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 an Indigenous printing and design business, a stockfeed miller, and, at the other end of the animal spectrum, a pet resort and a local author.
BLAK Print
Protecting and elevating your brand.
211 Whitehouse lane, Kingswood, NSW 2340
Based on Gomeroi Country in regional NSW, BLAK Print is a 100% Aboriginal-owned business founded and led by proud Gomeroi woman Lorrayne Fishenden. With a strong background in design and a passion for helping businesses present themselves with confidence, Lorrayne created BLAK Print to deliver high-quality print management, branding, and design solutions with a difference.
What sets BLAK Print apart is their Brand Guardian approach. From the placement of a logo to the stitching of colours on a cap, every detail is handled with care and precision to ensure each brand is represented authentically and professionally across all platforms and products.
Open communication, cultural integrity, and eco-friendly practices are at the heart of their work, making BLAK Print a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a new business in need of uniforms or an established company planning a full merchandise rollout, BLAK Print has the expertise and dedication to protect – and elevate – your brand.
Summit Milling
Nutrition you can trust, from our family to yours.
2 Stock Yard Road, Guyra, NSW 2365
Based in Guyra at the heart of the New England Tablelands, Summit Milling is a proudly family-owned and operated stockfeed mill run by the Sherrie family – Kevin, Robyn and their daughter Katherine.
Backed by Kevin’s 40 years of expertise in flour and stockfeed milling, the business produces a wide range of nutritionally balanced feeds for sheep, cattle, pigs, deer, poultry, and more. Working alongside a qualified nutritionist, Summit Milling ensures every product is cost-effective, highly palatable, and designed to support efficiency and production.
Available in both bulk and bagged options, feeds can be purchased through local rural retailers or direct from the mill. With a strong focus on quality, reliability, and service, Summit Milling has become a trusted name for livestock producers across the New England region.
Inverell Pet Resort
Local care, professional finish.
Avalon, 492 Eddy Park Lane, Gum Flat, NSW 2360
At Inverell Pet Resort, every animal is treated like part of the family. This husband-and-wife-run boarding facility, together with their two sons, provides a warm country atmosphere where pets feel safe, cared for, and comfortable.
Owner Steve, born and raised in Inverell, knows the value of community and brings that same spirit to the way the resort is run. While dogs and cats are at the heart of the business, Inverell Pet Resort also welcomes guinea pigs, rabbits, chooks, peacocks, birds, ferrets, and ducks.
Each dog enjoys its own enclosure with an attached external yard, allowing them to move freely between indoors and outdoors. This thoughtful design means pets can stretch, play and relax in a secure environment.
With years of dedication and a genuine love for animals, Inverell Pet Resort has become a trusted haven for local pet owners. Whether it’s a weekend away or an extended holiday, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your pets are cared for by a friendly, family-run team who understand just how much they mean to you.
Bridget Van der Eyk: Contemporary Romance Author
Smart, sassy romance you can’t put down.
Country NSW author Bridget Van der Eyk is making her mark in contemporary romance, writing stories full of wit, warmth, and strong female characters who carry little pieces of herself. Specialising in the much-loved forced proximity trope, Bridget creates novels that are fun, heartfelt, and refreshingly relatable for both adult and young adult readers.
Living on a five-acre property with her husband Josh, two children Zoe and Max, and dogs Kevin and Stella, Bridget balances a busy life as a full-time teacher with her passion for storytelling. Her writing journey began on maternity leave with her debut novel 10 Dates, and she hasn’t looked back since. This October marks the release of her fourth book, The Husband Wishlist, joining a growing collection of contemporary romances loved by readers across Australia.
For Bridget, writing isn’t just about love stories on the page – it’s about inspiring her students and children to believe that, with determination and hard work, anything is possible.
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.
Want to highlight your business? Just fill in this form – places are limited.
Please share this story to help support New England businesses! See all our Small Business Month profiles here.