There was a clear and consistent message woven through ‘2026 The Big Day Out’ as Principals James and Sally Croft officially marked the opening of their next chapter: this journey has always been about people. A reflection of the culture they’ve built and the future they’re continuing to shape.

“This day is about you, not us,” James said.

The new year kick start event was not only a celebration of expansion, but of recognition, momentum and belief. The team paused to acknowledge achievements and recognition across 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, while also warmly welcoming new team members Guy, Julie, Catherine, Jana, Helena and Sophie, each one representing the continued investment in capability, leadership and opportunity.

With the recent opening of offices in Chinchilla and soon to be Stanthorpe, the group is strengthening its footprint across the Darling Downs, the Western Downs and the Southern Downs, reinforcing their commitment to serving local communities while setting a clear vision for growth.

“We are here to set benchmarks, and kick goals,” James said.

“To drive growth, to create opportunities for our people, and to achieve premium results. We have the size, the scale and the team to be one of the very best groups in the Ray White Rural network.”

Sally Croft reflected on the strength of the property management business, highlighting Pittsworth’s exceptionally tight vacancy rates and strong management fundamentals, while noting evolving conditions across Warwick and significant growth under Rachael Duncan’s leadership in Dalby and Chinchilla. Stanthorpe, as a newer market, has already established a strong foundation with 250 managements, a powerful indicator of future potential.

“We’re growing not just in numbers, but in capability,” Sally said.

“Our team is kicking goals, and that gives us enormous confidence in the future.”

A deeply inspiring moment came from special guest Shane Webcke, who shared a personal and powerful reflection on resilience, discipline and perspective.

Shaped by early adversity and loss, Shane spoke about the values that carried him forward, the work ethic instilled by his family, the grounding influence of his mother, and the lessons learned through rugby league, including his time being recognised as one of the players to watch for the Brisbane Broncos.

“The most valuable thing I own is my work ethic,” Shane said.

“Nothing changes if nothing changes. It’s mental fitness, you have to strengthen your mind just as much as your body.”

His message resonated deeply, that culture, perspective and consistency are the foundations of lasting success.

The day also highlighted the evolving role of connection in modern business. Amber Ross’s social media update revealed significant growth throughout 2025, with Facebook continuing as the strongest platform, and a clear focus for 2026 on authentic, human engagement, particularly through video.

Local Broker from Seasoned Finance, Trish Sheppard reinforced the importance of relationships, noting that local brokers play a critical role in bridging gaps and supporting customers beyond what traditional pathways can offer.

“Referrals are built on trust,” she said. “And trust is built through genuine relationships.”

Ray White Rural and Livestock CEO Matt White reinforced the importance of returning to fundamentals while continuing to evolve.

“People equal market share,” he said.

“Real estate is about the inches, the conversations, the consistency, the communication”.

“December 2025 was our strongest month since 2021, and that momentum comes from leadership, clarity and connection”, Matt said.

Leadership expert Brett Graham echoed the importance of discipline and perspective in sustaining long-term success.

“The basics never change,” he said.

“Handling the things you don’t enjoy is often what gives you longevity. Trust will always trump research, and focus will always outperform noise.”

As the Pittsworth, Warwick, Dalby and Chinchilla group are about to open their 5th office located in Stanthorpe. This solidifies their presence across the Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Western Downs. As they look ahead, the direction is clear: five offices, one team focused on continued growth, continued investment in people, and continued development of a business grounded in culture, opportunity and belief.

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