted and pivoted in the face of challenge. So, we're putting the call out to any small business based in Murray River Council who might be keen to share their story on our podcast. We're very grateful to Murray River Council for the opportunity and can't wait to celebrate Small Business Month with a bunch of uplifting and inspiring podcast conversations. It's what we love to do here at TSW! Get in touch via DM on any of our social channels if you're interested or have any recommendations for us. Episode #51 is out Thursday! Chat soon, Christy and Leonie xo

24.01.2022 Image Descriptions You may have noticed we've recently been making a big effort to include image descriptions on our photos on social media. We're not perfect at it, and at times we forget, but we're giving it our best shot because we want to be a good ally to people with different accessibility needs.... For those new to IDs, these are a short description within the body of text that accompanies an image on social media and they're designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. People with vision impairments often use assistive technology programs like Screen Reader when they're online, which reads out text to them. Screen Reader is not able to read the text in graphics and can not describe images. So, the idea behind image descriptions is to lift those accessibility barriers to your content and provide inclusion for all. We're still experimenting with how best to describe our images, but here's a few tips that might come in handy if it's a direction you would like to take with your own social media posts. Pretend that you're explaining what you see in the image to another person. Is it a table, graph, chart or graphic? If so, explain its contents. Does it feature a person, and if so are they male or female, dark hair or fair, long hair or short, are they standing or sitting, smiling or frowning, what are they wearing, where are they and what's around them? You can go in to as much detail as you like - and even have a bit of fun with it! If you've got a top tip for being more inclusive online, or recommendations of accounts to follow who do this stuff really well, we'd love to hear it? Because when we know better, we do better. x Lee. credit to Liz and Mollie {image description: This is a light blue graphic designed by Liz and Mollie with a black font that says 'Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard'. The words 'diversity', 'inclusion', and 'belonging' are all highlighted in a blueish/purple highlight colour.}

23.01.2022 Today is Love Your Bookshop Day! And we can't think of a more perfect opportunity than this to thank and celebrate the connection, solace, relief and escape books and bookshops have provided us all in this very strange and challenging year. Do you have a favorite bookshop? Give them a shout out below.... And while you're at it, let us know what book is on your bedside table right now..... image credit - @loveyourbookshopday {image description: This is a green graphic with a white bold font that says 'Love Your Bookshop Day 2020, 3 October’. There is a cartoon illustration of a woman hanging from a pink love heart between the words Day and 2020.}

22.01.2022 Small Biz Support Grants - Border communities If you're a small business in southern NSW looking for ways to build your brand during this period of covid downturn, here’s an idea. Did you know you can access business support grants to help you invest in marketing, communication and digital solutions if you've been impacted by the closure of the NSW/Vic border?... Yep, one off payments of between $5000 and $10,000 are available to eligible small businesses in towns including Moama, Albury and Mulwala - but you need to get your applications in by Sunday (18 Oct)! If you've been thinking about updating the copy on your website, getting some industry-specific blogs written, investing in a copywriter for your social media content, or getting some regular communication happening with your clients through email marketing, this is the perfect opportunity to get it done. Not only will you be making a valuable investment in building your digital content footprint (and raising your biz profile), but you can get financial support to help you do it! To find out if you’re eligible, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au//apply-southern-border-smal. And if you get the grant, and need copywriters for the job - we'll just be over here..... @cindyhopepower {image description: a photo of a laptop, coffee mug and stack of books sitting on a desk, and Christy’s hand holding a pen and notebook hovering just above.}

21.01.2022 We've had a bunch of lovely new followers to our pages in recent months, many of whom don't live in our beautiful part of the world. Some have never heard of Echuca Moama, let-a-lone visited our riverside paradise. So we're dropping this here to give our newbies a little taste of life here on the Murray - our daily source of inspiration for crafting splendid words. It's a beautiful showcase of our region and captures the natural beauty of our twin river towns so effortle...ssly. And for those of us who ARE locals - it's a stunning reminder of just why we choose to call this magic place home. #loveEM x Lee. Video by Discover Murray - Echuca Moama. {video description: a video featuring drone footage of Echuca Moama and the mighty Murray River that runs through the twin towns.}

