Welcome to the Hills & District Chamber of Commerce - a friendly and supportive business group bridging the Ferny Hills, Arana Hills, Ferny Grove, Keperra, Mitchelton and surrounding districts. Established in 1992, our Chamber is not-for-profit and is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.
If you are involved in a business or community group and live or work in the Hills Districts, why not register for the next meeting - new members and visitors are always welcome.
Recovery Moreton Bay Region Business and Jobs Expo
29 October 2020, 10am to 4pm. The Hope Centre, Rothwell.
Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce Inc. are supporting the event, and will have a display stand on the day.
If you would like to submit your business marketing material (one small item e.g. business card, flyer etc. per business), or volunteer your time on the Chamber stand on the day, please chat to John Hudson, Anita Bird or Hayley Lingard.
President
Mary Di Marco
It has now been 6 months since we changed to zoom meetings instead of face to face contact. A lot has occurred in that timeframe not just in the chamber but within Australia and also the world.
We have had 2 Face to Face Executive meetings over the past month and believe that the September Chamber Breakfast should take place at the Arana Leagues Club.
This breakfast meeting will also be the Meet the Candidates meeting, so if you wish to attend, you will need to register for admittance. We will have limited space and pre-registering will be required for catering. Numbers are limited to 60 attendees.
We will have a stand at the Business Expo in October. There are still some fully subsidised stands available for exhibitors. If you have not done so and believe that you can benefit from the exposure, get on board and apply for a stand, our website has the contact details for Paula Brand.
I look forward to seeing you all in September in the meantime we will have to suffice with the Zoom Meeting for August. Stay safe. Mary
Treasurer
Stuart Jaeschke
Financial reports for the month ended 31 July 2020.
Secretary
Hayley Lingard
My heart and thoughts go out, not only to our business community at this time, but all businesses who may be doing things tough, as we anticipate what we may happen next. Just as we start to consider some more “normal” things, many of us are finding ourselves back in a watch and wait scenario. If this is you, please don’t feel alone, but also please don’t fear reaching out!
Meetings have been coming back and in the last month I’ve had the pleasure of being able to represent The Hills Chamber at MBRIT events, including their monthly networking event which will be back again on the 19th of August from 3pm to 5pm at the North Lakes Sports Club.
I want to also encourage you ALL to consider providing Anita Bird or me with business cards or other small marketing material as we gear up for the Moreton Bay Business Expo. One small item per business is sought (as well as volunteers of course - please get in touch with Anita if you’d like to contribute). Marketing material MUST get to either of us by the 21st of October.
I also had the pleasure of attending the region’s recent Domestic and Family Violence Forum. In the current times it is great to see that crucial issues such as this are still being considered in an effort to reduce their prevalence in our community.
August’s breakfast will be conducted via Zoom once again and we continue to work towards September being face to face, though we will do our best to provide as much notice regarding this as possible. Either way, we look forward to you joining us!
I’m also excited to announce that we have two new members this month! I’d love you to join me in welcoming Kevin Erwin and the Gaythorne RSL Sub Branch and Jason Tomarchio from the Bendigo Bank at Mitchelton.
For members who may be struggling with their memberships fees, please remember that you can subscribe monthly too. This is a great option as it keeps you and your business list on our website which continues to have good traction despite these current times - not to mention all the other benefits of our Chamber membership.
Wishing you all well and looking forward to seeing you all again when we can! Hayley
Advocacy Committee
Chair | Brian Battersby
CCIQ Suncorp Pulse quarterly Survey of Business Conditions is the largest survey of Qld businesses, providing critical insights into the sentiment of business owners and managers for 20 years, across the state.
It includes details on employment levels, turnover and business profitability, that adds a great degree of confidence to the strategic planning and future investment decisions of your business. The quarter ending June 2020 report is now available here.
4 Key Findings
Three in four businesses (74 per cent) believe that the Queensland and National economies will deteriorate over the next 12 months.
Two in three businesses indicated their sales revenue had fallen during the June quarter.
Two in three businesses reported that their profitability had declined during the quarter.
Nearly 20 per cent of businesses cited government policies, most notably the outcome for JobKeeper stimulus payments, as having the greatest influence on business confidence and economic performance moving forward.
