Welcome to The Hills & District Chamber of Commerce Inc. - 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.
2020 was certainly the year of Covid. But! it was also the year that The The Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce Inc proved it’s worth. When the going get’s tough then the tough get going and the Chamber did!
This was also a year of learning, consideration, innovation and increased support for members and the community.
Come and join us in celebrating our 2020 success’s and participate in the Christmas Spirit.
This year our Christmas event will be free, however, it will be a Covid restricted event so the RSVP is limited to 60 people and no walk-ins will be admitted on the night. Make sure you reserve your attendance asap.
EARLY BIRD CLOSES 11.30PM TONIGHT - BOOK NOW!
Join us for breakfast with two of our well-known members and Committee Chairs, Michelle O’Hara and Molly Brumm as they share the highlights and lowlights of managing their small businesses over the past six months. Following a short presentation by each speaker we will hold an engaging Q&A session.
Discover their insights and the out of the box strategies they employed to support clients and which have led to them experiencing record business growth.
Not to be missed if you’re interested in making 2021 your best year ever.
The end of 2020 is fast approaching, for some it cannot come too soon!
I would like everyone to consider registering for our Christmas celebration and Annual Awards. Places are limited for the event, due to guidelines around Covid restrictions.
This event will be held at the Arana Leagues Club on Thursday 10 December from 6.00pm to 9.00pm. It will be held in the outdoor area near the playing fields.
The event is free with a complimentary drink and food provided. As well a cash till for additional beverages will be available at the bar.
The 2020 awards will be different, they will be Styled …”Surviving Covid 19” in 2020….. there will be 6 such awards. Other changes this year include the process for awards - the office bearers of the Executive will be nominating a recipient and will present to that winner.
As well there will also be either lucky door prizes or raffle prizes. The entry for these prizes will be a gold coin. All money raised will go to our “Not for Profits”, who have had a particularly difficult year.
I look forward to seeing everyone on 10 December, 2020. Mary
Treasurer
Stuart Jaeschke
Financial reports for the month ended 31 October 2020.
Secretary
Hayley Lingard
Have you booked your ticket yet to our Christmas event?
Well, the end of 2020 is near whether we feel ready for it or not. Please be sure to book your ticket for the Christmas event. As with breakfast events, bookings are essential and we cannot let anyone in on the day. I’m also confident this event will reach capacity, so book now to avoid disappointment!
It’s been wonderful to return to face to face breakfasts and November will see our very own Michelle O’Hara and Molly Brumm talk about the silver linings to their 2020 journey. Thomas Pollock wowed us last month with a great speech and awesome technological delivery which included some great quiz questions!
This will be my last mention on the Small Business Expo which I felt was a great event for the region and local business. The Chamber was recognised as an active and supportive partner of this event and we will continue to be involved next year. The networking, sharing and collaborative potential in the one space inspired many on the day.
Chamber Social Drinks is on this Friday night from 5.30pm at the Everton Park Hotel. John Hudson from Flametree Financial has kindly offered to sponsor the night and I hope you’ll consider joining us. Please RSVP via the website so we know to expect you!
The Executive is keen to reinvigorate our Committees in early 2021, so please give some consideration to volunteering within the Chamber. There’s plenty of things to choose from, including Commerce in Schools, Social Events, the Big Breakfast (our fundraising event which will return next year), Media and Marketing, Women in Business… just to name a few. Please touch base with any Executive Member should you have any interest.
Wishing you all well and looking forward to seeing you at an event very soon. Hayley
Advocacy Committee
Chair | Brian Battersby
It took Covid-19 only 6 months to wipe out 50,000 manufacturing jobs in Australia.
But it might take 2-3 years to get them back again unless, we consider making further simple buying choices, experts say.
Sure the “Buy Local Campaign” has worked for local jobs; however, Queensland still has the highest “un-employment rate sitting on 7.7% even higher than Victoria”. But to start Australian Industry really firing again, we ask you where you can, please try to Buy Australian Made!!
Just one example could be, engaging a local Plumber, Electrician or even Car servicing, now ask them could they supply Australian Made products for your job. If they can, this kick starts Industry again with more Australian Made home base jobs.
We are dedicated to Businesses voices being heard.
Four times p/year the CCIQ/Suncorp Pulse Survey produces figures about business and their struggles, frustrations, or aspirations now running for 40 years. The good news is that many government departments study these results, just how their programs fit needs or where fine tuning is needed, so CCIQ analysis voice is being heard to government.
These are the 4 key findings for the quarter ending Sept 2020.
3 in 5 businesses across Brisbane predict that the state and national economy will contract further over the next 12 months.
More than two-thirds of businesses reported that they had maintained or increased their capital expenditure to leverage investment incentives.
Despite the Index improving by 6.6 points, more than half of all businesses still reported weaker profitability in the Sept quarter compared to the previous 3 months.
Brisbane businesses are forecasting further improvements across all indicators in the December quarter.
Brisbane Business Hub – it’s new.
They provide Experts across a variety of business sectors that are available for “Free Sessions”, to help Brisbane businesses rethink your business, and navigate these challenging times.
Phone office hours for more details on ph 133 263.
Click here for more information on these exciting “Free Mentor Sessions”
Meet the Candidates Committee
Chair | Brian Battersby
Now that the State Government Election is over and ECQ results are in, our Chamber Congratulates “Re-Elected” Mark Furner MP ALP Member for Ferny Grove and Tim Mander MP LNP Member for Everton.
Do not wait years to express your congratulations to these gentlemen or to ask that needy question. Why not phone their office to congratulate Mark or Tim personally, or to book an appointment for a chat?
Ferny Grove office 3851 1570 office hours
or
Everton office Ph 3535 1100 office hours
President
Treasurer
Secretary
Advocacy Committee
But it might take 2-3 years to get them back again unless, we consider making further simple buying choices, experts say.
Brisbane Business Hub – it’s new.
