The DGS Australian Creative Team

Alicia Bunch

Bethany Aberdour

Melanie Newman

Naomi Conroy

Sharon Hall

Tash Finch

ABOUT THE GROOMERS

Melanie Newman

MELANIE NEWMAN - An amazing ambassador for Australian Grooming!

Creating a rewarding career from a passion is the ultimate dream and one that Melanie Newman has been able to pursue for over fifteen years. Starting out as a dog bather at a friend’s salon in the late 1990’s, Melanie relished the time she spent with the animals and decided to turn her passion into a lifestyle.
Initially self taught, Melanie ventured to the US to attend seminars and workshops hosted by the best dog groomers in the world and opened her own professional dog grooming salon, Spa Bark Dog Grooming & Spa, in Moonee Ponds Victoria in 2004. She was formally recognised as an Internationally Certified Master Groomer in 2008.
Melanie’s work has taken her to grooming competitions across Australia and New Zealand, Holland, Germany, Spain, Italy and various parts of America, and she was crowned the Australian Royal Supreme Grooming Champion in 2013. Among her other accolades, Melanie has won best in shows with Miniature Poodles, Standard Poodles, Bichons and Welsh Terriers.
More recently, Mel has taken on the role of Victorian Assessor for Certificate 3 & 4 for International Grooming Company and is an instructor at the Victorian College of Dog Grooming. She is a member of Dogs Victoria and is often asked to be a keynote speaker at industry events.
Mel has represented Groom Team Australia at the World Grooming Championships in Barcelona, Spain 2013 , Milan, Italy 2015 and again in 2017 in Krotrjik, Belgium
Over her 15 year career, Melanie has strived to give the animals she works with the best quality care, but always found it difficult to find products that were of a high quality, were gentle on the pets and groomers, and left the coat feeling refreshed and clean. Over a two year period, Melanie and her husband Cory created the Melanie Newman Salon Essentials collection, a range of premium canine grooming products that both the dog grooming industry and home pet owners can be proud to use on their animals.
ACHIEVEMENT
September 2017 Artero Grand Salm Barcelona Spain
Best In Show, Best Scissored Dog and Gold Medal - Bichon Frise
Belgium Groom Mania Gold Medal Championship Level - Bichon Frise
Milan Groom World Championships (Individual Event) Silver Medal - Bichon Frise
Milan Groom World Team Championships (Teams Event ) Groom Team Australia Member
Equal 3rd on accumulative point score from the 4 judges
Global launch of Melanie Newman Salon Essentials Premium Canine Grooming Products Australian Groomer of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015
FURTHER ACHIEVEMENTS October 2016
Groom Mania Belgium Gold Medal - Bichon Frise
October 2015
Milan Groom World Championships
Silver medal – Bichon Frise
Represented Australia in World Team Championships
3rd in my Class – Bichon Frise
Pet Expo Gold Coast
Best in Show - Bichon Frise

July 2015
AIPG Australia Institute of Professional Groomers Australian Groomer of the Year
Groom Fest Melbourne
Best In Show – Miniature Poodle
2014
Groom Quest Sydney AIPG
Australian Groomer of the Year
Groom Quest Sydney
Best In Show – Welsh Terrier
Pet Expo Sydney
Runner Up Best in Show – Bichon Frise
2013
AIPG Australia Institute of Professional Groomers Australian Groomer of the Year
World Grooming Championships Barcelona Team Australia
Fifth Place – Bichon Frise
Pet Industry Association of Australia
Runner Up Best in Show – Bichon Frise
2012
AIPG Australia Institute of Professional Groomers Australian Groomer of the Year
Pet Industry Association of Australia
Australian Supreme Royal Groomer
Groom Quest Sydney
Best In Show – Standard Poodle
Les Pooch Sydney
First Place – Poodle Challenge
Pet Industry Association of
Australia Pet Expo
Runner Up Best In Show – Bichon Frise
2011
Pet Industry Association of Australia Royal Melbourne Show Best In Show – Welsh Terrier
Pet Industry Association of Australia Pet Expo
Runner Up Best In Show – Bichon Frise
2010
Super Zoo Las Vegas
Super Groomer Jackpot
Participation by Invitation Only 40 Groomers World Wide Third Place – Welsh Terrier
2009
Certo Grooming Event Holland Championship Level
Silver Medal – Toy Poodle
Groom and Kennel expo Pasadena
California first Place – Shih-tzu

Sharon Hall

Sharon Hall -An outstanding advocate and representative for Australian groomers.

