The people behind the build

Our Team

Donnah Hartwig

Position: Chief of First Impressions (aka Sales Administration) and self-titled emoji queen 👸

What does this position involve: A whole lot of multitasking with clients, local councils, engineers, trades, suppliers, and manufacturers.

How long have you worked at Oakvale: 7 years

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: Seeing our clients dream home and thoughtful choices come to life in front of their eyes. Working everyday with the amazing, funny, and talented Oakvale team 🥰 There hasn’t been a day I haven’t wanted to come to work (no, I wasn’t bribed to say that) 😂

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: The typical vanilla answer, hanging out with our adult children and our grandchildren 😍. I love doing anything crafty (biggest life regret not learning to sew).

What three items would you bring on a desert island? Chap stick, palm tree costume (so nobody can find me 🕵️‍♀️🤣), sewing machine.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Seriously, Gympie, love the people and location ❤️

An interesting fact about yourself? I’m from Darwin and yes, I’ve wrestled a crocodile 😂😂 (pool floaty)

What would your superpower be and why? The ability to perfectly fit into any clothes I put on (shape/fat shifter) 👯

Nikki Rolfe

Position: Sales Administration Assistant

What does this position involve: Admin work, colour selections, repairs/warranty matters & basic sales.

How long have you worked at Oakvale: 6 years

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: Everything – I have always liked everything about the Building Industry, so when I was given the opportunity to work for Oakvale Homes I felt very grateful. I love that I am in a role that I can help make our clients building process easier & fun. Just the way it should be! 😊

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: Fishing for Blueys & Bushwalking.

What three items would you bring on a desert island? Hubby, Fishing Rod, Walking Shoes.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Fraser Island (K’gari).

An interesting fact about yourself? Even though Golf is one of the most frustrating games in the world to play, I just keep going back for more and I just don’t know why?

What would your superpower be and why? Invisibility – Oh my gosh for so many reasons, I would definitely catch a Bluey then!! 😂.

Daph Backhouse

Position: Office Manager (Minister for War & Peace and Finance 😊)

What does this position involve:Multi-tasking; moving other people’s money from one place to another; keeping orderly chaos in our Gympie & Maryborough offices 😂 and looking after our Trades; Clients and the Oakvale Team.

How long have you worked at Oakvale: 18 years

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: Amazing co-workers and meeting wonderful clients and being a part of creating their beautiful homes 🥰

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: Family time and being near the Ocean (although not in it).

What three items would you bring on a desert island? An Oasis; a Hammock and a Boat.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Somewhere near the Ocean (again, never in it 🤣).

An interesting fact about yourself? I am forever the Optimist ❤️

What would your superpower be and why? Teleporting – being able to drop into places whenever I want to 🌍

Sharon Hansen

Position: Estimator

What does this position involve: Preparing comprehensive estimates for new home builds

How long have you worked at Oakvale: 10 years

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: Having a great team to work with, who have inspiring ideas, are supportive and enjoy a good time 💃.

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: Spending time with my family, my Golden Retriever’s and being in the outdoors.

What three items would you bring on a desert island? My family, ice, and a never-ending bottle of champagne 🥂🍾.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Exactly where I am. I love my home and living in Gympie.

An interesting fact about yourself? I was in a television commercial when I was a child.

What would your superpower be and why? Camouflage. Having the ability to blend in anywhere.

Kurt Hansen

Position: Owner and Director

What does this position involve: I don’t think I have enough room to write this list 😂.

How long have you worked at Oakvale: 10 years

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: Hand Over Day. People are so excited about getting the keys to their brand-new dream home.

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: Fishing and crabbing with the kids. Also having a few cold ones on the deck with family after a long day.

What three items would you bring on a desert island? Family, fishing gear and a big hammock.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I love where I live, so Gympie. I would like to visit certain parts of the world, but will always come home.

An interesting fact about yourself? I have a Black Belt in Rhee Tae Kwon Do, and…..I can also do perfect cartwheels 😁.

What would your superpower be and why? WOLVERINE was my favourite Xmen growing up (ok still now) so regenerative powers would be cool.

Patricia Sami

Position: Marketing & Sales Consultant

What does this position involve: I create the content you see across our socials, website, and advertising, while also answering enquiries and supporting clients as they begin their building journey ✨ From first impressions to first conversations, I love helping connect people with Oakvale Homes and guiding them towards the right fit 🥰

How long have you worked at Oakvale: Coming up to 1 year, which definitely makes me the new kid on the block! 😁

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: I love bringing Oakvale’s incredible homes to life through storytelling – sharing not just the builds themselves, but the people, products, and values behind them 😍 Now, getting to connect with clients and help them design their dream home makes it even more rewarding. And the cherry on top… working with such an awesome team 😉

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: Camping, travelling, going to concerts, dancing, hanging out with family and friends… and, of course, having a cheeky wine or two 🍷

What three items would you bring on a desert island? A beach umbrella (because sun safety, obviously), snacks, and something to play music on – either a speaker or my phone (assuming I have island Wi-Fi, right?).

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? This is such a hard one! I love Italy and Spain, so probably one of those… but I’d need to bring my whole family with me, otherwise I’d get too homesick! 😂

An interesting fact about yourself? I’m not a fan of heights… yet somehow, I’ve been bungee jumping three times and also went skydiving – and I loved it! Go figure.

What would your superpower be and why? Growing up in the Harry Potter era, how could I pick anything else? I’d absolutely want to be a witch – with all the magical powers, of course! 🪄✨

Paul Bowden

Position: Sales Consultant

What does this position involve: Helping clients design their dream home.

How long have you worked at Oakvale: I have just started in this position. However, in previous roles, I have dealt with Oakvale Homes on and off for over 20 years.

What’s your favourite thing about your job and why: All of the staff, as everybody is so welcoming, open and helpful.

What is your favourite hobby, activity, or creative outlet: I am a frustrated artist and tend to work in metal sculpture. I also enjoy restoring classic cars.

What three items would you bring on a desert island? A good book, my hammock and wine.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? On acreage with a permanent running rocky creek.

An interesting fact about yourself? I’ve never seen snow.

What would your superpower be and why? The ability to read minds, as some people assume you can.