Monthly newsletter - February

Dear <<First Name>>
Hello from Peta Godenzi, President

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2015. We trust the summer period has been successful for you, and that also, where possible, you have been able to enjoy a well deserved rest and the best our region has to offer. It was great to see the Yarra Ranges Donkey Festival do so well with its inaugural event on Sunday 19 January. More than two thousand people attended and, with some great media support, it seemed to attract many visitors to the Upper Yarra area generally. Well done to organiser and East Warburton resident Linda Jay and her team. Proceeds from the day support our local Upper Yarra SES and the Donkey Society of Victoria. This is the type of unique event that really helps promote the attractiveness of our region to the public. Here's an article from ABC news with a post-event wrap up!

We have been advised of a major power outage affecting 1900 homes and businesses in the region between Wesburn and the Upper Yarra Dam on Wednesday 4 February 2015 from 8.30 to 3.30pm. This includes the main street traders of Warburton. Please plan accordingly. Notices have been sent to those affected by SPausnet.

Welcome to our new members:

Horrrobins Consulting Services - Dale

Highlight events for the next few months include:

Everesting - Saturday 7 February - Major cycling event anticipating more than 500 entrants
Community Bank Warburton Up and Running - Sunday 22 February - major running event for 1000 participants
Herb and Chilli Festival - Sat/Sun 14-15 March see here
Rockberry Jam in Wandin East Reserve - Saturday 21 March - open air rock concert see here
Ecotopia - Sunday 22 March at the Yarra Junction Parklands attracts several thousand attendees
Crank Up - Sat/Sun 28-29 March - Upper Yarra Museum attracts several thousand attendees

The Yarra Ranges Business Industry Network has circulated their program of workshops and events for businesses in the Yarra Valley. We have attached it here for your easy reference.

We are off to a great start this year and acknowledge what a great first year we have had as the newly formed CEDA. We look forward to continuing to fulfil our purpose in 2015 - that is to promote sustainable economic development that enriches the lives of those who live in or have a close connection to the Warburton Valley and rely on its prosperity

All the best, Peta
Email me: info@delorainehomestead.com.au or tel 0428 971 203.

Diary Notes

Monthly meeting - third Tuesday of the month. The next Warburton Valley CEDA meeting is Tuesday 17 February 2015 at 3pm in the boardroom at the Warburton Community bank branch on the main street. Members may attend and should RSVP to this email address. Alternatively you can submit any questions or comments in writing for the committee.

Annual Accommodation Forum

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR YVRTA ANNUAL ACCOMMODATION FORUM

The Annual Accommodation Forum Ticketing Service is now available for YVRTA Members to book their places. Booking can only be done at: www.ticketebo.com.au/yvrta
There will be no tickets available at the door. The last day to book is February 6th 2015.
To avoid disappointment, please get in early as seats are limited.

The details are:
Venue: Lilydale International, 471 Maroondah, Lilydale
Date: Tuesday 10th February
Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Cost: Members $20 Non Members $30
Morning Tea and Lunch included

The topics are:

How to improve your bottom line!! Do you want to know how to improve your bottom line without compromising service?
Digital Marketing Did you know that if you take advantage of digital marketing you can increase your booking enquiries.
Service Excellence How to provide great service to guests, including information, reviews, keeping in touch, etc.
Holiday Rental Mastery & Guest Presenter Rex Brow from Holiday Rental Mastery will be providing valuable information on how to convert email enquiries to booking nights. Rex recently gave a presentation at a Stayz Conference in Melbourne and was extremely well received. Rex will share what he has learnt about booking sites, current trends, statistics, and how he converts enquiry to booking nights. Rex is currently operating his 3 holiday homes with at least an 80% enquiry to booking conversion rate.
General Discussion Time to have your say in a supportive environment and to give your ideas and input into what you feel you need from the YVRTA Committee. Feedback from this session and from what is discussed throughout the day will be important in determining the action plan for the YVRTA for 2015.

YVRTA look forward to seeing you on the day!

Community Bank Up and Running - promotional opportunities for traders

A message from event organiser Sue Hoffman:
We are happy to offer Warburton businesses the opportunity to have a promotional stand/marquee at our event. We are also giving out 1000 showbags to our participants and are happy to include flyers from local businesses. Packing is done February 8th. In return, we'd just like a couple of items/offers to use as 'spot prizes' on the day. We like the 'offers' as they will entice the winners into the relevant businesses to collect them.

