Guest Speaker David Robertson, Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Markets Research at Bendigo Bank
To book click here
We are excited to invite you to a special presentation by David Robertson, Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Markets Research at Bendigo Bank, as part of our upcoming event.
David will provide an insightful outlook for 2025, covering key topics including global markets, the domestic economy, interest rates, property trends, labor markets, and business conditions. With over two decades of experience in financial markets and a reputation for delivering clear and engaging economic commentary, David’s presentation is a must-attend for anyone interested in understanding the forces shaping our economic future.
David Robertson joined Bendigo Bank 22 years ago as Head of Financial Markets and now serves as the bank’s Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Markets Research. His career spans senior roles in Treasury for the State Bank of NSW, First Chicago, and Commonwealth Bank. David’s regular economic commentaries are widely respected, and his unique style has garnered a loyal following for his regular YouTube segments.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow business members and supporters. We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you to our Business Sponsor Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Prepare for an enchanting experience at Kingfisher Bay Resort Be among the first to experience a mesmerizing symphony of light, color, and sound with the NEW and innovative light installation, ‘Illumina.’
Using the resort’s native Wallum environment as an artistic platform, Illumina will take audiences on an extraordinary journey into the heart of K’gari, exploring the island’s discovery, regeneration, and growth.
Captivating audiences with its ethereal beauty, the show will cast vibrant hues and intricate patterns across the sky, celebrating the movement, texture, and colour of K’gari as the narrative of the world’s largest sand island unfolds, leaving guests in awe of its fragile ecosystem.
Make sure you bring your gold coins along we will be collecting them for our monthly charity Turtles in Trouble.
Member Price $25.00
Non-Member Price $50.00
Wednesday 2nd October| 6.15 am – 8.00 am
The Club House Hervey Bay Registrations are to be completed online before 5 pm – Monday 30th September.
PLEASE NOTE NO DOOR SALES
Book your tickets now. Limited seats are available and ticketing will close when full.
Queensland Small Business Commissioner Update
This month, we were thrilled to return to regional Queensland, kicking things off with Forward Fest. It was an incredible experience meeting over 100 innovators, start-ups, and small business owners who were eager to learn how they could leverage support from industry bodies, government, and other resources to future-proof their businesses.
We also had the pleasure of attending the Townsville Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural ‘Raising the Regions’ conference. This event was a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to connect with large companies looking to procure products and services, and the collaboration between multiple chambers, including those from Cairns and the Gold Coast, was inspiring!
Our big news this month? We welcomed our 50th member to the Small Business Friendly Program – Gladstone Regional Council. During our visit, we engaged with several small businesses and local industry representatives to discuss the support available and their expectations from the council. The relationship between the council and its business community was impressive, and Gladstone now holds the record for the largest attendance at a signing in Queensland. Let’s see if our 51st member can top that!
We also participated in the Coffee Commune’s first consultative roundtable. The focus was on understanding challenges and identifying solutions within the food and beverage industry, especially as small businesses navigate the pressures of rising costs and shrinking margins. We were glad to provide updates on available support from local, state, and federal governments, and to discuss policy issues relating to the Australian Taxation Office, Least Cost Routing, migrant workers, and leasing and tenancy.
Throughout our travels and over our assistance line, we’ve consistently heard concerns about energy and water. We are proud to have attended our first Advisory Council meeting with the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland (EWOQ). This was a valuable opportunity to voice the challenges small businesses face in the energy space directly to major providers and the Department. If you are a small business owner in Queensland and dissatisfied with your energy or water provider’s response to your complaint -or the lack thereof-you can take your concerns to Jane Pire and her team at EWOQ. Their website offers excellent resources and alternative dispute resolution options, so be sure to check it out.
Looking ahead, we’re off to Adelaide at the end of the month to meet with other Commissioners from around the country and our federal counterparts. The Queensland Small Business Commissioner’s office is proud of its strong relationships with fellow Commissioner offices and Bruce Bilson, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO). We are working together on collective advocacy strategies at the federal level. This month, we were particularly excited to see the release of ASBFEO’s 14 steps to boost Australia’s small and family businesses – a plan developed in response to increasingly concerning statistics, including findings from ASBFEO’s Pulse survey showing that the national business environment is 25% below the long-term average.
