Always rising against odds
IT’S TAKEN PLENTY OF HARD WORK AND SOME SETBACKS ALONG THE WAY FOR DALE JACKLEY, THE DOUGH-KNEADING ENGINE BEHIND JACKLEY’S BAKEHOUSE, TO FINALLY REACH HIS SWEET SPOT, WRITES PETE MARTINELLI
IF bakers are a breed apart, Dale Jackley is indestructible.
When most of us were still in the land of Nod, for years Mr Jackley and his fellow flour dusted artisans were elbow deep in dough, churning out batards, loaves and pies in time for the dawn rush.
And at 32, when the pace and pressure of running two shops and working 16-hour days led to a stroke, Dale checked himself out of hospital to get the day’s bread made. Definitely a breed apart. “The doctors didn’t know I was going back to work, that’s for sure,” Mr Jackley said.
“They did say change your lifestyle and get off coffee.”
Now 38, the owner of Jackley’s Bakehouse in Mt Sheridan Plaza credits his early years of business, and his long hours as an apprentice in Edmonton as shaping the nevergive-up philosophy that drives the popular family business.
“In that industry you get up at 1am – there were times I would fall asleep on the way to work,” Mr Jackley said.
“You are by yourself and that is where the enjoyment is – before you know it you’d be there for six hours, baking and having listened to three albums, dancing like an idiot.”
As an apprentice he learned early on that fear did not breed success.
“One morning, about 15 years ago, I was kidnapped at work,” he said.
“There were three dudes outside, at the back door, waiting for me when I got to work. I didn’t see them and they mugged me with hammers.”
Mr Jackley was taken for a terrifying joy ride before jumping from the vehicle when it stalled.
The next day he was back baking bread.
“I refused to give up,” Mr Jackley said.
Maybe that spirit is what propelled him, after 15 years at Edmonton to open a bakery in Raintrees, and then, after 12 months, to expand into Mt Sheridan and into the crossfire of a supermarket bread war.
“That was a real struggle; I was working 12-18 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mr Jackley said.
Then, in 2015, the crunch came.
“I was still playing sport, trying to live a life as well; after basketball it was 10pm and I was watching the footy show when I started to see black spots.”
In minutes, half his body was paralysed.
“Luckily by the time I got to hospital I was coming out of it,” Mr Jackley said.
But the writing was on the wall for the soon to be dad of two.
HE CREDITS HIS EARLY YEARS OF BUSINESS, AND HIS LONG HOURS AS AN APPRENTICE AS SHAPING THE NEVER-GIVE-UP PHILOSOPHY THAT DRIVES THE POPULAR FAMILY BUSINESS
“My wife Bec was nine months pregnant with our second; it was an eye-opener,” he said.
“It was the catalyst to sell the Raintrees shop.
“We readjusted the business to start at 7am and concentrate on cakes.”
Now Jackley’s is a household name in southern Cairns and the family business has supplied cakes to generations.
“There is a really good family vibe, it’s a good shopping centre and a good clientele.
“Our business is very family orientated.
“Some customers have been part of our lives for eight years; it’s awesome.”
These days Mr Jackley thrives off growing his business and pivoting with the times.
“I have surrounded myself with steady business-minded influences, a great accountant and a financial adviser, marketing minded friends,” he said.
“People I can tap into for help and guidance instead of doing everything myself – that has been vital in strategically keeping business on track.”
The long hours are still the same but the job satisfaction is different, “people see success and they sometimes forget that it takes hard work to get there”, he says
“We are in the shopping centre before anyone else and we are normally one of the last to leave; hard work, works.”
Even COVID-19 was an opportunity; when others may have shied away, Jackley’s Bakehouse leaned into the storm, securing a government grant to refine its online presence.
“Our ability to connect with Facebook followers really helped us through COVID,” he said. “You have to keep going to move forward.
“The challenge for the industry is to keep on your toes.
“If I had stepped back and was worried about the future I may never have been able to get the grant.
“I have seen people scared by COVID and are not doing too well; you have to be proactive.”
I HAVE SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH STEADY BUSINESS-MINDED INFLUENCES, A GREAT ACCOUNTANT AND A FINANCIAL ADVISER
DALE JACKLEY