The year 2016 has been one of milestones for Sunshine Coast locals, with many making headlines for achieving great things. Profile spoke to four local self-made success stories to find out what they ticked off their bucket list this year, and what’s in store for their future.

Lachlan Smart

Youngest person to circumnavigate the world solo in a single engine plane

profile: What has been the highlight of your career?

lachlan: The completion of the round-the-world flight (achieved by Lachlan and his team named, Wings Around the World) was certainly the highlight of my career and my year! After more than two-and-a-half years of planning, to finally see the dream come to completion was exhilarating and relieving.

profile: What is now on your bucket list?

lachlan: In the future I am looking forward to promoting the business we are setting up called Young Achievers International, to provide a pathway for people to achieve their dreams. I can’t say much yet, but there will be more to come on this one, so watch this space!

profile: What is your advice to other people wanting to achieve their goals?

lachlan: My advice to people with big dreams or goals would be to never give up. We will often come across challenges and hard times, but the thing to remember is that setbacks are the foundations to success! Every time we seem to fail, we should see it a success, as we have learnt something and that has brought us one step closer to achieving success.

Alana Quade (nee Boyd)

Champion pole vaulter and three-time Olympian representing Australia at the Beijing, London, and 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games

profile: What has been the highlight of your career?

alana: The highlight would have to be my performance at the Rio Olympics this year, finishing fourth. I was the athlete I had always wanted to be when I was in Rio. I was mentally tough, despite a not-so-perfect preparation, thanks to some ankle troubles, and I still managed to clear 4.80m, which is only one centimetre below my personal best, and only missed a medal on a count back. To do this under pressure at the biggest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games, is something that I am extremely proud of. Winning two Commonwealth gold medals is also another big highlight in my career.

profile: What was the biggest thing to happen to you this year?

alana: Now that’s a hard one! I broke the Australian record twice, competed at the Olympic Games and finished fourth, got married and became Alana Quade, and just recently, I announced my retirement! It has been a huge year with so many exciting and wonderful memories!

profile: What is now on your bucket list?

alana: Now that I am retired from elite sport, my bucket list is set to change. Right now I am enjoying being active for health and wellbeing, and settling into life away from the track. I am excited to put my energy into mine and my husband’s building company Qspec, and as time goes on, I will develop new goals and add to my bucket list.

profile: What is your advice to other people wanting to achieve their goals?

alana: Don’t get ahead of yourself – work on the process and the outcome will look after itself. The reason you practice a skill is to perfect it or get as close to perfection as you can. Know that it will not always be perfect but if you keep working at it you will improve, and the outcome will be the fruits of your labour, which is a feeling that is just so rewarding.

Rebecca Walker

Named 2016 Sunshine Coast Young Business Woman of the Year at the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network Awards for her work running Signature Roofing and Guttering alongside her husband.

profile: What has been the highlight of your career?

rebecca: That I now have a business that allows my husband and I to have a healthy work/life balance, as we have three young children. Being able to step away from our business and know that it can successfully keep running without us is a great reward for all of our hard work.

Profile: What was the biggest thing to happen to you this year?

rebecca: Being involved in the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network and winning the Sunshine Coast Young Business Woman of the Year has been my highlight for 2016. Not only was it a thrill to win the award, but the process leading up to it was great. It allowed me to reflect on my business and see our achievements and how far we have come. Our business has also been made a finalist in the Sunshine Coast Business and Tourism Awards, which is another great achievement for 2016.

profile: What is now on your bucket list?

rebecca: Our bucket list for the business is to take it national. We have recently started work in the Australian Capital Territory and we are working on having a business that is the size of our SEQ operations down there, before looking at moving to more areas. Personally, our bucket list is to spend time with our kids and hopefully get away for some well-deserved holidays next year.

profile: What is your advice to other people wanting to achieve their goals?

rebecca: Get help! Make use of other professional’s knowledge and resources and use it to grow your business. Other people can bring great ideas to the table for your business, so work with as many people as you can. Also, get out and network. There are so many great business people on the Sunshine Coast!

Dave Larkin

School chaplain and recipient of the 2016 Sunshine Coast Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award

profile: What has been the highlight of your career?

dave: When I got home from hospital after emergency open heart surgery in September 2014. The Buderim school and wider community had filled my home with get well cards, food, vouchers, etc., which was both overwhelming and humbling, and filled my heart and mind with peace and love. What I do for a career in caring for the community was reciprocated right back to myself and my family.

profile: What was the biggest thing to happen to you this year?

dave: Winning the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award for the Sunshine Coast. I was in shock and didn’t know what to say on stage. For once in my life I was literally lost for words!

profile: What is now on your bucket list?

dave: I’d like to continue to work alongside organisations and help develop programs and events that assist families to grow, learn, heal and make changes, enabling them to reach their full potential. I would also like to work with indigenous communities and families one day, as well as build and own a retreat centre for families to restore, reconnect and heal together.

profile: What is your advice to other people wanting to achieve their goals?

dave: Know what your dream is. Learn from others who have already ‘been there and done that’. Do all that is required of you to fulfil that dream – so essentially, be disciplined. Put in the hard yards, even when no-one is watching you. Be prepared to sacrifice, risk and fail. Never give up.