20.01.2022 What words of kindness can you offer someone today? Leave a love note for a friend or your fave biz below and let's sprinkle that goodness around like confetti. ... {image description: a graphic with a beautiful bright rainbow across the centre and the words, 'World Kindness Day' written in large, bold font above it.}

20.01.2022 3 years of Fi A big burst of gratitude to Fiona Walker - one of our much-loved TSW creatives who today notches up three years of crafting social media content for our clients. For anyone who knows Fi, you'll totally get why we SO love having her on our team........ She's positive, bubbly, super smiley and infectiously enthusiastic in her approach to her work, and with more than 10 years' experience in the marketing game, this gal knows her stuff.... She brings a wealth of knowledge, skill and savvy to the social media arm of our biz and does a stellar job in helping our clients lift their social media games to lofty new heights. Happy anniversary Fi - thanks for all the goodness you bring to our world of words. {image description: a black and white photo of Fiona looking all kinds of joyful. She's wearing sunglasses, standing outside in front of her pool, with her arms splayed out wide and smiling brightly.}

19.01.2022 Wanna know the best books of the year for 2020? The winners of the Goodreads Choice Awards have just been announced! Take a geek. ... Fiction The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Non-Fiction Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi) Memoir & Autobiography A Promised Land (Barack Obama) Mystery & Thriller The Guest List (Lucy Foley) Historical Fiction The Vanishing Half (Brit Bennett) Fantasy House of Earth and Blood (Sarah J Maas) Romance From Blood and Ash (Jennifer L Armentrout) Sci Fi To Sleep in a Sea of Stars (Christopher Paolini) Horror Mexican Gothic (Silvia Moreno-Garcia) Humor Strange Planet (Nathan W.Pyle) Young Adult Fiction Clap When You Land (Elizabeth Acevedo) Middle Grade & Children's The Tower of Nero (Rick Riordan) The Goodreads Choice Awards are the only major book awards decided by readers. Agree with the choices? And have you read any on the list? Be sure to check out the full results at the link.

19.01.2022 Border announcement imminent..... Crossing everything that Gladys will have good news for our NSW-Victorian border communities later this morning. It's well and truly time..... Tune in at 11am for the press conference folks.

18.01.2022 CHANGE We've got some *big* news. So much so, that it's been a physical and mental challenge hitting go on this post just now. Because once it's out there, it all becomes real - and there's no turning back....Continue reading

18.01.2022 Dreaming of whimsical office views like this one today..... Might be because my home office has just been converted into a bedroom for one of our boys and I'll now be sitting at a desk in said bedroom staring at a blank white wall until my new workspace becomes a reality......(*which is still some way off into the future). I'm coveting beautiful big windows, soft drapes, bucket loads of natural light, and nature at your fingertips just like this space.... Oh and for the kids to be back at school instead of sharing my desk....Too much to ask for? How's your view looking today? x Lee. cred to Eli Sommer from Pexels

18.01.2022 As a lover of words, you know your work on earth is done when you stumble across a breathtaking evening scene like this one. Read on little one, read on. {image description: a little boy sitting in the bath, lost in his own world reading his book.}

16.01.2022 Today is Love Your Bookshop Day! And we can't think of a more perfect opportunity than this to thank and celebrate the connection, solace, relief and escape books and bookshops have provided us all in this very strange and challenging year. Do you have a favorite bookshop? Give them a shout out below.... And while you're at it, let us know what book is on your bedside table right now..... image credit - @loveyourbookshopday {image description: This is a green graphic with a white bold font that says 'Love Your Bookshop Day 2020, 3 October’. There is a cartoon illustration of a woman hanging from a pink love heart between the words Day and 2020.}

16.01.2022 ‘Character matters. Being a good person matters.’

14.01.2022 Taking a little trip down memory lane today as we mark the final day together in our decade-long partnership. Boy we've had some fun along the way Christy O'Brien . These pics don't even begin to scratch the surface - so many good times, incredible projects delivered, live events created, and splendid words written together. From tomorrow Christy steps out of her role as co-director and into her new possie here with us at The Splendid Word as senior content writer.... Here's to writing the next chapter. Lee.

