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A CSA in our Gladstone office, on any given day, you’ll find Jess Bale hard at work, compiling documents, packaging up work and seeing to it that everything reaches its intended destination.
The nature of Jess’s work means that much of it is, in many ways, behind the scenes. But as our industry knows better than most, behind the curtain is where the real magic happens.
After eight years with the firm, Jess has developed the ability to bring clarity and calm to even the busiest moments. She removes friction effortlessly and keeps documentation flowing, often anticipating what’s needed well before it’s asked for.
This capability hasn’t gone unnoticed especially by the Gladstone team, and by the many CSAs and receptionists Jess has supported and trained across the offices over the years.
“It’s a funny thing, training someone else up, because when you’ve been doing something for such a long time, you don’t really have to think about the mechanics of what you’re doing, you just do it,” says Jess.
Jess’s knowledge of systems and processes runs deep. But it’s also her natural proclivity to organise, both herself and the world around her, that’s helped her find such success as a CSA.
These skills get a good workout outside the office, too. Mum to Savannah (14) and Madeline (12) who both play netball at club and representative levels, much of Jess’s free time is spent managing the logistics that come with having not just one, but two, talented netballers under her roof.
Jess and her two girls Madeline and Savannah
In Jess’s world, that means staying across the training schedule, making sure her girls have everything they need to play their best, and managing the logistics of game days. Next month, the payoff of all that planning will come through, as Jess and Savannah head up north for the carnival of the season.
“Savvy has her state age carnival in April, so we’ll be heading to Townsville for that. I’m really looking forward to it,” says Jess.
Holding the threads of a busy household together is no small feat, but somehow, Jess does it all with the same calm competence she brings to her work.
Though when there’s a chance to loosen the grip, Jess takes it.
Give her a stretch of coastline, a boat, and a bit of time off-grid, and you’ll find her exactly where she’s happiest: outdoors, surrounded by family and friends, and doing very little on purpose.
It helps that Jess has a willing co-pilot in her husband, Murray, an electrician with the Port Authority whose shift work schedule makes it easier to plan time away together—time that’s often spent outdoors.
Come school holidays, the Bale family are often headed off to camp at the Oaks, making the journey by boat or barge, or going south to stay with friends at Agnes Waters. They’re places that are close to home on the map, yet somehow being there feels worlds’ away from the bustle of everyday life.
Though this year, the Bales’ travel agenda will stretch a little further afield.
In August, Jess and her family make the journey across the ditch to New Zealand, a long-planned trip that marks a few firsts all at once. It will be Savannah and Maddi’s first time on a plane, and, if timing and weather play their part, the first time the girls have ever seen snow.
“At the moment, the plan is to spend some time with friends for a week or so, and then van around for the rest of the holiday. Everyone’s really excited,” says Jess.
A few degrees colder and a few kilometres further, it’s a different kind of holiday to their usual. But really, it’s built around the same simple things: having the space to slow down and the time to spend together.
With the pace of the year already zooming, it will be August before we know it. And the Bales will have their bags packed, the school term will be on pause, and Jess, as ever, will be making sure everything is ready to go so she, and the ones she loves most, can simply enjoy what comes next.
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"Mexican!"
"Write everything down, put it in a list, and just focus on crossing off one thing at a time. I’m also a big fan of putting reminders for myself into my calendar. I find that really helps me."
"I'm looking forward to Maddi going into high school. I'm definitely a bit nervous about it too—my baby’s not going to be a primary schooler anymore! But yeah, she's really looking forward to it, so I’m excited for her."
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