I am pleased to report that the Bega Chamber of Commerce and Industry has had another productive and successful year.Once again, we are asking for your involvement and support in promoting Bega in the coming year. .
Some of the highlights of the past year include:
Being a semi-finalist in two categories in the NSW Regional Awards, for community events and for promotional events.
Hosting the fifth Bega Outstanding Business Awards Night, that was another great success. Our thanks go to our main sponsor Country Energy, St George Bank, Bega District News, Radio 2EC and Prime TV and all other supporters of the evening.
We have continued to represent the business community’s interests and concerns through meetings with commercial developers regarding development proposals to the Bega Valley Shire Council, and kept Chamber members up to date.
The Chamber has been involved with hosting the Australia day Celebrations and has sponsored the Bega Community Citizen of the year award and Junior Citzen of the Year Award that are presented on Australia day. It is great to see increasing numbers of people joining in the Australia Day celebrations.
Our “Sacks of Cash” Christmas Promotion once again drew people from all over the Shire to Bega to shop for a chance to win $10,000 and other major prizes, the largest crowd by far, it was exciting to see families and friends gather for the wonderful entertainment and be present for the final draw in Littleton Gardens.
Thank you to all the people who gave their time to help and made the night a success.
Made donations to the Bega “On Track” Youth Committee during Youth Week that was very appreciated by the committee.
During NAIDOC week we donated first prize for the winning entry in the Aboriginal Art competition held at the Bega Valley Regional Art Gallery.
We continue to support the visits of ANU Rural Medical Students to the Bega Valley Shire area by hosting them for an evening in our homes. A most successful Civic Dinner attended by 85 people was sponsored by the Chamber through the Business Council for medical students and local community members
A scholarship prize was also awarded to an undergraduate tertiary student undertaking commerce studies through the Bega Education Centre.
In April 2006, the “Bega On Sale” promotion was a success, giving businesses a boost and shoppers the opportunity to grab a bargain. Two lucky winners received $500 in Bega Bucks to be spent at participating businesses.
Lobbied Bega Valley Shire Council on a range of issues concerning our members, including development proposals and issues relating to the Carp St Streetscape.
After running the Bega Tourist Information for the past 9 years the Chamber held negotiations with Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Cheese, all agreed on the management of the centre to be moved to the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community volunteers, they can all be proud of the great job they did in running the centre. I am sure the new venture will prove to be a great success.
The community announcements via the ‘Welcome to Bega’ signs at the northern and southern entrances to Bega have proved effective and I would to thank Malcolm Venables for his efforts in this area.
Positive feedback has been received about the Chamber Web site, I would like to thank Shannon Whitford for the hard work she has put into getting the site up and running. I encourage members to visit the website to add comments, provide feedback and obtain other useful links go to: www.begachamber.com.au
The Bega Business Council has been active again this year. The most notable achievement being the formation of the lobby group ‘New Hospital Bega Valley Shire’’. As a result, the Minister has announced $100M hospital for the Bega Valley Shire.Ácross the Bridge Passport Çampaign was another successful project conducted by the Business Council.
Tonight is my opportunity as President to offer my sincere thanks to all those who have worked so hard in so many ways over the past twelve months – in particular the Executive Committee, my Vice President Anna Glover, Secretary Margaret Taylor, Treasurer Chris Dwyer, Beth Hart, Michelle Delle Vergin, Jenny Spinks and Geoffrey Morrisey. The Gold Star Members. I must also thank my staff, all media, individual business people and administrative Secretaries of the Chamber.
Thank you to the Bega RSL Club Management and Staff for the use of the rooms their rooms over the last year.
I would like to conclude by saying a big thank you to Chris Murphy for her assistance and the many hours she has given the Chamber and “Bega On The Go” during the past 7 years.
