“Life happens. Adapt. Embrace change

and make the most of

everything that comes your way.” Nick Jonas

When I sat down to chat with this month’s feature, our conversation really revolved around change and how sometimes, life can throw you an unexpected curveball. It’s at these moments when we have the capacity to pause, notice and choose; to take a breath and take stock of the situation we’re in, to figure out what is important to us and what’s at stake and to then decide how we want to respond to that change.

This is a concept that is wholly familiar to me, as my photography business started from great change. I was married, became pregnant with my son, retired from a career that I thought I would have forever, moved to the farm and found myself isolated in a very short space of time. It wasn’t just my physical life that changed, it was my identity too. And then, BAM, along came COVID and we were all forced to look within and find things to sustain us through endless lockdowns. For me, it was photography. I look back now and realise how lucky I was to be able to cut ties with the path that I was on, and move off in an entirely different direction.

These are the sliding door moments that we have in our lives. In the immortal words of Maria von Trapp from The Sound of Music, ‘When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” The implication is that although things don’t always go according to our plans, we have the opportunity to take a chance on a brand new start.

Welcome to The Bigger Picture; a blog that is all about building NETWORK and CONNECTION. Each month, I feature a woman in small business within my community with the sole purpose of showing support, building solidarity and sharing stories of passion.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible small businesses in the South West run by mums in their spare rooms or out in their gardens and they each have a unique story to be told; a BIGGER PICTURE to be discovered.

My feature for May is a woman who embraced change when it came her way and created a thriving business. Facing her own sliding doors moment, she took the metaphorical lemons that life dealt and made lemonade - albeit a lot healthier version with oats and fruit! I’m very happy to introduce you to local mum and passionate home cook…

Bec Sharp

Two White Ducks

Tell us about your business and what services you offer.

I am Bec and I am the maker of the delicious muesli @two_white_ducks using a recipe that I have made for my family for years!

To be honest, my business just evolved when I was told by my doctor that I needed to find another job due to health reasons. So, I cut my hours back and turned to something I really enjoyed and have always loved, which is baking!

Now in its ninth year (WOW), my little dream continues and I am so proud that my product is stocked by the most beautiful and amazing homewares and gourmet specialty stores in the area.

Is there a story behind the name you chose?

Yes, absolutely there is a story behind the name! At the time of inventing @two_white_ducks we had two white ducks as our family pets. I simply pulled up my kitchen window blind this one morning and there they both were, happily roaming our backyard and the name hit. Simple as that!

For many years the two were the landscape of our home. Unfortunately, as is the way of life, only our beloved duck, Dougie, who is in his 13th year, is still with us. He is blind in one eye and is one very spoilt, white duck! He remains such a huge part of our family.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration is quite simple; it all comes from my beautiful Nana and childhood memories of cooking with her, that I will cherish forever. I can still smell her amazing chocolate cake – some things never leave you! And she was a stickler for never wasting anything, particularly animal organs like tongue. Of course, it was back in the day when you never wasted anything.

My inspiration stems from love of family. I love nothing more than cooking for my beautiful family and friends.

What is your favourite part of your job?

We have really met some amazing people along this journey, especially within our market days. I have made wonderful friendships with the small business owners and makers that I have met doing markets - we really have made friendships that will last a lifetime.

I love nothing more than walking down my hometown’s main street and hearing a voice across the street yell out, “I’ve just brought three bags of our favourite crunch!!” It absolutely makes my day and for people to still love the product of @two_white_ducks and just a little ‘crunch’ after all these years, is pretty amazing!!

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt since starting your business?

I’ve learnt that I am so lucky to have such a supportive family behind me. Without their love, support and hard work, I must acknowledge that I would not be able to continue this business without them.

My AMAZING husband helps me bake when I’m exhausted from my other job and my beautiful children are often called upon to help with the bagging and labelling production line. Then there is my dad who is known to be my weekly delivery driver and my mum who keeps an eye out for new stockists.

So you know, when you purchase a bag of @two_white_ducks muesli, that each bag is hand stirred with lots of love and a whole lot of gratitude and thankfulness.

I have also learnt that dreams can really come true. Big or small!

Heck! It can be really daunting putting yourself out there, but life can be really short so take your time - you never know, you may find the real you!!

I am extremely lucky Two White Ducks really did evolve all on its own. It’s just a part of me now.

Life is a series of moments. And the proverbial “road not taken” is a question that you may have asked yourself about a million times in your life. Everything you think you know about your life could be transformed in an instant. It all hinges on those pivotal decisions, those sliding door moments. So, if you ever stand at the crossroads of your own sliding door moment, let it be a doorway to your happiness and grasp the opportunity that it brings. For within your grasp lies the power to shape a destiny of intention, purpose and boundless potential.

Edwina xx

I personally devour a bag of Bec’s muesli every week; it’s seriously that addictive. My son even loves it made into overnight oats for his school lunches. If you are looking for some delicious muesli to start your day on the right foot, give Bec a follow (and your support) on her social media page…

Instagram: @two_white_ducks

Or find her product at these local stockists:

@relaxandentertain

@thehamiltonhamperco

@meatatbeanys

@the_village_bakehouse

@darriwillfarmwarrnambool

@conlanswinestore

@grampians_providore