From Belgium to Coonalpyn, migrant couple’s ‘wild ride’ story of success in land Down Under

In her 20 years of living in Australia Claudia Ati-Touati has never had to travel far to see the country. Instead, it has come to her.

Truck drivers, work commuters, intrepid travellers — they all stop at her Waffles & Jaffles shop on the Dukes Highway connecting Adelaide and Melbourne.

It is hard to miss the shop with its red, yellow and black flags, bicycle decor and the Dutch-infused Aussie slangs coming from behind the counter.

While Coonalpyn may seem like an unusual location to find authentic Liege waffles, Ms Ati-Touati, who moved from Belgium, insists there was plenty to attract her young family back in 2007.

“When you first move in here you wouldn’t think it’s very accepting,” Ms Ati-Touati said.