Photo caption: Dominique Lamb, Queensland Small Business Commissioner.
The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) has reached a significant milestone recording 10,000 cases in our case management system! To mark the occasion, we turned the number into something sweet using cakes from a local small business!
This milestone is more than a number to us; it’s a testament to the crucial conversations we’ve had supporting Queensland small businesses—from working with stakeholders to advocate for small business and help find opportunities, to answering your many questions and working with you to resolve leasing disputes, every interaction strengthens our commitment to your success!
Need answers or a helping hand with your small business? We’re just a conversation away.
Unlock Growth with Social Enterprise Grants
Eligible social enterprises can receive $5,000 to $25,000 to boost business growth. Applications close at 5pm, 3 October 2024. Learn more and get verified.
Disaster Relief: Small Business Exceptional Assitance Grant Proram
Financial support is available for small businesses in defined disaster areas that experienced significant disruptions and losses from Tropical Cyclone Jasper or the Southeast Queensland storms. Find out more.
Is your business protected?Join the webinar: Managing security risks in supply chains
Are you prepared for today’s cyber threats?
Do you want to learn how to protect your business against security risks?
This webinar presented by Department of Home Affairs in partnership with Department of State Development and Infrastructure is targeted to small to medium business.
Small business embracing financial recovery
In our latest case study, we explore a local Queensland business that successfully used strategic debt restructuring to tackle a $75,000 tax debt.
By engaging a small business restructuring practitioner and crafting a thoughtful proposal under the Australian Corporations Act 2001, the business established a manageable repayment plan while ensuring they maintained control of day-to-day operations. Our top tips to restructure debt:
• Make a strategic offer: A structured proposal with set conditions for repayment including terms of up to three years.
• Build in time to plan: Ask for a reasonable time (>20 business days) to consider any proposals which allows time to plan your response.
• Maintain control: Retaining direct operational oversight can help you to maintain stability throughout your business’ transition.
Discover how this small business restructured, managed debts, saved jobs, and survived! Read their story
Why attend?
• Expert insights: Overview of the current security threat environment and government initiatives to address national security challenges
• Identify: Risks of cyber-attacks and foreign interference activity
• Interactive Q&A: Get your questions answered by experts in the field
• Actionable Takeaways: Leave with advice and tools you can use to better manage security risk in supply chains
• Access to resources: Be in the know about cyber security initiatives that will be available later this year to help your business
Event details
Date: 2 October 2024
Time: 10am to 11:30am
Venue: Online
Cost: Free of Charge Register Now
Registrations close 1 October 2024 Spots are limited. Register today.
NOW Open for Application
Community Grants Guidelines
Please ensure you check Guidelines for eligible project dates.
Applications open at 12:01am on the opening date and close at 3pm on the closing date.
Round 2
Opens: 7 October 2024
Closes: 4 November 2024
Round 3
Opens: 20 January 2025
Closes: 17 February 2025
Round 4
Opens: 24 March 2025
Closes: 21 April 2025
• $247,000 for projects and events to be spread over 4 rounds during the financial year with $61,750 notionally allocated per round.
• Groups can apply for funding from $500 to $15,000 as cash.
• Maximum 2 applications per group per annum will be funded.
