Kylie achieved her dream of showing people the incredible billion-year-old Kimberley wilderness in a relaxed atmosphere when her boat, The Kimberley Escape, was launched in March 2000. After an exhaustive search for financial support, Ms Bartle found three investors to help fund her dream. What she lacked in business experience she made up for with determination, persistence and a passion for the industry. After 18 months she negotiated to buy out her investors and go it alone. Faced with the Ansett Airlines collapse in 2001 and mounting holiday cancellations due to lost flights, Ms Bartle’s relatively new business had to ride out the storm. The business’s staff of four has grown to 12 and will soon increase to 17 with the upcoming launch of a second luxurious vessel, the MV Great Escape.
