Chronicle

Storytelling, that moved us Last night the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce was proud to deliver the region’s most prestigious business event of the year once…

Focus HR business excellence awards are here for 2023 I am so proud I get to live in the city of Toowoomba: a thriving, regional,…

After two years of guiding the direction of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Kate Venables has decided to end her reign leading the local business…

The young town of Toowoomba was all flutter on 12 October 1899.  In fact, according to the Darling Downs Gazette article from the day before,…

TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES Toowoomba shone as bright as ever in September.  A month were the city, under the Carnival of Flowers banner showed itself off to…

LOCAL BUSINESS RAISES DOUGH FOR HOMELESS Darling Downs business owners, Robert Gillis and Rob Sampson today announced they are hoping to raise some significant dough…

. Toowoomba Chamber Board Nominations open now

The purpose of the Darling Downs Regional Alliance is to support and be the voice of regional business.

CHRONICLE COLUMN | MESSAGE FROM TOOWOOMBA CHAMBER FOUNDATION PARTNER The value of lifelong learning cannot be overstated. Lifelong learning promotes personal growth and resilience, fosters…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 15 AUGUST 2023 – SPORT AND WOMEN IN SPORT Wisconsin State Journal reports that the attendance of 1,533,545 fans so far in…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 10 JULY 2023 – MEMBERSHIP FEES PRICE FREEZE In March 2023, the Business Chamber Queensland’s Pulse Survey of business conditions revealed that…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 2 JULY – BEA, HOW IT ALL BEGAN Today, the Toowoomba Chamber acknowledges the beginnings of the Business Excellence Awards and the…

25 JUNE 2023 – LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION DAVID CRISAFULLI As the State of Queensland continues to grapple with a range of pressing issues –…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 19 JUNE 2023 – THE SOURCE Combine our rich soils, with our glorious climate, inspiring talent for growing, making, baking, and brewing…

On 5 June 2023, it is World Environment Day.  This day is about security of and for the environment, not just for us, but for future generations.  

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 5 MAY 2023 – Toowoomba Businesses Seek New Investment Incentives And Tax Reform In Federal Budget An RSM Australia survey of Toowoomba…

CHRONICLE COLUMN |BACKBONE TO THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMY | 02 MAY 2023 May is small business month and there is a lot to…

Last week we launched the Toowoomba Business Performance Sentiment Index Survey 2023.  Your opportunity to be heard and have your voice, in a confidential way,…

CHRONICLE COLUMN | SMALL BUSINESS IS A BIG DEAL We are an entrepreneurial city, a small business city that is the backbone of the Toowoomba…

CHRONICLE COLUMN | ESG | 21 MARCH 2023 Toowoomba Chamber is gathering information to help keep members informed about ESG (environment, social and governance) and…

CHRONICLE COLUMN | WELLNESS | 14 MARCH 2023 A health crisis derailed many in the event industry.  But we are hitting back.  And I believe,…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – THE AUTUMN FEAST Last week, Dine Darling Downs and the Toowoomba Chamber in partnership with its Food and Agri Network Advisory Committee,…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – 27 FEBRUARY 2023 – MANUFACTURING. There is a renaissance currently underway rejuvenating the manufacturing industry across the Darling Downs.  It’s been an…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – RED TAPE – 13 FEBRUARY 2023 In 2020, the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), in their report titled, How Red Tape Stops…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – STATE ECONOMY – 13 FEBRUARY 2023 How do you feel about reported economic headwinds?  Another interest rate hike was announced and the…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – FOOD SECURITY – 31 JANUARY 2023 Do we have the required availability (quality and quantity) of food to future proof all Australians…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – E-SCOOTERS – 10 JANUARY 2023 There was a time when every kid in the neighbourhood had a push scooter. We had one…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – ROCKET SCIENCE Let’s blast off into 2023! If you were to Google “Toowoomba Virgin Space Port” you’d have access to around a…

CHRONICLE COLUMN – A LOCAL BUSINESS SUCCESS STORY Heritage Bank is one of Toowoomba’s largest and longest running businesses, a Toowoomba Chamber Hall of Fame…

CHRONICLE COLUMN | THEU BUSINESS OR THE BUSYNESS OF CHRISTMAS For the vast majority of large and small businesses in our region, 2022 has been…

Food has always played a big part of my holiday celebrations. As a child I remember, we celebrated Christmas eve filled with assorted seafood, salads and grandma’s apple pie and Christmas pudding.

Last week, the Toowoomba Chamber invited the Member for Groom and all candidates in the recent Federal election to a roundtable discussion to unite around the small and medium businesses who are increasingly anxious about the impact of the proposed new IR laws on their business. 

Where will you hitch your horse this holiday season? Parking in the Toowoomba CBD has been a conundrum since the old Toowoomba City Council removed…

In 2020 and 2021 there were many campaigns with catch phrases like “Shop Local”, “Say Yes to Local”, “Go Local First”, etcetera.  I wonder if…

Print and digital media are awash with the pre–Federal Government Budget talk.  Talk of the challenges of delivering a budget in an environment of increasing…

The Toowoomba Chamber recently launched its Tik Tok page.   Interestingly, it highlighted to me the growing trend of the concept known as quiet quitting. And…

At the tertiary level, the UniSQ, our Foundation Partner, continues to make a stunning economic and education contribution locally, nationally, and internationally.  Delivering outstanding people…

The Toowoomba Chamber welcomed the announcement from the State Government to address the urgency around the multiple housing issues the people of Queensland are facing. …

Recently, thanks to a Toowoomba Regional council initiative, I got to focus on the great potential of CBD opportunity. I had the honour to remind…

September, is a magical month.  Not too hot.  Not too cold.  Flowers bloom.  Animals born, and the Carnival in the CBD is back again this…

There has been much written about the business of climate.  It is serious stuff. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) argues there is no…

At 9 am on Monday 29 August 2022, the BEA 2022 applications for the Focus HR Business Excellence Awards 2022 proudly presented by the Toowoomba…