I was in Vietnam recently with my wife and 4 close friends. I thought I would be a hero, well I soon found out I am no hero. I felt I would soon be called Tom No Toole!!

I was speaking in Melbourne at the end of March at the National Speakers Association of Australia conference and I met  Brenda from Petermarizburg, South Africa. She was so excited to meet me, as she had recently watched my DVD’s “Making Dough with Tom O’Toole and “Drop Everything for the Customer” at home in South Africa, where they have been very popular. I spoke in Petermarizburg, to some business groups several years ago and they still use my DVD’s.

I also just received a call from a bank in New Zealand this week where they had just seen my DVDs at a training session and wanted to purchase a copy for their branch to use. The company that had run the training session for this bank was based in Singapore and they use my DVD’s in their courses.

Our DVDs are used by all sorts of businesses and groups in Australia as well as overseas and include… mining & oil companies, banks, car dealers, retailers, universities, Tafe and schools etc…….who would ever believe it!!!

Tom

Tom and Brenda

Making Dough DVD

Drop Everything for the Customer DVD

I was in far north Queensland just before Easter doing a BBREAD workshop in Richmond and the small township of Julia Creek heard that I was in the area so they got me to come to town to do a breakfast talk. They only had 4 days to get this organised and they did it well.

They ended up with 47 people attending the breakfast and the town only has a population of 300 people, but what a wonderful community spirit, the salt of the earth people.

Their town hall is really something to see, the whole town is great, and it is well worth stopping at. These little places are real Australia, they are so special.

Each year they hold a Dirt & Dust Festival and it has really put Julia Creek on the map, what they put on is incredible….. it is a real unique event and attracts participants from overseas.

Have a look at the web site www.dirtndust.com or www.outbackholidays.info for more info, it is really worth checking out, and it was even a feature in this months Royal Auto Magazine.

My speaking has given me so many opportunities to visit many unique places and meet incredible people…we do live in the land of opportunity!!

 
Tom

Julia Creek  Town Hall

I have just updated my cookbook “More Secrets of the Beechworth Bakery”, well I should say my wife Christine did, for she did most of the work. This edition has 10 new recipes, plus lots more photos, so you know how things are supposed to turn out when you make them!

 It is the 3^rd update and has been reprinted quite a few times.

Our first cook book had so many mistakes , but our readers loved letting us know about them. The book sells really well out of our shops and we get lots of positive feedback.

Tom

A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I would fly to Sydney to do an audition with ABC television as they are looking for a new panelist for the “New Inventors Program”

I told them I would be the most light weight person they have had on, but they said they wanted me to give it a go.

My wife reckoned I was mad, why put myself under so much pressure. But I am out there talking about getting out of your “Comfort Zone”,….“Take a Risk….etc.

I needed to be walking the talk.

I didn’t get the job, maybe I didn't have the brains or the time. But it was fun, I enjoyed the audition. And I reckon I was pretty good at giving my 2 bobs worth on the New Inventors.
 

Tom 

I have just done one of my most enjoyable talks.

I had the honor of doing the eulogy at my mum’s funeral. It was a great day, a real celebration of my mum’s life. I was very proud of my mum, she did a wonderful job bringing up 5 kids.

I learnt to love her heaps, my mum was a real bushie. She was not the best at showing her love, well she could to her dog. But my mum was terrific and I will miss her very very much.

The church was full of her family and friends, mum was a bit of a local identity in Tocumwal… and she had a great send off. The bakery did a great job with all the food for lunch after the service at the church hall. Mum would have loved to be there chatting to all her friends!!

Tom