Brisbane City Council
To date BCC have given back $millions in fees/charges to many businesses since their Covid-19 assistance to businesses started. For more information or to become a BCC supplier Phone 3403 8888 or click here to visit the website.
Moreton Bay Regional Council
More targeted help for Local Businesses as MBRC new Procurement Policy targeting the under $50K purchases area. Plus, they responded quickly to our request to arrange & display yellow “Shop Local Signs” to help businesses.
Also, MBRC to date have given back around $750,000 in fees/charges for many businesses since their Covid-19 assistance to businesses started, also helping Restaurants & Roadside Café’s. For more information or to become a MBRC supplier Phone 3205 0555 or click here to visit their website.
Meet the Purchaser – Aimed to Give Local Businesses a helping Hand
In mid-July we had talks with MBRC new Mayor Peter Flannery and local Councillor Matt Constance inviting them to consider our Chamber concept, for a more informative way for local businesses to get to know more of their new procurement policy. We call ours “Meet the Purchaser”. Also, late July an opportunity arose to meet and explain our Meet the Purchaser concept to the Queensland Government Department of Small business.Now we await their considerations.
An Invitation to Chamber Members
Would you like to join our Advocacy Committee as many of the items above are the results from our efforts. This is what we do as we work to assist Local Businesses and Unite for our stronger voices? Call Brian Battersby on Mobile 0418 878 508.
Energy Class Action
A Law Firm is representing all businesses and residents that purchased electricity out of the Queensland region of the National Electricity Market from 1 August 2014 to 31 December 2019 in a proposed class action against the State’s two largest electricity generators, Stanwell Corporation and CS Energy. The claim alleges that Stanwell and CS Energy engaged in “bidding games” or trading strategies during the relevant period which artificially created scarcity of supply and spiked energy prices to the detriment of group members. This conduct is alleged to have been in contravention of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
This litigation is fully funded as costs underwritten by Australian litigation funder. Consumers who purchased electricity in Queensland between above dates are invited to visit the website to obtain info or register before the end of August 2020.
(The above is a precis extract from their website) Our Chamber has no affiliation and recommends participants first do their own due diligence. Brian
Business Development Committee
Chair | Sheldon Morey
This Committee is dedicated to supporting the HDCC Business Community - if you reach out we will make our significant skill resource available.
Please reach out to our committee members if you would like some organised programs for these business areas. Sheldon
Meet the Candidates Committee
Chair | Brian Battersby
Your choice to select a State Candidate to represent you for their new 4-year fixed term ahead.
To assist our Chamber is to hold a Face to Face Meet the Candidates event for 2 seats: Everton and Ferny Grove. It's planned at our Chamber Breakfast meeting, 6.45am (start sharp) on 22 September in the Foundation Room Arana Leagues Club 247 Dawson Pde Keperra.
This is all subject to Covid-19 conditions.
Chamber Members, Businesses and Community welcomed, but all attendees are required to pre-book, before 5pm Fri 18/9/20, via Chamber Website as seats limited and breakfasts costs apply and more details soon.
We remind everyone to refrain from any overly Enthusiastic behaviour to keep this a friendly discussion forum.
For any Chamber Members or Visitors we aim to spread the questions around, or any Event type enquiries contact Brian Battersby Mobile 0418 878 508 or Email. Brian
Women in Business Committee
Chair | Molly Brumm
This year, the Women In Business Committee (myself, the intrepid and fearless Margaret Sims and the organised and mega-supportive Jess Ricketts) were planning an event at Sutton’s Beach Pavilion, Redcliffe.
Due to 2020 being a year of re-alignment in every area of all our lives….this event was postponed. Our new date is Friday March 12th, 2021.
This means our event will honour International Women’s Day and no doubt Queensland’s Women In Business week too. So more details will follow with our presenter line up being announced early 2021.
WIB usually meets monthly for lunch, great conversations and connections. However until things settle further we are not meeting, once we are ready to go again we’ll let you all know.
Are you interested in being involved in the Women In Biz committee?
Are you keen for the camaraderie of our fun lunches to resume?
Then please email or call me! Molly
President
Treasurer
Secretary
Advocacy Committee
Business Development Committee
State Candidate to represent you for their new 4-year fixed term ahead.
Women in Business Committee
