Image credit: Phil Copp Photography
Vicki Saylor is a woman who wears many hats: a jazz singer, a guest speaker, an award-winning actress, an educator, a community connector and a cultural practitioner; the latter of which Vicki has built upon through her marketing and events business, SayLa V.
“I’m Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, South Sea Islander and White Australian – I have all the basics covered,” Vicki says.
“I love every bit of my heritage, and that’s what’s given me the opportunity to reach lots of people and be involved in various activities throughout my career.”
For over thirty years, Vicki has been a cultural liaison officer, working across community, government, private enterprise and now her very own successful business, SayLa V, which was founded with the intention of bringing cultural flavour to events across the North.
“I have had the opportunity to manage various high-profile events throughout my career, but I come from a large family, so every gathering was like I was organising a major event,” laughs Vicki when recalling her early experience.
“As a cultural events specialist, my goal with SayLa V was, and still is, to bring culture into everybody’s event. This could be through catering, the presentation of the event, showcasing performances or artists – the list is endless.”
After a stint down south, Vicki, who is on the Board for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Museum of Underwater Arts and the Youth Services Management Committee, returned to Townsville six years ago and identified a niche in the cultural events and marketing space.
“There wasn’t that point of real difference that enhanced the beauty of the region and its history,” says Vicki, who decided to dive head-first into the world of business in her early 60s.
“It’s really about giving people the opportunity to engage and mix with one another, and what better way to do that than through events.
Phil Copp Photography
“Any opportunity that we can showcase the good things about our culture and its beauty and history is important and it’s something I feel needs to be emphasised more.”
Vicki credits her success in business to the genuine relationships she has built both professionally and personally; something she believes is also the answer to establishing true reconciliation.
“You’ve got to seek out genuine relationships and connections,” says Vicki, who is also extremely passionate about working with young people.
“It’s not only the key to business success but also, I believe, the answer to closing the gap. It all comes down to deeper conversations. And how can you do that without genuine relationships?”
Vicki certainly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Instead, she is currently in the process of curating her very own event, the Kai Kai Feàstival, a two-day event that will highlight the fusion of traditional Indigenous cuisine – from Bushtucker to Crayfish Pie – and will take place in Townsville in September.
“The festival is about celebrating the good things that came from the bad when Indigenous Australians were displaced. When all the different cultures came together, so did the food and we want to celebrate that rich history,” she says.
“I’m working with many like-minded people who want to see positivity come into Townsville, including elders, local schools, council and defence.”
Most importantly, Vicki says it’s about bringing people together to learn, celebrate and live.
“Like every one of the events I work on, it’s about encouraging people to embrace who you are and not taking one’s cultural background and history for granted,” she says.
“As I always say, in business and in life, if you just do you, nobody will be able to stop you.”