14.01.2022 As we sit here in the foyer of a busy hospital with a long wait ahead of us for a medical appointment, the scene around us is anything but normal. Covid testing, temperature checking, lengthy screening questionnaires, socially distanced queues, socially distanced seating, personal protective equipment and masked faces at every turn. Looking at the expression on the face of my 12 year old son, I ask him what story he is spinning inside that impressionable head about this stran...ge new paradigm we find ourselves in. ‘Will it always be like this?’ he asks. ‘Will things ever go back to the way they were?’ ‘Will we all wear masks forever?’ I don’t have answers to any of his questions. (In fact I’m asking myself the same things). So I hand him a book instead. One thing I do know is that we’ll always have stories my boy. And stories are how we make sense of the world - even in a world that seems to make no sense at all. Stories like the ones you and I hold in our laps as we sit here waiting and watching. Stories that rewrite history like this big one we are all part of right now. It might not make sense to any of us in the moment, but one day it will. Because stories have the power to open our eyes to possibilities we never knew existed; to shape and mould us into better humans. And my child, it’s up to us to choose how we learn and grow from them. {image description: a blurred image of two open books resting in the hands and laps of a mother and child sitting in a hospital foyer.}

14.01.2022 Four years of Katie Today we're celebrating this talented soul who joined our splendid ranks as a freelancer on this day 4 whole years ago! Katie started out with us as a side gig while she was still working in a corporate comms role with the Department of Primary Industries.... She made the leap from corporate life to a fully fledged freelancer with TSW just over two years ago now - and we've loved every minute of having her by our side. Katie is a gifted communicator, a content strategist and an engagement specialist. She writes beautiful copy and goes out of her way to make our clients feel heard, valued, supported and nurtured. We love the way she goes about her work with passion, spirit and attention to detail - but most of all we admire her for being such an authentic, positive, kind, generous, and big-hearted human. One of our highest values here at TSW is to use our words for good, and in doing so, to empower all those around us to do the same. Katie lives and breathes our brand and ethos in the most natural way, which makes her the absolute perfect fit. She's a joy to work with and we value her contribution, perspective, camaraderie and expertise more than she can possibly know. Happy TSW anniversary Katie. Lee. cred to our extra clever friend Tamara Cadd Photography - Echuca Photographer {image description: A portrait photo of Katie leaning on an open window sill, with one arm resting on the ledge, clasping her other hand. She has chin length brown bobbed hair with blonde highlights, is dressed in a black singlet and is wearing her gorgeous trademark smile.}

12.01.2022 It's over folks. After 138 days of separation, of sitting in crushingly long queues of stagnant traffic, and of flashing permits and licenses to law enforcement officers patrolling the Echuca Moama bridge, our riverside cross border community is finally one again. Yep, the NSW-Victorian border is open!... Hallebloodylujah!! The large cavalry of NSW Police and Australian Defence Force troops who have patrolled the border checkpoint since NSW locked Victoria out on July 8 is gone. Just like that. Their presence has become such a constant in our day-to-day lives for so long that it almost doesn't feel right not seeing them at their posts this morning. It took just two minutes to cross the river this morning - a stark contrast to the delays of between 40 minutes and 2 hours that cross border residents have been experiencing most days. For the first time in four months, our kids won't have the police and army boarding their school buses as they cross the bridge, walking the aisles checking for permits, (and sneaky stowaways ). I often wonder if they pretended not to see that scared little boy hiding under the bus seat one afternoon because he couldn't find his paperwork and was terrified of being sent to prison, or if he really did get away with evading them? {True story....that little boy was mine.} It's been a time of despair, confusion, frustration and division for many in our community, and while we all understand the reason for the border closure and its necessity, it's important that we acknowledge the impact it has had on our daily lives. And once we've sat with that for a moment, and processed the bigness and messiness of it all, we can let it go. Because it's time to move forward - to re-unite our townships and re-build our sense of 'oneness'. A few months ago, I wrote a post on here about the border closures, predicting that our duo of towns would emerge from this challenging period stronger than ever. That time has come folks. Let's make it happen. Image credit to Echuca Moama Tourism (Image description: An aerial photograph of a stretch of the Murray River at Echuca Moama. The river is framed by red gum forest. A single speed boat is cruising along the water, with a long stretch of wake behind it. Several other speed boats can be seen in the distance, pulled up on the river bank.}