We also have a 'Present your Race Bib to receive...' poster to display in participating businesses that may like to offer a discount/freebie offer to competitors. We envisage this being something along the lines of 'second cup of coffee half price' 'coffee and cake $....' '10% discount' or whatever is appropriate for their business. The poster can be displayed in their window, and we will post all the offers on our fb and webpages. The idea is simply to encourage people to stay in town after the event, and spend in local businesses. Over half our competitors come from outside the area.

A sample of the poster is below . There are plenty to supply to any businesses interested.
Please call Sue on 0418 372 554 if you have any queries.

Significant events calendar - Are you ready?

Valleywide, we can be better at making sure we are all prepared for busy weekends and the upside in trade these can generate. We need to communicate more effectively about what's coming up, especially those events that are new or have a national focus to them. Not every trader in our towns is a member of CEDA so spreading the word becomes a task that all of us can share. We will also be building an email data base so we can communicate with all traders efficiently.
CEDA, from now on, will provide a three month rolling calendar of events in the monthly newsletter and will upload a dynamic yearly planner to our website for your reference. http://upperyarra.net.au/ceda/calendar-of-events/
You are welcome to email us with any events you would like added to this calendar.
And don't forget to upload your events onto Events Victoria website http://www.eventsvictoria.com for even broader exposure.

Everesting - inaugural Mt Donna Buang cycling event attracting great interest
The Everesting event weekend is now upon us and the reaction within the cycling community has been extremely positive. Event participants and spectators coming to the valley should number into the thousands and this will obviously create big opportunities for traders/businesses that are ready to meet the expected increase in demand...for everything! Let's prove what a great place this is for nature-based tourism and activities and showcase the best of what we have to offer. The drawcard we have in magic mountains and amazing nature cannot be replicated anywhere else!

You can read an article in the Upper Yarra Mail (27/1/15) here for an overview of the impact this event will have on the townships of Warburton Valley or click 'going' on the dedicated Facebook page called 'Domestique: in Search of Up' for updates and further information.

Vintage time at Seville Hill
The Seville Hill 2015 Vintage Degustation Dinner dates are: Friday 6 March, Friday 20 March, Friday 10 April and Friday 24 April.
Held in the charming setting of Seville Hill's barrel room, this five-course degustation dinner celebrates the start of the 2015 Grape harvest. Each course will be carefully matched with Seville Hill Wines and there will be an opportunity to meet Chef Marie Di Battista and Winemaker John D'Aloisio as they interpret their food and wine vision for the season ahead. This event is a must for all who enjoy fine food and wine and an experience not to be missed! Cost: $125 per person. Bookings are essential on ph. 59643 284 www.sevillehill.com.au
Menu for March 6th
Grilled Snapper, creamed sweet corn, fresh peas and parsley oil
Pan-fried potato gnocchi, sautéed zucchini flowers, roasted heirloom tomato w ' saffron and tarragon burnt butter sauce, pecorino
Confit duck, heirloom carrot puree, roasted dutch carrots, confit potatoes, orange and honey syrup
Red wine braised lamb and vegetable pot pie fougasse
Chocolate and cherry mousse, cherry compote, white chocolate cigar

The "Best dressed window in town" winners!
Congratulations to Lace 'N Things in Warburton and Flowers @ Junction, Yarra Junction on winning the 'Best Dressed Window in town' during December. These retailers made a much appreciated effort to create inviting and delightful Christmas display windows and were rewarded with a quarter page advert in the Upper Yarra Mail. (see below). There were many terrific entries such as Pink'n' Shears and Yarra Valley Rentals in Yarra Junction, and Warburton Candy Emporium, Warburton Pharmacy and What Nots in Warburton. Thank you everyone for your efforts in bringing a special Christmas touch to our towns.

Member Updates

Download the February-April 'What's On' poster here.
Print for display or handout to visitors and clients. More info: Ph Paul 0409 004 770 or paul@warburtoninfo.com

What can I do? Three by three things this month

Contact Sue Hoffman at Up and Running if you want to be involved in the promotional opportunites around this event.
Enrol in a class or workshop (see the Yarra Ranges Business Industry Network for some good starts!).
Make this the year of active engagement in CEDA!

CEDA online

We have a dedicated page on the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise website http://upperyarra.net.au/ceda/ or click here.

Our purpose statement:

'To promote sustainable economic development that enriches the lives of those who live in or have a close connection to the Warburton Valley and rely on its prosperity.'

Your CEDA committee is:
Peta Godenzi (President), Michael Hibbert (Vice President and CEDA rep at YRT), Geoff Vickers (Secretary/Treasurer) and members Jeff Gill, Norm Orr, Ian Shipton, Phil Wallens, Mike Iley, Dale Feim, Sue White, Kevin Vivian and Lincoln Wilson.