Maximum grant limit of $15,000 per annum will be funded (amount is inclusive of the value of any in-kind services provided by any Council Department). For more information click here
Australia Day Grant 2025
Australia Day 2025
Opens 9 September 2024
Closes 9 October 2024
Holding and event for Australia Day 2025
For more information click here
Community Festive Events Grant 2024
Opens 9 September 2024
Closes 9 October 2024
Christmas and New Year Celebrations
For more information click here
Community Small Township Festive Decorations Grant 2024
Opens 9 September 2024
Closes 9 October 2024
Outdoor decorations for the smaller outer communities in our Fraser Coast Region
For more information click here
2024-2025 Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund
Open 1 October 2024
Closes 31 October 2024
Organisations who support those most vulnerable or in need of emergency support within the Fraser Coast
For more information click here
Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) - Round 1
Open Now Closes 14 October 2024
For those who contribute to the lively culture and creativity of the Fraser Coast
For more information click here
Petstock Foundation
We look for organisations or projects that create long-term change and care for or help rehabilitate those in need (whether that’s people, animals or the planet!).
• ASSIST abused, abandoned and neglected pets through rescue, rehabilitation and/and rehoming initiatives;
• will SUPPORT those who require assistance within our communities through companion animal projects and disaster assistance;
• will help raise AWARENESS about rescue pets, animal health and the impact of animals on human happiness and health.
Click here for more information
Community Grants Program
RACQ Foundation Community Grants Program was established to help Queensland communities impacted by natural disasters. In keeping with this objective, we’ve created a new grant category for resilience-based projects. This new category will help Queensland communities build resilience for the future.
With this new category we continue to focus on supporting Communities and grass roots organisations. Eligible groups include sporting clubs, community groups, charities and councils. With up to $50,000 available to individual projects, RACQ Foundation encourages eligible organisations/councils to apply.
FY25 Round 1 – Open from Saturday, 24 February 2024 – Closes at 5pm on Friday, 4 October 2024. For more information click here
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).
Round 23
Opens: 6 September 2024
Closes: 5 December 2024
Click here to find out more
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Eligible applicants will be able to apply for up to $150,000 for initiatives and activities that:
• support and promote mental health and wellbeing
• prevent mental ill health by enhancing protecting factors and reducing risk factors
• encourage early help-seeking, or
• improve mental health, wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, or suicide prevention literacy and understanding.
For more information click here
Gambling Community Benefit Fund Round 121
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is Queensland’s largest one-off community grants program and distributes approximately $60 million each year to not-forprofit community groups. The GCBF funding helps these groups to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.
The GCBF will have 3 funding rounds in 2024:
1. Round 120—$35,000 standard grant round—closes 29 February
2. Round 121—$100,000 30th Anniversary super round— closes 30 April
3. Round 122—$35,000 standard grant round—closes 30 November.
To check eligibility requirements and understand your organisation’s responsibilities throughout all stages of the grant funding process visit the website. Contact the GCBF team on phone 1800 633 619 if you need help.
Female Founders Co-Investment Fund
Aimed at innovative female-founded businesses undertaking an early-stage capital raise with new investors.
The fund provides grants from $50,000 to $200,000 matched at a 1:3 ratio and best suited to female founders who understand the responsibilities and legal requirements of equity funding and is open until all funds have been allocated. Click here to find out more.
Queensland Train Manufacturing Program
Torbanlea works notice – September 2024
Construction works for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) Torbanlea train manufacturing facility will continue throughout September.
Works will involve:
Ongoing installation of site drainage, sediment controls and haul roads.
Continuing earthworks, ground improvement works and removal of excess fill materials from site.
Continuing detailed excavation, reinforcement works and pad footing installation.
Delivering structural steel in preparation for the manufacturing warehouse build.
Continuing work on internal roads, line marking and road signage for safe transport of equipment through site.
Continuing concrete pours for the facility foundation.
These works are weather permitting.
Please see the map for work locations.
Ritchie Road asphalt works
Work hours
Our standard work hours are Monday to Sunday between 6.30am and 6.30pm. The community will be notified in advance if we’re required to work outside of these hours.
Roadworks and minor asphalting works on Ritchie Road are scheduled to commence from late August 2024 and take two weeks to complete, weather permitting. Ritchie Road will remain open during these works with traffic control in place. Residents may experience intermittent minor impacts to property access – RoadTek will arrange this directly with residents.
Sunday works
We are seeking approval under a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) amendment process, to undertake construction activities on Sundays.
