Jill Morris’ vision for Simply Hampers was to create an opportunity to showcase the very best local produce.
"When I first came to Cairns, I met several local manufacturers who were producing wonderful coffee, tea, condiments and sauces; and value adding to their crops with produce like macadamias."
"I had heard that even cocoa plantations would eventually be producing a locally made chocolate, and there were plans afoot to create a local food brand called Taste Paradise."
Jill also discovered many talented artists and potters who had been drawn to the Far North for its laid back lifestyle and stunning natural beauty. “It made sense to me to bring all of these uniquely Far North Queensland elements together in a very special range of hampers we call ‘Experience! Taste Paradise’.”
Jill’s vision for this special range of hampers included an idea that was, well. . .out of the box.
I wanted the products to be presented in a beautiful and exclusive gift box, inspired by a piece of prose I had written called ‘The Colours of Australia’.
As luck would have it, Jill had recently met a local Yungaburra artist named Alison Bird, whose artwork was bursting with the colours of local flora and fauna. Jill knew she had found the right person to interpret her prose into the gift box design.
Alison’s artwork was perfect, but the timing was lousy. Just as Jill was ready to go, the GFC hit and the cost of printing the boxes and launching the new range was one risk too many in an uncertain world. A couple of years went by and Jill received even worse news. Alison was very ill and had to go to Brisbane for treatment.
The news spurred Jill into action. “I knew I had to take the plunge, and I wanted to do it for Alison and her beautiful gift box design.”
In 2010, the first Experience! Taste Paradise Gourmet Gifts were launched, showcasing the very best local produce of Far North Queensland. They continue to wow and delight as both personal and corporate gifts. And Alison continues on her road to recovery.
It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of, a person under the age of 18 years.