12.01.2022 New beginnings I never imagined myself as a sole business owner. For a creative introvert like me, it's just not what I ever felt drawn to.... I've always been a team player. I've worked in busy newsrooms and in political hallways for most of my career, and when I jumped ship to freelancing 10 years ago, I did it alongside Christy in partnership. (The fact that she was a bright, beautiful word-loving extrovert just made us the perfect fit.) But here I am today, taking a giant leap of faith, and going it alone. (Dropping this photo of myself here alongside this post is one of the first brave, awkward and uncomfortable moves I've had to make). To be honest, if Christy had have told me two years ago that she was stepping aside as co-director of The Splendid Word, I might have called it quits. I'm not sure I would have had the courage to do this without her. But not today. Today I feel ready. I love what I do, and what we've created here, and there's no where else I'd rather be. The Splendid Word is so much more than a copywriting agency. It's a place where we get to make a really positive difference in the world; where we inspire one another to live our lives at a higher frequency and to encourage all those around us to do the same. To me, words are THE most powerful vehicle for connecting and inspiring positive change in the world, and I believe wholeheartedly that we all have a responsibility to take greater care of the impact our words have inside our own heads, and on the lives of all those we encounter. When we change the way we connect with the people around us - in business and in life - we can change the world for the better. And that's what we're going to keep doing here. Me and my amazing team of freelancers who I am so incredibly grateful for and so proud to work alongside. Christy, Katie, Fiona, Kendra, Corinda and Sally - I can't thank you all enough for your support, for the depth and vibrancy you bring to our creative storytelling agency, and for sharing your wondrous talents with our cherished clients. I couldn't do this without you all. Onwards. Lee. {image description: Leonie is standing by herself, smiling happily and holding a glass of wine. She is wearing a leopard print top and pictured against an ocean backdrop}

11.01.2022 Hooray for Border Communities This is bloody fantastic news for all Murray River border communities, including Echuca Moama, and all our wonderful local businesses! We are one community and this has finally been recognised.... loveEM #onecommunity #borderbubble

10.01.2022 Wowsers - what a week it has been for our humble little business here at TSW. So much love and emotion for what we have created and some very big moments of about what the future will look like for me now that I am no longer a 'partner' at TSW. Thank you to everyone who touched base and helped make a big decision just that little bit easier. ... There have been a few tears, some sleepless nights and a bit of wine to help navigate this big change, but I know for sure that: 1. I feel so bloody proud of what we have created and that Leonie has this solo gig totally covered! 2. It is the right time for me to support Troy at CLK First National Echuca Business Page, which is our family's future. Note: hoping like hell he won't get sick of me too quickly! 3. We can ALL do hard things and shouldn't have to get to a 'crisis' point to make positive change in our personal or professional lives It's been 'big' to make this change, but not hard, and I have Leonie to thank for that. We hardly knew each other when we started TSW almost 10 years ago. But through respect, admiration, patience, persistence and love for each other (and our business) we navigated our way through. It's true - like with any business - it hasn't always been pretty, however we were always guided by our shared goals and 'farm girl' values and morals to trust that we were on the right path. And, as I step into a part-time, contractor role with an awesome collective of creatives I feel excited for the future of TSW with Leonie at the helm. I honestly couldn't ask for a more intelligent, hard-working, talented, and kind-hearted, kick-ass boss. Here's to change, grabbing it with both hands and giving it a big hug! Christy xo

