McLaren Vale finalist shares her vision for drumming up local support

The ground-breaking community-focussed Fleurieu App has launched Susie Williams into the running for a $15,000 Westpac grant to help further her business.

But it was the Stepping into Leadership program through the Wattle Program last year which spurred on Ms Williams to apply for the awards.

"It was an intensive leadership program which provided an opportunity to look at myself and my business, to help see a path forward," she said.

"It really was the pivotal point for me to understand the rural women's award and apply."

Mrs Williams was encouraged to apply for the awards by the program's leadership team but she had an existing desire to better understand how to help regional businesses thrive, after an experience while living in Marlborough, New Zealand.

"I was working with a lady at a magazine as a photographer and we ended up starting a free local newspaper and then, we established the Marlborough App," she said.

"It gave me the confidence to bring the idea here."

So, in 2019 the app was launched and it has since become a central point of contact for the Fleurieu region and KI.

"It offers news and sport, and a direct contact for locals and visitors to use local businesses and services," Mrs Williams said.

"In my experience, many people are good at talking about shopping local but they are not always very good at doing it.

"This is my way of helping to lift those businesses."

The app is free for its users, while businesses pay to be included and this decision came from Mrs Williams' desire to go against pay-wall trends.

"In rural and remote communities in particular, they can be isolated and need to remain easily connected," she said.

If Mrs Williams takes out the major award later this year, she hoped it could help build the success of the present app, to set the path ahead for a national approach.

"I would like to replicate it for all other regions - it is my dream to do that," she said.