Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce the best in regional NSW
November 2, 2009
The Brunswick Heads Chamber of Commerce was awarded the honour of best business organisation in regional NSW by NSW Industry and Investment at the NSW Regional Achievement and Community Awards
Gala dinner on Saturday night.
Kim Rosen, Executive Officer, Matthew Denehy, President of the Chamber, and Robert Rosen travelled to Bathurst for the Awards night.
Prime TV, Industry and Investment NSW and The Land Newspaper were the sponsors of the Business Enterprise Award section.
Kim accepted the award and prize, the heavy glass trophy and a lucrative television advertising campaign from Prime Television, on behalf of the Chamber teams past and present.
She was quick to point out that this was a whole town effort and acknowledged the role of all the business members, Visitor Centre staff, volunteers and other partners.
Anne Pitchers and Pieter Verasdonck, from Industry and Investment NSW, were singled out for appreciation for their guidance and support over the last 10 years, and for ‘believing in us’.
Over the last 12 years the small but energetic Chamber, with a growing membership of 91 out of 116 businesses, has taken on a stewardship role to revitalise the economy and grow jobs, but not at the expense of the community.
“We have extended ourselves a bit beyond the usual scope of a Chamber. Apart from the usual business development, networking, advocacy and marketing roles that you would expect, we have also taken on a few other challenges and projects,” said Matthew.
“However, we make sure that all these are in line with the community’s vision and its values. We’re a small community and if we all work together and in harmony we can achieve some great things and take control of our own destiny.”
Kim and Matthew were invited to speak the next morning at a brunch with the other award nominees and Industry and Investment NSW Minister, Philip Costa, to tell Brunswick’s story and outline the projects undertaken by the Chamber.
Some of the main initiatives included CBD and Tweed Street streetscaping, the three family-friendly events – Kites and Bikes, Old and Gold and the Simple Pleasures Photo Competition – the ‘Taking Care of Brunswick’ Tourism Management Plan, the ‘Buy Local’ educational campaign with its own Bruns dollars, and the construction of a skatepark for the kids.
But the highlights have probably been the Simple Pleasures campaign and the establishment of the Visitor Centre/Project Office in 2006.
“We set out to differentiate ourselves from other coastal towns, to retain our family-friendly laid-back village lifestyle and to attract visitors who love Brunswick for all the reasons we do,” said Kim.
So what’s next?
Matthew, 37, and still a skateboarder, is hoping that Byron Council will have the skatepark built for the kids early next year.
“We are working in overdrive to make the Visitor Centre/Project Office financially sustainable by July 2010,” said Kim.
“And if we can get a couple more corporate sponsors or some funding from council, we’ll do it!
“The master plan for the Tweed Street streetscape has been prepared and should go on public exhibition soon for comment, so that is exciting.
“And then we’ll see what ideas come out of the Business Survey that we are currently conducting.”
Picture courtesy of NSW Industry and Investment.
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Dear chamber of commerce,
would you like to have a bush dance in your town on the 11th of june for the “old & gold festival?
We are a 3 piece band that have played for Gold coast city council,Brisbane city council,Logan city council and many festivals on the sunshine coast.
I now reside in coffs harbour but travel to put on bush dances.