Wayne, can you give our readers an overview of your career?

After I left school, I started as the "the office boy" in a private real estate firm in Cowra, in the central west of NSW.

By 1986, I was a partner in the firm that was now an LJ Hooker office, and by 1995 I was the sole owner of the entire business.

What a learning curve, that was!

I operated that respected and successful office for 23 years.

I have only just handed the reins over earlier this year, to concentrate and grow our business here in the Camden Haven, where I have been the Principal of LJ Hooker since 2015.

Why your own business, did anyone influence you in those early days?

My father was the local Pharmacist and I always looked up to him and his business acumen.

I really appreciated the opportunity to be a business owner and was fortunate to have a very good mentor in the early days.

Being part of the LJ Hooker group was like being part of a family, it was a huge part of my development in real estate and business.

What do you love most about being in real estate?

Every day is different. There is a new challenge, new people to meet and new problems to solve. It is very rewarding.

The culture within the office is the best I have ever had, with an amazing 122 years of real estate experience and a wealth of local knowledge.

With mature and experienced agents it has been easy to create an office that thrives on teamwork.

How is the local market?

Business is unbelievable. The rental market is strong with low vacancy rates. Holiday homes are renting well and sales are plentiful.

For the month of June, we had five new listings, five sales and two under contract (of course, we now need more listings).

We are growing as a business and look forward to excellent growth this year.