Some regulated construction activities are taking place on Sundays in compliance with current MID approvals. Higher-impact noise activities will be scheduled on days other than Sundays, where possible.
Site access
The Bruce Highway site access road is now open. The new entrance is the primary site access for heavy vehicles.
Ritchie Road will continue to be used by light vehicles entering and exiting site. Heavy vehicles will use Ritchie Road by exception only.
A speed reduction of 80km/h is in place on the Bruce Highway to allow safe vehicle access into the facility. The changed traffic conditions will be in place during work hours and remain until construction of the facility is complete.
Video: Drone video showing progress on site at Torbanlea as of June 2024. It shows site works continuing including earthworks and the construction of internal haul roads.
exploring WIDE BAY careers that contribute to a Net Zero Economy
2 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 | 1 0 . 0 0 A M - 1 2 . 3 0 P M
H E R V E Y B A Y R E G I O N A L A R T G A L L E R Y
J o i n u s f o r a n e n g a g i n g e v e n t t h a t d e m y s t i f i e s t h e f o r e s t a n d t i m b e r
i n d u s t r y ' s r o l e i n o u r r e g i o n ’ s s u s t a i n a b l e f u t u r e . L e a r n a b o u t c a r b o n ,
t i m b e r , a n d t h e n e t z e r o e c o n o m y , d i s c o v e r t h e r i c h h i s t o r y a n d g r o w t h o f t h e i n d i g e n o u s w o r k f o r c e i n f o r e s t m a n a g e m e n t , a n d h e a r
f r o m l o c a l e m p l o y e r s t o e x p l o r e e x c i t i n g , s u s t a i n a b l e c a r e e r
o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n W i d e B a y ’ s t h r i v i n g i n d u s t r y . G e t h a n d s o n p r a c t i c e
t r y i n g o u t h a r v e s t i n g s i m u l a t o r s ( i t ’ s j u s t l i k e g a m i n g ! ) a n d t r y a
v i r t u a l r e a l i t y e x p e r i e n c e t o s e e w h a t i t ’ s r e a l l y l i k e w o r k i n g i n t h e
f o r e s t o r a s a w m i l l E n j o y l u n c h a n d e x p l o r e H a r v e y B a y R e g i o n a l A r t
G a l l e r y ’ s ' F o r e s t t o F i b r e ' e x h i b i t i o n w h i c h p r e s e n t s c u t t i n g e d g e
r e s e a r c h i n t o s u s t a i n a b l e t i m b e r p r o c e s s i n g a n d d e s i g n a l o n g s i d e
l o c a l s t o r i e s , a r t w o r k s a n d h i s t o r i e s .
E v e n t
P a r t n e r s
p r e s e n t a t i o n s | p a n e l s e s s i o n s | a r t e x h i b i t i o n
h a r v e s t i n g s i m u l a t o r s | v i r t u a l r e a l i t y
W h o S h o u l d A t t e n d ?
Y e a r 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 2 s t u d e n t s i n t h e W i d e B a y r e g i o n i n t e r e s t e d i n
a g r i c u l t u r e , g e o g r a p h y , s c i e n c e , e n g i n e e r i n g , b u i l d i n g a n d
c o n s t r u c t i o n r e l a t e d s u b j e c t s
E m p l o y m e n t & C a r e e r s A d v i s o r s
L i n k & L a u n c h O f f i c e r s
E m p l o y m e n t C o n s u l t a n t s
W h a t w i l l w e l e a r n ?
