CHRONICLE COLUMN | SUMMARY OF THE YEAR THAT WAS 2024
What a Whirlwind.
There were tears of joy and crushing fears.
Great strides forward and many barriers to climb.
Our advocacy was rewarded. With Toowoomba Regional Council inching closer to becoming a small business-friendly council, although excellence is still a way away. And the state government implemented our June 2020 advocacy request for tax relief around vehicle registration, with a freeze in 2024. Ok, ours was related to COVID, not the cost-of-living crisis which so much has been written about. Regardless, I am taking it as a win for Toowoombians and a win for all Queenslanders. Thank you, Mr Treasurer.
We connected through sharing business stories at 56 events and with 1.2 million people via our digital outreach program last financial year. The Focus HR Business Excellence Awards, proudly presented by the Toowoomba Chamber, reached a massive 7 million people.
I am so thrilled and chuffed to have worked with our team to build the Chamber brand, and the brand of so many of our partners and members, by penning stories and utilising our digital footprint.
What a year of learning it has been. We ate breakfast together and learnt about Federal Budgets thanks to Will and the team at RSM; discussed current trends, headwinds, and opportunities thanks to Mark and his team at McCrindle; worked through the complexity of new industrial relations laws thanks to Danny and the crew at CG Law; and discussed disability services and employment opportunities thanks to YWCA Australia and much much more.
We shared bread around tables with business sectors on issues like cyber security, thanks to Grant and nbn Local. We ate lunch, whilst learning from local businesses thanks to RDA Darling Downs and Southwest and gained great insights about branding and marketing at our member-only roundtable. We ate canapes delicately and sipped quickly, I mean quietly, on a beverage or two, whilst absorbing the stories of 12 local businesses at Toowoomba’s number 1 networking event, Business@Dusk.
The Year That Was 2024
Our volunteers drove a food and ag focus of soup and boxes and sauce, created mentor pathways for our future leaders and fought hard to correct car parking inequalities, policy loopholes and dreamt BIG to create a CBD like no other.
The Board held firm and guided the Chamber with diligence and fairness. And our staff supported local businesses, by delivering their roles and responsibilities with gusto, passion, and determination. Championing the local business cause.
I thank you, our partners, and 500 + members for all you did to make the achievements in 2023 possible. It is a great privilege and joy to stand up and fight for you and Toowoomba.
As I take off, for extended leave, due to a fat annual leave balance and a direction from the Board, I will leave you in the capable hands of business advocate Executive Officer Wegener, over the next little while.
I wish everyone a merry holiday season filled with joy, health and well-being and look forward to seeing you in 2024.
