eNEWSLETTER

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.

Announcements

The Mental Health Grease and Oil Change, our men's mental health event that was part of the Hills Festival Program has been postponed for now. Stay tuned for further updates!

The Big Breakfast has been postponed to 15 September, 2021. We thank all who showed support initially and look forward to making it very successful in the future.

The Women in Business event Leading with Compassion: What Women Bring to the Table has been postponed. Stay tuned for further updates!

Managing during COVID-19

COVID-19 has undoubtedly launched us into a very different world with dramatic impact to our lives and businesses. Adjusting and coping can be very challenging. It’s important to recognise that we are vulnerable to a host of different emotions and reactions which can even vary over a day. It is more important than ever to maintain our mental health. Read more on our top 5 mental health tips.

Become a Member

Upcoming Events

Breakfast Meeting

President

Mary Di Marco

Hi everyone.
We have survived 4 weeks of isolation and staying at home. Well done. The way we interact with one another has become a more virtual environment.

I am amazed how quickly everyone has adapted to Zoom meetings. A few weeks ago only the more technically savvy amongst us, were working with zoom rooms. Now they are the norm. I heard someone say this week, they need to go for a walk they were exhausted from sitting at their desk and having Zoom meetings!

There will be a light at the end of the tunnel; at time of writing the government ministers were saying a further 6-8 weeks of isolation and we will look to lifting regulations and that mental health would figure highly in the decision making process on what restrictions we will lift.

I am so very proud of your Chamber executive. They have put in a schedule for Zoom meeting, “Check In Tuesdays” on every week from 7.30am til 8.30am. An opportunity for all members to sign into our zoom room – 619 642 0017 and join us. All the sign in details are on our chamber events page. Sign in and you will be part of these great togethers. We are extending the offer to all reciprocal chamber members from other groups to join us. These friendly chats are a chance to catch up. All you need to do is bring your own coffee and toast and join in.

We have our next monthly meeting as a Zoom meeting – the first as our usual monthly on 28 April 7.30am. Should anyone wish to nominate for a position on the executive please make sure your nomination is in place before 28 April. The AGM will be held at the May meeting.

The times are difficult but we will get through this together. Keep an eye on your colleagues, your neighbours and yourselves. It is a time to be gentle, take care and remember that each day that passes, we are closer to recovery.

Stay Safe
Mary

Treasurer

Stuart Jaeschke

Financial reports for the month ended 31 March 2020.

Secretary

Hayley Lingard

Our February breakfast attracted 40 Registrations. Membership stands at 151 paid up members. Key Community Members were acknowledged; Matt Constance gave us local updates and Ingrid Moyle was presented with her Lifetime Membership Pin. March saw us cancel our first event, our Monthly Breakfast Meeting, due to COVD-19 and unfortunately our Big Breakfast and Men’s Mental Health event have also been impacted.

We did however, start a Tuesday Check-In opportunity and these will continue to run on on the Tuesday mornings around our (now Zoom) Monthly Breakfast Meetings which will all commence at 7.30am for ease. Links and details can be found on the website.

Despite all these changes our membership grew last month by 6 new members so I’d like to welcome -

Gale Falcongreen, Gale Falcongreen Horsemanship and Equine Assisted Therapy
Tegan Martens, Martens Legal
Glen Taylor, North West Mowing
Craig Meinicke, TouchPoint One
Mike Rooney, @realty
Chris Daly, Queensland FIRE GUYS

Nominations for the Executive will be closing next week with nominees to be announced via our website at the end of the month in the lead up to our AGM on the 25th May (during our May Zoom Breakfast Meeting).

There were no Committee Reports as no breakfast was held last month.

Our Speaker for the 28th April is Julian Mather who has come with rave reviews from everyone I have spoken with so I hope you can join us!

Personally, I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for their patience as I learn the ropes in this new role. There is no doubt I have been left with some very big shoes to fill and I’d like to acknowledge Leaonard Whittaker for all the time, effort and enthusiasm he has put into the role of Secretary and the Chamber in general. His vision and determination have supported significant gains for the Hills Chamber - Thank you Leonard! Hayley

Advocacy Committee

Chair | Brian Battersby

Our World is vastly different these days with warnings everywhere of Self-Isolation, Regular Handwashing and Stay Home, unless for genuine reasons not. This Council Roadside sign was in Ferny Hills on 4th April, so more folks are resolute because the Australian infections rate is slowing, as of writing this newsletter. We must work together and stay positive because we will get through this Pandemic.

Business Help and Answers are available, we suggest start with CCIQ, as they have a dedicated Coronavirus page on their main website, that is updated regularly. Alternatively call 1300 731 988 weekdays.

We are all in this together, so “we recommend where you can”, Buy Australian Made even better still Buy Locally. This will get our Local Economy sparking again, even if you need to pay a little extra, it will create more Australian Jobs. Brian

Forward