10.01.2022 One of the things we love best about the way we've set up our business model at The Splendid Word, is the freedom it gives us to welcome other creative freelancers into our fold. When Christy and I started this copywriting agency back in 2011, it was just the two of us. But these days TSW is home to a talented team of journalists, copywriters, storytellers and editors - each of whom bring their own unique gifts to the table and who share our company ethos of using our words... for good. Over the past few weeks we've been beyond excited to welcome a new contractor to our TSW family, in the uber-talented Sally Dalwood (Branson). Many of you may know Sal through her beautiful online business The Suite Set . Sal is based in Melbourne, (though a country gal at heart), and has a background in politics, public affairs, communications and public relations. Aside from Sally's extraordinary career (which included time as press secretary to the Prime Minister, and in diplomatic public affairs for the US Government), she is a genuinely good human being. She has a fierce passion for people and for being of service, and has this incredible knack of making everyone in her presence feel like the most important person in her world. Sal's big superpower is in taking complex information and distilling and communicating it in a way that is easy to process and understand. You honestly won't find a better communicator or connector in the land. We've been scheming ways to bring Sal into the team for years now, and so when the opportunity arose to develop a bunch of media packs for some clients entering the political realm, we immediately knew who to call on for back-up. And boy have we loved every minute of collaborating. Our biggest thanks to Sal, and our other super splendid team mates in Katie, Kendra, Fiona, and Corinda for all that you bring to our creative venture and to our lives. We're so lucky to have you all. Lee.

10.01.2022 We're running a special series of episodes over at Spreading the Good Stuff Podcast this month featuring the inspiring stories of some awesome small businesses in our region. Stories of how they started, how they've grown, and how they've pivoted during this time of global pandemic to safeguard what they've built. This four-part conversation series is delivered in partnership with Murray River Council as part of this year's NSW Small Business Month Festival.... We released our third episode in the series today which is a brilliant conversation with Kate Redfern from 12 GOOD EGGS at Barham. Episode 1 was all about building your business brand online and episode 2 was an interview with Zowie Crump from The Art of Zowie Photography and Julianne Daly from Moama's Border Inn Hotel. You can tune in to all episodes over at Itunes - https://podcasts.apple.com//spreading-the-goo/id1399953334, on Spotify or on Whooshkaa. You can also watch the video of the podcast recording at www.yoursay.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au. Our final episode in the series will be released next Thursday. Let us know if you've been tuning in! {image description: a light pink graphic with an image of Kate Redfern holding a carton of eggs and carrying her baby in a carrier on the front of her chest. Kate has blonde hair, is wearing sunglasses on her head and is dressed in a black jumper. Her lower body is cropped out of the picture. Kate's baby is wearing a white long sleeved top and a blue and white striped beanie. The words Small Business Spotlight - Interview With Kate Redfern - 12 Good Eggs are written in white font at the top of the graphic, and Spreading The Good Stuff is written in white font at the bottom. There is also a breakout box of text that says #NSW Smallbiz20 Small Business month 1-31 October 2020. The podcast episode number 54 is also written in the top corner of the graphic}

10.01.2022 School’s back in regional Vic! What a sight for sore eyes. If you’ve just waved your kiddos off for the first time in way too long what was your overriding emotion?... *Utter* relief over here. {image description: six primary school aged kids walking down their street together to catch the school bus}

09.01.2022 Bookings for 2021 Most clients who come to us, do so because they value the impact that top quality content has on their brand, engagement and bottom-line, but they lack the time, skill or strategic know-how to get it done themselves. It's our job to take away the overwhelm. To create beautiful copy for businesses that captures their brand essence, connects with their customers, builds trust in their offerings, and shares their unique story with the world.... And when we do that, we give them back their most precious resource. Their time. Time to focus on their priorities, to be more proactive in their work, to feel more present with family and friends, and to do more of what truly lights them up. So if you'd like to feel more time abundant in 2021 by outsourcing your content creation, get in touch. We can help with copy for: website social media blogs EDMs media releases reports submissions case studies speeches (and more). We also provide professional editing services as well as packages for brand story, social media management, digital content health checks, communications strategies, and style guides. If you're keen to work with us in 2021, be sure to touch base now so we can book you in to our schedule. We'll be closing our doors for the Christmas break on December 18 and remaining closed until January 11. Lee. @cindyhopepower {ID: a photograph of The Splendid Word team mates Leonie Canham and Christy O'Brien. Leonie is sitting at a desk typing on a laptop, and Christy is sitting on the desk beside watching over her and holding a notebook and pen. There is a stack of books on the table, and a bookshelf full of books in the background.}

