If you have been given a gift basket for buying a car or staying in a Sydney hotel chances are it was made by Breda Olliffe, of Windang.
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Ms Olliffe has corporate clients all over the nation and she supplies them from her home near the entrance to Lake Illawarra.
But she is also known for her enormous generosity.
Over the last three decades she has helped countless people along the way by donating her totally Australian-made range of gift products to many people and causes.
Next week one example of that will be when she takes a car load of gifts to distribute to patients at a paliative care hospital in Sydney.
Despite her own health concerns Ms Olliffe has made an enormous difference to countless people. And while some have suggested she might consider slowing down she can’t.
Making and distributing her Breda's Delightful Baskets’ gift range is her passion.
And bringing smiles to the faces of others is what keeps her going after five strokes, a quadruple bypass, loss of vision in one eye and being hospitalised with a twisted spine after a tram accident in Melbourne while she was attending a trade fair in 2006.
Ms Olliffe lost much of her mobility, can no longer drive and relies on the help of friends and a loyal employee to allow her to keep doing what she loves. And she is enormously grateful for that opportunity.
“I can’t manage on my own,” she said.
She is also buoyed by the support of many people, including suppliers such as Tyrrells Wines and clients who became great friends such as the late Dale Heywood, of Dwyers Mazda, who she had a great working relationship for decades.
Despite being so small Breda's Delightful Baskets is one-of-a-kind business that is held in high regard by many leading companies. Locally that includes Cleary Bros, clubs and schools.
Ms Olliffe hopes her story will inspire others to support every good cause they can with gifts made up of products from every state in Australia.
She said she does it because she loves giving people a lift and helping them feel valued and special.
Ms Olliffe has been presented certificates of achievement and recognition over the years from organisations such as the Department of State and Regional Development Business Enterprise Awards, the Property Management Authority Community of the Year Awards and Australian Made, Australian Grown.
And has just received an Australian Food and Wine Award for 30 years of excellence in promoting all Australian made products.
Originally from Ireland she also exports her Aussie-Made baskets and gifts overseas.
With a flare for creativity she makes many things herself for the gift baskets including fashion and hat decorations.
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