S c h o o l t o W o r k O f f i c e r s / I n d u s t r y A d v i s o r s
F i n d o u t h o w t o g e t s t a r t e d i n a s u s t a i n a b l e c a r e e r p a t h
a n d m a k e a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t
e v e r y d a y
K n o w t h e k e y c o n t a c t s y o u n e e d t o f i n d l o c a l
e m p l o y m e n t
D i s c o v e r w h y f o r e s t a n d t i m b e r i n d u s t r y w o r k e r s a r e s o
p a s s i o n a t e , l o y a l a n d g e n u i n e l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i r j o b s
U n d e r s t a n d t h e i m p o r t a n t r o l e t h e W i d e B a y r e g i o n m a k e s i n m e e t i n g A u s t r a l i a ’ s n e x t z e r o c o m m i t m e n t s A N D
b u i l d i n g h o u s e s f o r Q u e e n s l a n d e r s
Charity of the Month
Troubling Times for Turtles on the Fraser Coast
Turtles in Trouble Rescue (TITR) was formed in December, 2021 and became an incorporated not-for-profit in March, 2022. TITR work in conjunction with Qld Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) to respond to stranded and dead milbi along the Fraser Coast. The mission of TITR is to promote the conservation of marine wildlife and the environment with a focus on marine turtle rescues and assisting with rehabilitation and research.
It has been a busy first two years of operation for the TITR team and volunteers. Over this short time, we have grown from 13 founding members to over 90 trained volunteers. After recent flooding events in 2021/22 the team saw a dramatic increase in sea turtle strandings. Since forming, TITR has rescued over 250 sea turtles and responded to over 1,000 call-outs. The most common causes of stranding are fishing related injuries, boat strikes, emaciated and underweight, floating syndrome and disease such as soft shell syndrome. Thankfully, the numbers of strandings have reduced in 2024 as the seagrass, the main food source for many of our local sea turtles, begins to recover within the bay.
All sea turtle species are considered threatened or endangered. We have had the privilege of returning over 80 sea turtles back to the wild after recovering at one of our established rehabilitation facilities. TITR are using facial recognition technology and satellite tracking to monitor the health of our local population of turtles. Through increasing our knowledge, assisting with research and rehabilitation and creating awareness in the community, TITR is helping to protect the local sea turtle population and their habitat.
TITR are grateful for the amazing local support, many volunteers and corporate sponsors that have made it possible for TITR to have an impact helping sea turtle populations. A huge shout out to our major supporters including Port City Auto, Swift Storage, Rotary Club of Hervey Bay City, Hervey Bay RSL, and Caravan of Conservation. TITR is
proud to collaborate with many organisations in the rescue, release, research and care of sea turtles on the Fraser Coast, including University of the Sunshine Coast, BNTAC Land and Sea Rangers, DESI, QLD Marine Parks, Fraser Coast Council, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, SeaLife and SeaWorld.
Please remember, if you see a sick or injured sea turtle on the beach, please do not put it back in the water. Call our TITR stranding hotline – 0493 242 903 – and we will do our best to have a trained volunteer come to do a health assessment of the turtle and collect important data. You can also report any sick or deceased marine animals through to DESI Marine Stranding Hotline on 1300 130 372.
Picture: Stranded green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fishing line entanglement and ingestion.
Picture: Turtle Transport van generously donated by Port City Auto, loading up gear from our discounted Swift Storage shed.
Tendering – Top Ten Tips Webinar
Helping Queensland businesses stand out and win work
Improve your chances of tendering success
From planning your response to submitting your tender, this webinar will give you the top ten tips to tendering.
Our tips will help you improve your approach to tendering and how to address the non-price criteria in tender documents.
Hybrid webinar option
Fraser Coast and Gympie region businesses are invited to join a hybrid webinar ‘in person’ in Maryborough or Gympie. The hybrid webinar provides you with the additional opportunity to participate in extended webinar content discussion and networking over a light lunch.
Event details
Date: Tuesday, 15 October 2024
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm: webinar 12:00pm – 1:00pm: optional extended webinar discussion and lunch – Maryborough or Gympie
Venue: Online OR In-person (places limited): Gympie TAFE, 71 Cartwright Rd, Gympie OR DSDI FCG office, 123 Wharf St, Maryborough
Contact: Darryl Conroy Department of State Development and Infrastructure M: 0472 837 211, P: 07 4122 0417 or email fcgregional@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au
Want to stay in touch? Follow @GrowingQld
DSDI collects registration information, including personal details, related to attendance at business seminars run by DSDI. The information will not be disclosed to any third parties, unless authorised or required by law. Workshops/webinars may be cancelled if registration levels are not met. You will be notified of alternative event options.
