Meet your 2023/24 Committee

 

President -

Ashleigh Beales

I’m Ashleigh, but everyone calls me Ash. I’m a 31 year old mother of 3 humans and 2 dogs. I’ve been a groomer for 5 years and love it. I run my own little home salon in Kalgoorlie, WA. Regional grooming has its challenges but I enjoy one on one time with my clients. I decided to join DGAWA as I’m passionate about dog grooming and love to always learn. Meeting other amazing groomers and gaining knowledge is by far the greatest thing about this association. I love volunteering with friendly passionate and like minded people.

Vice President & Media -

Rachel Higgs

My grooming journey began at a young age, learning to groom friends and families dogs with a borrowed set of shoddy human clippers. Following the passion of working with animals into adulthood I learnt the importance of responsible pet ownership which lead me to move in to the animal industry working in animal welfare and then later daycare. After 12 years in industry I moved to manage FurBaby Doggy Daycare and Grooming in 2022 which has helped me learn so much and made my passion for grooming grow. After seeing the worst things you can see while working in animal welfare being able to pamper and care for peoples pups really is the best! When I'm not working hard at Furbaby you can usually find me out and about in the bush or at the beach my own two crazy rescued border collie mixes!

Secretary -

Kirah Poole

Hi! My name’s Kirah and I’m a massive animal lover.
When I was asked the question what I want to do leaving school I was never sure but I knew it’s definitely got to involve animals.
I spent about 8 years in the industry working for a pet supplier, but I didn’t feel 100% satisfied. Then one day I was offered a position in the stores dog grooming salon and my love for pet grooming was sparked!
I started my first year as a bather, watching the groomers there and asking a TON of questions and slowly I evolved into being a groomer myself.
Now I'm grooming my days away. My favourite dogs to do are the big ones! Groodles, labradoodles, standard poodles, Samoyeds! But I am also a sucker for the cavoodles and spitzs. If I’m not grooming at work, you’ll find me at home grooming my 2 Fluffy cat boys Kovu and Baron and dreaming of the day I will have a canine friend to love too. (Yes, I am a big cat lover and might be a traitor to dog kind) otherwise I’ll have my nose stuck in a book.

Treasurer -

Emily Milbourne

Hi my name is Emily, but most people call me Em. I’ve been a groomer for 2 years and the proud owner of Lady & Her Hounds in Kununurra, WA. I have always wanted to work with animals, if you ever asked me when I was younger I would say I would be working with Steve Irwin. I’m a qualified Veterinary Nurse but feel in love with grooming in the veterinary industry and that’s what made me leave nursing. If I’m not grooming or running my business I’m out adventuring with my Partner and son in the Kimberley. The whole reason why I opened my salon was to give our community an opportunity to get their fur babies regular groomed and to  be able to watch my son grow at the same time as working. At times it is hard to juggle both home life and business life but it will never make me fall out of love with this industry. My favourite thing about grooming is the reactions from the owners to the transformation when they come to pick up their fur babies.

Memberships -

Jacqui Ruiters

I started grooming in 2017, I had a year-old Husky and needed to have him groomed as the hair was a nightmare! I could not find anyone local.This then turned into my business of a lifetime. I love working with the furbabies, also the joy of the owners faces when I return with their happy and better smelling pooch!I am mobile in the Eastern Perth Hills area, besides my boys Nico and Oscar I am mum to 3 young men. My favourite dog to groom is a working dog, I love their energy and vitality, but I mostly work with little fluffies.  When not working I am catching up with loved ones or buried in a book.

Events Co-ordinator -

Tania Wilson

I am the owner of Dezyna Dogz mobile Grooming salon. I am based in Baldivis and have been grooming professionally since Nov 2000. During my time living in Scotland I showed Toy and Miniature poodles, and made up several Champions along the way. I love grooming poodles, breed styles and Asian Fusion. I have a City & Guilds Diploma in Dog Grooming and hold a Cert IV in Training & Assessment. I have a great passion for our industry and hope to share my experience and knowledge with our wonderful groomers of all levels in WA.

Events Assistant -

Jackie Crawford

My grooming journey began in 2006 when I entered the world of dog showing. This fostered a passion for making dogs beautiful. Over the years I have owned and handled many breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Springer Spaniels. I have also been privileged to learn invaluable lessons on grooming many breeds from breed specialists.   To this day, I still get a thrill when showing an immaculately presented dog.  Every dog, whether for show or family pet, is a prospective beauty; and I enjoy unlocking that potential. While most grooming techniques are designed to make dogs look like their breed standards, I also love exercising my creativity with the artistic side of grooming such as with Asian Fusion. I currently share my life with two Golden Retrievers, Shogun and Rapha. I run a home salon in Mosman Park where I mix up my day with the large and hairy to tiny teacup dogs. I am committed to continued education and elevating the professional image of groomers in the community. When I am not grooming or at a dog show, I can be found walking the dogs, having coffee at a dog friendly cafe or painting.