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National New Spa Therapist of the Year
- Congratulations to Sommer
from all the Team at Spirits High
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 For Dave and Cathy Stoney, Spirits High brings all of their combined passions and skills together to provide unique opportunities for rejuvenation, featuring the essence of the High Country. Our clients’ well-being is our innate focus and the treatments are given with such pure intention they provide a tangible experience of depth, that our clients often report a sense of soul connection.
“Fourteen years ago I longed to find a peaceful place close to nature and to enable me to be fully present in the moment, the Now; to connect with myself, to honestly acknowledge my truth and to search deeply to find the courage to live it!” says Cathy
The dream began when Cathy left her seemingly manic life in Melbourne in 2002 and settled in Mansfield. Cathy has always been passionate about creating a supportive women’s network and community. Spirits High fills the void of absent family that is often in our lives today. The dream began when Cathy found a need for a network of healing arts and referral and began holding retreats. One aspect of her business was massage therapy, which she held at the 150 acre property at the Paps that she and Dave share. Over time she found that people wanted to linger in the quiet surrounds and soak up the healing vibration that is so tangible in this area.
Dave grew up in the Mansfield area on his family’s farm. He also has many years experience in the mountains with his family, grazing cattle and working in their ski and horse riding adventure tourism businesses. So when we were looking for the place we would call home we only had one priority and that was to be in strong clear view of the mountains that are so integral to Dave. When we first drove up the long, windy driveway at the base of the Paps, Dave stepped out of the car to see the full face of the Bluff in all its power and glory, he knew he’d found home. And for further confirmation without even having to move his feet, there was a magnificent view of the mountain named after his Grandfather, Mt Eadley Stoney. Dave’s innate connection and wisdom/knowledge of the high country is intriguing and his passion and enthusiasm for creating awareness for the respect it deserves is humbling. Dave’s heritage is something he is tangibly proud of.
Within 5 months of moving to the Paps in 2004 Dave and Cath’s son Connor was born peacefully at home with the rooster crowing a welcome from the window after witnessing Connor’s calm, gentle birth. They admit being totally bias but it is serene moments such as this that contribute to the beautiful energy of our home at the Paps which is now Spirits High.
Dave, Cath and Connor moved out of their home at The Paps in June 2008 when renovations began for Spirits High. Throughout the facility, stone, tin, timbers and furniture recycled from Stoney family properties across the High Country intrigue and inspire clients
They aim to become a showcase for environmentally responsible practices, including building materials, construction and maintenance, business practices, and rehabilitation of native bushland on their property
Importantly, we are committed to “treading lightly on our earth”. Of their 61 hectare property at The Paps, they currently have 34 hectares (55 percent) under the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority ‘Bush Returns’ project – a 10-year project aimed at regenerating native flora
Spirits High is proof that dreams do come true!
Cath and Dave Stoney
On a personal note: November 2009
Since opening in September 2008 we have ridden the waves of a new business which at times were profoundly easier to endure with the support of such a unique team which forms the heart of Spirits high. Together we showed resilience in the face of the Global Financial Crisis and the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
Things got extremely challenging for us with the business, simultaneously events in our private life weighed heavily on the heart. On a practical level we knew that without challenges there wouldn’t be growth, even so, I had to dig deep for optimism which is usually my middle name!
The Victorian Tourism Awards were open for submissions and it had been suggested that we consider entering. At the time it all seemed too daunting and to be honest, intimidating. One of the Award mentors came to visit me at Spirits High and showed me a couple of samples of previous winning submissions. I nervously laughed when I saw they were mulit million dollar resorts, but even so she very sincerely asked me to consider simply telling our story, so I did. Besides I thought I could fill the blank spaces with some beautiful images if I needed to!
To reinspire myself and to change my 2am negative thoughts I decided to at least look at the first question. Q1 Explain the rational and philosophy behind your business. I started jotting points down and in the process I remembered the depth of our passion and acknowledged the enormity of work we had already put into Spirits High. It was at that point I knew I wasn’t ready to give up just yet and that now was time for me to fully trust!
It was the process of the awards I needed the most and was hugely rewarded by answering each question. With the deadline just six weeks away I felt that if I managed to hand this submission in it would be a bonus.
On 15th November, our second son (my 4th – it’s not as scary as it sounds, my older boys 18 & 21 years, live in Melb) baby Jim ‘Jimmy’ George Tasman arrived safely as the sun rose on Sunday after a peaceful home water birth. Weighing 9lb 3oz - he is divine!
On Monday evening while soaking in baby bliss, we received a call from Victorian Tourism Gala Awards dinner at Crown, to say Spirits High had just Won the award for New Tourism Development!
 On Tuesday morning I was carefully handed the impressive glass award – it was like receiving our second baby in two days! Much love and nurturing went into both creations.
Cath Stoney
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LI’TYA is a high performance range of natural spa care products that integrate the potent qualities of the Australian earth and spirit. These powerful products are combined with spa treatments that unlock the profound wisdom of ancient Aboriginal medicine, spirituality and healing modalities that assists clients in each treatment generate their own health and balance – LI’TYA is expressed as a way of being.
Combining ancient indigenous medicines and massage techniques, with aromatherapy, colour therapy, sound therapy and herbalism principles the range will positively enrich the spirit whilst providing extreme skincare results to the client. An extensive training program is offered to ensure that therapists have a thorough understanding of our unique healing techniques, treatments and skin care range.
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