Sharon is the proprietor of Snuggle Pup and Cuddle Pooch Dog Grooming Salon, a business she started in 2001 that now employs seven people and services more than 5000 clientele.
She is a Director of International Grooming Company, formed by herself and Deb Ryan with the goal of being able to provide education and knowledge to those interested in becoming Pet Stylist or wanting to improve their skills or business within the Pet industry with nationally recognised courses.
Sharon has spent the better part of 2009-2010 working on introducing the first of its kind in Australia a nationally recognised grooming program and online assessments with industry support through Pet industry Association certificates.

She has been competing in grooming competitions since 2002 with many big placings. Sharon has won both in Australia, USA and Germany. With so many great achievements some of Sharon’s most memorable was her Best In show at 2012 Sydney Royal competition with her hand stripped American cocker Spaniel and her accumulative wins that have made it possible for Sharon to of been selected on the traveling Groom Teams that have represented Australia in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017.
Sharon has recently returned from America where she was invited to compete in the invitation only Pet Groom Expo competition. She chose to compete with a poodle and an American Cocker. Sharon was awarded Ist place with her groom of the American Cocker and also was awarded in the top 3 for her poodle also in this competition. This was a fantastic achievement as Top Groomers from all over the world were the only ones invited to compete.
She has in 2017 been to China and South Korea to Judge their grooming competitions. She was invited to do this by the International Judges Association. It was a great accolade to be asked to Judge in another country.
Sharon is well known in the industry to be a great all-round groomer. She is also proud to be an International Certified Master Groomer has her Cert IV Pet Stylist certificate as well as a Companion Animal Hygienist.
Sharon acted as Grooming Director for the Pet Industry of Australia in 2009 and has been a guest speaker for many events that have followed over the past 6 years here in Australia and overseas and was invited to judge 2015 Royal grooming competitions shows around the country
Sharon enjoys sharing her 20 years’ experience and knowledge in the Industry with others and helping groomers excel in their field.
Sharon has successfully shown and titled many dogs including Saint Bernard, Aussie Shepherd, Poodle (Standard, Mini and Toy), Shih Tzu, Bichon, and Laggotto Romagnolo.

 

Naomi Conroy

Naomi is a passionate Pet Stylist, having owned her own mobile business since 2008, after being heavily involved in the Vet Nursing industry several years prior.

Her motivation to become a Pet grooming instructor came from her own experience as a groomer who strives to better her work. After dedicating herself to mobile grooming, Naomi focused on study and competing both in Australia and America, she got the results she craved and now represents Australia on the 2015 & 2017 Groom Teams.
Naomi then went on to complete her Certificate IV in Training, Assessment and Education, as well as the NASH instructor Certification, so she could help others do the same.
Naomi furthered her studies and is one of only a handful of Pet Stylists to have compleated her International Masters Certification for both dogs and cats (IMCG & FMG).
Naomi has studied under some of the worlds most adored groomers including Sasha Reiss and holds a Poodle Expert Certification awarded by Sasha.
Naomi is a Qualified Veterinary Nurse and Groom Technition, as well has holding her Certificate III & IV in Pet Grooming.
Naomi is now an Assessor for students studying Certificate III & IV in Pet grooming.  She turned her focus to helping students develop their passion, excel in their career and build rewarding businesses.
Naomi believes in the power of positive encouragement, a realistic approach to learning and study, and, of course, motivation by the bucket loads!

Bethany Aberdour

Born in England, and living in Australia! Beth brings so much experience from the wide world of Terriers. She specialises in Hand Stripped breeds such as Schnuazers, Griffons, Border Terriers and more. Beth has been showing Miniature Schnauzers since 2009. She currently owns 2 of her own schnauzers named Ro & Mais.di yan

Tash Finch

Tash Finch has competed in many competitions and is active in both the grooming and show world. She loves her Kerry Blues!
Some of her achievements are:
2017 
1st Pure Breed Scissor Masters 
1st best in group Runner Up Best In Show kerry blue terrier.


Sydney Royal 2016
3rd place Masters Pure Breed Scissor
Aug 2016
2nd place Masters Pure Breed Scissor

2015
Pet Expo 2nd Salon Freestyle Open
Dog Spectacular 2015
1st Masters Pure Breed Scissor
1st BEST IN GROUP Pure Breed Scissor
1st BEST IN SHOW kerry blue terrier 

State championship
2nd Salon Freestyle bichon x poodle


2014
Brisbane Royal 
1st Open Pure Breed Scissor 
1st BEST IN GROUP kerry blue
2nd Salon Freestyle bichon x poodle


2013
Brisbane Royal 1st Open Pure Breed Scissor Kerry Blue 
1st BEST IN GROUP Pure Breed Scissor