09.01.2022 First Riverboats, now Southern 80. Feeling devastated for two of our favourite long-standing clients who have been forced to make these tough calls today. The loss of these two major events in Feb 2021 will have a huge impact on the tourism industry in Echuca Moama and on the region’s overall economy.... Our heartfelt thoughts are with the organisers of both events. We’ve worked so closely with the Riverboats crew and S80 committee in providing comms support to their events over many years now and we know how difficult these decisions will have been for them to make. Hang in there guys. We know you’ll be back in 2022 stronger than ever.

09.01.2022 TSW Team - Meet Corinda We're thrilled to welcome Cordina Grant to our creative collective here at The Splendid Word and have invited her along to share her story. Put simply, Corinda is a beautiful writer and we'd been following her cleverly crafted words over on This Vagrant Life long before her family was forced home from a year-long global sabbatical due to COVID-19.... This bad luck was our good fortune, as Corinda and her equally-talented husband Jordan began to explore life beyond teaching and use their combined talents to carve new careers, such as a pretty nifty side hustle over at Backpack Media. Here's Corinda in a nut shell and in her own words: Senior English Teacher with half a Masters of Ed in Contemporary Literacy (push paused on that monster to go on our adventure), a passionate reader, adventurer and outdoor goer. Have taught Senior English at St Joseph's College, Echuca since 2012. Absolute avid, no, voracious reader and lover of literature and philosophy. Queen of book recommendations... I really do know just the book! A total logophile (that's a lover of words for all you other lover of words) and other languages, and I appreciate writers who use words and language in exquisite ways to transform readers and make them feel something. Dabbled in some freelance writing whilst at university in Melbourne. My writing life has mainly centred around documenting our often calamitous adventures in family travel, in particular, our most recent jaunt: backpacking for ten months around the world with our young daughters Rosie and Sadie, over at This Vagrant Life on Instagram and thisvagrantlife.com on the web. Favourite place was Northern Africa but an honourable mention to France for its indulgent dose of wine, whimsy and cheese. Our trip was transformative; taught us to take positive risks, seize opportunities and to slow down and actually have some fun together as a family. Since returning (prematurely, thanks to Covid), husband Jordan has launched a boutique digital media marketing co, BackPack Media and I have started a course to become a marriage celebrant, as well as somehow weaselled my way into the star studded line up at TSW. Hugely outside our usual spheres but we really are trying to live by the 'no regrets' maxim. Thanks for sharing Corinda, and here's to living with no regrets... nothing ventured, nothing gained! Welcome to TSW we think you'll really like it here!

09.01.2022 I’ve come to learn over the years that prank life goes with the territory when you live in a household full of boys. For the most part I tolerate their humour. But they got me good with this one this morning. ... Sweet mother of Jesus. {image description: a ginormous (fake) redback spider climbing up a white lounge room wall. A huge (real) monstera plant sits in front of the wall making the spider behind it appear terrifyingly real. }

