Resilient Rebel 2024

When you walk into Haley Crofts office there is a wooden Chinese ornament on her desk.

It doesn’t match anything in her office, but it is reminder of how proud she is of her struggle, breaking cycles, confronting her fears, and taking back control to become the woman she is today.

Haley is the owner and director of Tailored Services a professional cleaning company on Harbour Road, but before she built her successful business from the ground, she grew up at the Harbour Road caravan park where she salvaged the dump at night.

From the office she now owns, she looks back at the ornament, as a treasure she found as a young girl amongst others trash, as an anchor for reflection. To remember that at times life was hard, but she has never been a victim.  Rather she is rebel with a heart of gold.

Her determination and sense of character is a shining example that you can learn from life’s challenges and keep moving forward.

Haley is a prime example of resilience, with a side of rebel. She strives to offer employment to her community. Her resilient nature has driven her successful business, where she leads by example and endeavours to raise up young men and women with a strong work ethic - to build strong foundations and resilience for them also.

Haley’s childhood was turbulent and as a result she has worked even harder rebelling against those who said she couldn’t achieve to prove that she indeed can reshape her life, her children’s life, and the wider community through her thriving business.

She raises other small businesses up and is happy to help at fundraisers and good community causes. She is a mighty example of a resilient rebel.

She also aids her employees when they face turbulent times. She stands up for the underdog and tries to help where she can.

While this story is not a book, Haley joked that if she ever wrote one it would put Jerry Springer out of a job.

But jokes aside Haley is the example you can overcome anything.

Haley faced adversity in so many areas of her life. She has strived to create a healthy marriage, raise children who know what hard work, drive, motivation and above all resilience is.

Between homes as a child, Haley has laid solid foundations for her children, so they didn’t have to live the same trauma. Growing up in Low-income, broken household, filled with abuse, drugs and alcohol. Haley was bought into the world by a single teenage mother, who she reconnected when she was 16.

Haley has 12 brothers and sisters all diverse in culture, with only one full blood brother.  She has been an aunty since she was one year old and a great aunty since the age of 22.

She has had to bury three of her brothers to cancer or suicide.

Haley’s father pleaded guilted and was founded guilty of attempted rape and 10 sexual offences against a minor. That girl was 15-year-old Haley.

At 16 she found her birth mother who has been married eight times.

For many of us it’s hard to imagine but most of the adversities Haley faced happened before she turned 22 and while she has been through difficulty, it has made her super resilient, but the strength to be a rebel when the moment calls for it.

Haley is happy to have the challenging conversation as she believes that where and how people can grow and learn.

Haley’s hope for others in her life, is that direct joy doesn’t come from her, but within themselves.  Haley loves to teach others to give strategies for this one, crazy, beautiful life.

Haley’s lived experience gives her the superpower to empower others to create their own joy, to find the best in life and that life’s adversities, lead to resilience, determination, and resourcefulness.

Standing before you tonight is Haley, this year’s Resilient Rebel.