Katie Hawkins has to stop and think whenever someone asks her age. She jokes that she turned forty a few years ago and prefers not to count past that. By her own calculations, she’s about forty-three, but really, age is just a number, right?
Born in Dandenong, Victoria, Katie grew up with her older brother, who is four years her senior. They share a close bond, and he lives on an acreage with his partner on the Mornington Peninsula.
Katie’s childhood was filled with adventure and sunshine. At three, her family moved to the Sunshine Coast, where she spent most of her formative years. For her, the Sunshine Coast holds special memories—the place of endless beach days, breakfast by the shore with her grandparents and parents, cousins visiting, and countless bike rides around the neighbourhood.
Katie did well in school, enjoying English and Tourism, but her first job was a Saturday receptionist at a real estate office. Unsure of her path after graduation, she took a year off and landed a reservations job at 17, sparking her passion for travel. She then earned a Certificate III in Travel and Tourism, becoming a full-time travel consultant, a career she loved.
“Every day was different, I was creating dream trips for people and, of course, traveling myself,” Katie shares. “That’s where my heart is”.
She met her husband, Adam, in a classic, old-school way—at a nightclub in Sorrento, Victoria. “He caught my interest straight away, that’s for sure! He’s a spunk,” she laughs. Their first date was at a drive-in movie with Adam’s friends, watching a horror film, definitely not Katie’s preference, but she kept quiet to impress him!
The couple tied the knot in 2006 at the Blairgowrie Yacht Club, a tribute to Adam’s sailing background. At the time, he was a dedicated yachtie, competing in races like the Sydney to Hobart. “He got to sail, and I got to travel,” she smiles.
Katie has backpacked through Europe, worked in the UK, and explored the U.S, Asia, and the Middle East. Travel, she says, opens the mind and broadens perspectives.
Adam and Katie have two children, Summer, 12, and Archie, 10. Before Summer’s birth, Adam and his friends swapped sailing for mountain biking, which soon became an obsession. This passion evolved into road cycling and, after moving to Hervey Bay in 2019, led to their business, Giant Hervey Bay.
Katie says, “We followed mum and dad here, the move made sense. With housing affordability, great education, and amazing weather, it was a no-brainer”.
Katie manages administration and accounts in their business, occasionally assisting with sales. She also works as a Regional Sales Coordinator at K’gari, promoting the island and its tourism opportunities. “I love what we’ve built, but I also cherish my two days away, back in travel.”
One of the most challenging times in Katie’s life was losing her mum. Diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021, her mum underwent gruelling treatments, including having 80% of her stomach removed. She was cancer-free until 2023 when the illness returned aggressively. Within four weeks of being hospitalised, she passed away. “It was devastating,” Katie says. “She was our number one supporter; we miss her every day.”
Katie remains close with her dad, who still lives in Hervey Bay. “He’s not allowed to move away from me,” she jokes. They talk every morning and night and catch up regularly.
Social connectedness through movement is vital in Katie’s life. The friendships she’s built through triathlons, running, and cycling have been an incredible support system. “It’s more than just exercise—it’s connection. There’s something about early mornings with like-minded people that is very special.”
Looking ahead, Katie hopes to find more balance, allowing space to pause, reflect, and fully embrace all the beautiful things in her life.
By Kim Parnell
From What’s On Fraser Coast Magazine