08.01.2022 Every single day we are having an influence on others (good & bad) in all that we say and do. But we don't always take responsibility for how we show up. Our vision at The Splendid Word has always been about empowering people and brands to use their words as a force for good. To lead by example and take responsibility for the impact that our words and actions have on all those around us.... And we're always looking for ways to do, and be, better. So when the opportunity came up to jump in on a workshop today designed to help people improve their interactions and spread more positivity in the world, we were in. The session was led by Dr Ben Palmer, (CEO of Genos International), who developed the first Australian model & assessment of emotional intelligence specifically designed for the workplace. And it was all about stretching ourselves to go that little bit further with our kindness, care and compassion for those we come into contact with, and those important people in our lives. Here's some simple tips from Dr Palmer on how we can all have a positive influence on others be present and demonstrate mindful listening (people feel more valued, connected, listened to & understood when we are present in our interactions with them) be curious (stretch a little bit more in conversations and interactions with others and take more time to check in with how people are going & what they're up to) make more meaningful gestures (such as lifting your head more to show that you're open to conversation, smiling at people as they walk by, talking more with customer service people at the shops, or asking a stranger how they are) What more could we all do to stretch our day-to-day social interactions with others? Remember, little things can have a big impact. {image description: a dusty pink coloured graphic with the following words: Impact. You never really know the true impact you have on those around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone's entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that hug or deep talk. So don't wait to be kind. Don't wait for someone else to be kind first. Don't wait for better circumstances or for someone to change. Just be kind, because you never know how much someone needs it. The quote is by Nikki Banas - Walk The Earth.}

06.01.2022 New beginnings I never imagined myself as a sole business owner. For a creative introvert like me, it's just not what I ever felt drawn to.... I've always been a team player. I've worked in busy newsrooms and in political hallways for most of my career, and when I jumped ship to freelancing 10 years ago, I did it alongside Christy in partnership. (The fact that she was a bright, beautiful word-loving extrovert just made us the perfect fit.) But here I am today, taking a giant leap of faith, and going it alone. (Dropping this photo of myself here alongside this post is one of the first brave, awkward and uncomfortable moves I've had to make). To be honest, if Christy had have told me two years ago that she was stepping aside as co-director of The Splendid Word, I might have called it quits. I'm not sure I would have had the courage to do this without her. But not today. Today I feel ready. I love what I do, and what we've created here, and there's no where else I'd rather be. The Splendid Word is so much more than a copywriting agency. It's a place where we get to make a really positive difference in the world; where we inspire one another to live our lives at a higher frequency and to encourage all those around us to do the same. To me, words are THE most powerful vehicle for connecting and inspiring positive change in the world, and I believe wholeheartedly that we all have a responsibility to take greater care of the impact our words have inside our own heads, and on the lives of all those we encounter. When we change the way we connect with the people around us - in business and in life - we can change the world for the better. And that's what we're going to keep doing here. Me and my amazing team of freelancers who I am so incredibly grateful for and so proud to work alongside. Christy, Katie, Fiona, Kendra, Corinda and Sally - I can't thank you all enough for your support, for the depth and vibrancy you bring to our creative storytelling agency, and for sharing your wondrous talents with our cherished clients. I couldn't do this without you all. Onwards. Lee. {image description: Leonie is standing by herself, smiling happily and holding a glass of wine. She is wearing a leopard print top and pictured against an ocean backdrop}

05.01.2022 A gentle warning today about some distressing video content doing the rounds on social media and how we can keep our kids safe.

04.01.2022 The Social Dilemma Have you seen it? You can't put the genie back in the bottle once you have........ This 2020 Netflix doco is a profound and frightening look at how social media is dominating our days, impacting our mental health, intruding our thoughts and manipulating our behaviour. All of which it's purposely designed to do! It includes interviews with a cast of high-profile former employees of the biggest social media companies on the planet - we're talking the men and women who helped build these social media empires - and they're not fans! It's a shock to watch, and it'll change the way you interact on the socials forever, but it's a really important reminder for us to regularly check in and monitor how we are using it in our personal and professional lives. And it's a great teaching opportunity for our kids. If you've seen it we'd love to hear your thoughts. Has it changed the way you show up on the socials? {image description: a blue graphic with the words The Social Dilemma at the top, and a person walking alone at the bottom holding and looking into the screen of a mobile phone. A whole lot of blurred data in faint white print sits in a cloud above the person’s head.}