Spooky dolls and ghostly tales create new tourism avenue
Written By Nancy Bates, Vice-President of Mary Inc.
Mary Inc. is a community-based organisation primarily focused on revitalising Maryborough’s heart as a charming place to explore, relax and enjoy inner city living. One of our aims is to create synergies with stronger relationships with Hervey Bay tourism operators and residents, promoting day trips to the river city and extending the Bay’s tourism bed nights.
Rivalry between Maryborough and Hervey Bay is unhelpful for tourism when derogatory names are bandied about but not in the case of Scaryborough.
Haunted buildings, macabre tales, cemetery sightings and now a spooky dolls museum are adding to the fascination of what is becoming known as Australia’s quirkiest city.
Silvia Heszterenyiova Sullivan, an elegant Slovakian charmer, happily refers to her new home city as Scaryborough in promoting her collection of 27,000 dolls arrayed in charming and bizarre displays in the former Engineers Arms Hotel on the corner of the Fiveways.
A hearse with dolls staring from the windows sits outside the wedge-shaped building during opening hours; dozen more dolls peer from the upstairs verandah.
The new attraction is on the edge of the historic Wharf Street and has ghostly evenings as well as an array of other activities such as doll-making and professional make-ups. Silvia began her doll collection in Sydney and became a certified artisan in the production of life-like Reborn Dolls, eerily squishy, realistic vinyl babies.
The city has become a target for paranormal investigations and is on the Queensland’s Most Haunted list, with quiet overnight gatherings from groups around Australia. The return of the popular ghost tours of Wharf Street and the cemetery has been
mooted as interest in dark tourism grows around the world.
Maryborough’s dark tales are related in entertaining style but skeptics regularly experience the inexplicable.
The doll museum, thought to be the world’s largest with another 10,000 little creatures still in storage, is open Thursday to Sunday, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm with modest fees.
Pictures show Silvia inside the museum; various doll displays; the hearse outside the building; dolls arrayed on the verandah.
End of last month a series of federal workplace legislation amendments came into effect.
These new laws are the biggest change to workplace laws in decades and impose another layer of complexity in an already challenging business and employment environment.
Plus, stiff penalties could apply to employers who don’t comply with the new laws.
A snapshot of what’s changed
Right to disconnect
Employees in organisations with more than 15 staff will now have the right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from their employer after hours, unless doing so is ‘reasonable’. This change will not apply to small business employers (that is, those with less than 15 employees) until August 26, 2025.
Casual employment changes
• There is also now a new definition of ‘casual employee’ and a new pathway for casuals wanting to
convert to more permanent work. Casual employees will now have the discretion to convert to permanent employment after 6 months of employment (12 months for small businesses) if they believe their employment status no longer meets the casual definition. Again, this change applies to businesses with more than 15 employees from this week with small businesses impacted from 26 August 2025.
New definitions, minimum standards for gig workers
• In other changes, new definitions of ‘employee’ and ‘employer’ have also now come into effect. The new definitions address the differences between employees and contractors based on a ‘whole of relationship’ test.
• Plus, the Fair Work Commission will also now be able to apply minimum standards to certain ‘employeelike’ workers in the gig economy and contractors in the road transport industry. And independent contractors earning less than the ‘Contractor High Income’ of $175,000 per year will be able to apply to the Fair Work Commission if they think contract terms are unfair.
Up & Coming Events in 2024 Save the Dates
Business Hervey Bay Networking Drinks
Friday 20th September, 2024 at Hervey Bay Surf Lifesaving Club 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Register Here
2nd October Breakfast
Wednesday 2nd October 2024 at Club House Hervey Bay 6:15am - 8:00am
Register Here
Expresso Networking
Friday, 11th October 2024 at Fraser Coast Hospice 7am - 8am Book your ticket
