October is Small Business Month! And to celebrate, we’re highlighting some of the great small businesses we have throughout the region. Read all the stories here.
Today for Small Business Month, we’re celebrating three New England businesses making a difference in their own way: a counselling practice helping young people and families find the support they need, a children’s clothing brand inspired by country life, and a bush camping destination offering granite landscapes, wide-open spaces and a taste of country hospitality.
Dixie and Thyme Counselling
Compassionate support, shaped around the individual
Tamworth, NSW
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting. At Dixie and Thyme Counselling in Tamworth, making that step a little easier is an important part of the way the practice works.
Owned by social worker Dana-Jade Dunn, the practice was established almost five years ago after Dana moved from working in out-of-home care into the mental health sector. She was motivated by a passion for supporting young people and their families in the local community.
Dixie and Thyme provides face-to-face and telehealth counselling for people aged 12 to 30, as well as couples and families. Services include art therapy and walk-and-talk therapy, giving clients different ways to engage with support according to their needs and preferences.
As a small team, the practice takes a collaborative, client-centred approach, with an emphasis on listening, advocacy and helping people navigate the support available to them. Team members also bring lived experience of mental health and neurodivergence, informing their commitment to compassionate and understanding care.
The practice recognises that entering a new environment can add to the stress of seeking help. To make visits more comfortable, its Tamworth clinic includes a sensory room, while streamlined processes aim to make getting started as straightforward as possible.
Dixie and Thyme works with clients accessing support through a range of pathways, including GP Mental Health Care Plans, the NDIS, NSW Victims of Crime, private health funds and private arrangements.
At its heart, the practice is about meeting people where they are and helping them find support that works for them.
Little Acres Co
Country-inspired clothing for little adventures
Upper Manilla, NSW
Sometimes the best business ideas start with a problem at home. For Manilla mum Emily Gall, it was finding children’s clothing that was beautiful, comfortable and practical enough for everyday life with a little one.
Living on a farm with her husband, Dwight, and their young son, Harrison, Emily wanted clothes that could handle the realities of childhood — from family outings and special occasions to backyard play and getting a little muddy.
When she struggled to find exactly what she was looking for, she decided to create it herself. That idea grew into Little Acres Co, an Australian baby and children’s clothing brand inspired by country living.
The collections are made from 100% organic cotton, with soft, breathable fabrics, comfortable fits and playful, exclusive prints. The aim is to bring together style and practicality, so parents don’t have to choose between clothes that look lovely and pieces little ones can comfortably wear as they explore the world around them.
As a local mum, teacher and farmer’s wife, Emily brings her own experience into the designs. Each collection reflects her belief that children’s clothing should suit real life, while still feeling special.
Little Acres Co is also a family effort, built with support from Dwight and a great deal of time, care and hard work. For Emily, growing a business from her regional community is about more than creating a clothing label — it’s about showing that big dreams can begin in little country towns.
Goat Rock Bush Camping Ground
Bush camping, granite giants and a taste of country hospitality
Near Texas, NSW
For campers looking to swap crowded caravan parks for wide-open spaces, Goat Rock Bush Camping Ground offers a chance to experience the New England region at its rugged, natural best.
Located around 16 kilometres south of Texas, on the northern edge of Inverell Shire, Goat Rock sits within an 8,000-acre working sheep farm. The camping area covers 200 acres of natural bushland, dotted with impressive granite boulders, native flora and fauna, and plenty of room to explore.
The namesake Goat Rock is a highlight. An easy stroll from the site’s central gathering place, The Shed, takes visitors to the granite lookout, where panoramic views stretch across the Texas and Dumaresq valleys.
Unpowered camping keeps the experience close to nature, with bushwalking, birdwatching and stargazing among the ways to enjoy the property. There are also barbecue and picnic facilities, composting toilets, and a pet-friendly approach for visitors travelling with their four-legged companions. Guests may also spot some of the farm animals along the way.
The property is owned by Vicki Croft, who works alongside her daughter Amanda. The Croft family’s reputation for homestyle cooking adds another layer of country hospitality, with The Shed providing catering and function facilities and a café open on most Sundays.
Whether you’re stopping for a meal, planning a weekend under the stars or simply keen to discover a remarkable natural landscape, Goat Rock offers a different way to experience this corner of 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.
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Please share this story to help support New England businesses! See all our Small Business Month profiles here.