03.01.2022 TSW Team - Meet Corinda We're thrilled to welcome Cordina Grant to our creative collective here at The Splendid Word and have invited her along to share her story. Put simply, Corinda is a beautiful writer and we'd been following her cleverly crafted words over on This Vagrant Life long before her family was forced home from a year-long global sabbatical due to COVID-19.... This bad luck was our good fortune, as Corinda and her equally-talented husband Jordan began to explore life beyond teaching and use their combined talents to carve new careers, such as a pretty nifty side hustle over at Backpack Media. Here's Corinda in a nut shell and in her own words: Senior English Teacher with half a Masters of Ed in Contemporary Literacy (push paused on that monster to go on our adventure), a passionate reader, adventurer and outdoor goer. Have taught Senior English at St Joseph's College, Echuca since 2012. Absolute avid, no, voracious reader and lover of literature and philosophy. Queen of book recommendations... I really do know just the book! A total logophile (that's a lover of words for all you other lover of words) and other languages, and I appreciate writers who use words and language in exquisite ways to transform readers and make them feel something. Dabbled in some freelance writing whilst at university in Melbourne. My writing life has mainly centred around documenting our often calamitous adventures in family travel, in particular, our most recent jaunt: backpacking for ten months around the world with our young daughters Rosie and Sadie, over at This Vagrant Life on Instagram and thisvagrantlife.com on the web. Favourite place was Northern Africa but an honourable mention to France for its indulgent dose of wine, whimsy and cheese. Our trip was transformative; taught us to take positive risks, seize opportunities and to slow down and actually have some fun together as a family. Since returning (prematurely, thanks to Covid), husband Jordan has launched a boutique digital media marketing co, BackPack Media and I have started a course to become a marriage celebrant, as well as somehow weaselled my way into the star studded line up at TSW. Hugely outside our usual spheres but we really are trying to live by the 'no regrets' maxim. Thanks for sharing Corinda, and here's to living with no regrets... nothing ventured, nothing gained! Welcome to TSW we think you'll really like it here!

03.01.2022 If you're looking for a stunning new destination to explore now that the regions are opening up again, we highly recommend a road trip to the pretty little towns dotted throughout Berrigan Shire in southern NSW. Sun Country is the perfect setting for admirers of the great outdoors and good old-fashioned country hospitality. You’ll find so many precious gems hidden beyond the riverbanks - from secluded sandy beaches, backroad trails, walking tracks, weekend markets, s...treet art, historic buildings and antiques - to the most stunning sunrises and sunsets you could ever hope to see. And in perfect synergy, this little beauty has just dropped to help you plan your visit! We had so much fun crafting the stories for the Official Visitor Guide for Berrigan Shire Council, and getting to know the gorgeous townships of Tocumwal, Cobram-Barooga, Finley and Berrigan, that make up this special part of the world. You can view the guide online at Berrigan Shire Council's website, or pick up a copy from the visitor information centre at Tocumwal when you arrive. Kudos to Cindy Power for the stunning imagery inside the guide and to the crew at Prominent Group Shepparton for the beautiful design and print job. {image description: a picture of the Berrigan Shire’s new OVG. The booklet cover is a hand drawn illustration of some key landmarks in the shire, including the Murray River, sandy beaches, a paddlesteamer, a golf course, golfer, museum and splash park.}

03.01.2022 Life in Lockdown As we complete our first week of COVID-19 freedom here in regional Victoria, it's easy to forget about the people of Melbourne living through the toughest restrictions anywhere in the world right now. ... Like me, you might have friends and family who can only travel 5km from their home, for a maximum of two hours day and only invite one dedicated Bubble Buddy to their home. Do you ever stop and think.... WTF! We all know why these measures are in place, and we know that they are working. There is no other choice. But I think we sometimes forget that actual 'people' are living through this and doing the best job they can. My cousin's wife Katie Scoble has beautifully articulated life in stage four lockdown in a piece published over at Mamamia It's an emotional insight of a loving family of six living with the boredom, frustration and sometimes anger for the situation they find themselves in. Importantly, it's also a gentle reminder that the overwhelming majority of people living in Melbourne and doing the right thing and we need to better acknowledge that. Enjoy your relative freedoms regional Victorians, but spare a thought for our Melbourne family... we are all from the same state remember! Thank you Katie for sharing, take care Melburnians and hang in there... it will be over soon! Christy #spreadingthegoodstuff