What has Chamber been up to in 2024?

• Radio Marketing Campaign – Continued the “whole of shire” radio promotion, spread over 9 months from Nov 23 to Jan 24 – showcasing four themes – Retail & Food/Accommodation/ Marine & Beaches/ Nature for the period Oct to December and additional theme for “Shop & Win” Christmas Campaign.
• Online Media Campaign – Raise social media profile of Chamber site and develop the Markets at the Mosaic sites on both Facebook and Instagram. Recently Chamber has begun sharing all job advertisements to the Chamber site and expanding through our networks. We now email every employer who posts job opportunities on Facebook, that we become aware of, and advise them of the FREE listing available on the Jobs NQ site and LIVE NQ sites, managed by RDATNW.

Collaboration and Networking

• Shop & Win in Hinchinbrook – Local Marketing Campaign (Nov/Dec 23) – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Queensland Women’s Week – Women in Hinchinbrook Breakfast (Feb 24) – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Sponsor and had stall – “Hinchinbrook Get out and Get Active and Connect” (April 24) – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Deliver “The Boost Marketing” – Market Your Small Business Online Workshop. (May 24) – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Hinchinbrook Business Connect – Networking (May 24)
• Participated at “Find your Future in Hinchinbrook” careers day – Hinchinbrook Shire Council
• Project manage and Deliver – Agricultural Machinery Operators Course (May 24) – QCAR, Wilmar, Ag Training Australia.
• Host election candidate forums – Local (March 24) and State (October 24)
• Host “Meet and Greet” for foundation members and interested businesses – Hinchinbrook Life Newspaper (Sept 24). – Chamber also confirmed participation as “foundation member” of newspaper.
• Sponsor – “Link 2 Country” agricultural skills and employment event to be held May 25
• Sponsor Industry and Training Award trophy for both Gilroy Santa Maria and Ingham State High School students – Annual Awards Ceremony

Ongoing Chamber Operations

• Membership – Ongoing information sharing, promotion and advocacy on behalf of Members and also supporting new and emerging businesses.
• Micro Business Membership growth through Markets @ the Mosaic – From April 23 to November 24 – 36 market stall operators have participated in the markets. Each stall holder application now incorporate Chamber membership.
• Continued management the “Shop the Hinchinbrook Way” cards program.
  – Balance of card value still available continues to be monitored and managed.
  – All cards will expire by December 2027 and program will end.
• Liaise with major project proponents – Powerlink and Windlab representatives regularly in relation to local employment and economic opportunities for local businesses and also Community Grant Funding opportunities. Very pleasing to note that there has been considerable local engagement and employment evidenced from Powerlink project to date, accommodation statistics for 2024 have been exceptional and discussions with Windlab continue as their final approval processes progress.
• Chamber mission statement – to be a positive, supportive, welcoming and proactive membership organisation, that works collaboratively with all sectors of the community, to advocate to achieve the best possible outcomes for our members and the broader business community.

Letters of Support and Grant Writing Assistance

March 2024 – Letter of Support for Mungalla Aboriginal Business Corporation in their Skilling for Work Funding Application.

September 2024 – Letter of Support for AUSPICE – Powerlink QLD Community Grant Application.

October 2024 – Letter of Support for Regional University Hub Application