Business West July 2010

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DOGS NEW GOAL

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HALL OF FAME HONOUR

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DESERT WONDER

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MUMS THE WORD

A STAR NEWS GROUP PUBLICATION | $4.95 ISSN 1837-9869

9 123456 789013

MELTON

MAGiC

ISSUE 2 JULY 2010

Creating a Connected Community

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CONTENTS 6

MUMS THE WORD New mums work/life balance

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CREAM OF THE CROP Bulla celebrates 100 years

14-15 MELTON MAGIC

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Family takes out Business of the Year

EDITOR Jim Lawrence jim.lawrence@starnewsgroup.com.au

16-17 DESERT WONDER Firm wins $8 million contract – with a difference

EDITORIAL Charlene Gatt charlene.gatt@starnewsgroup.com.au

18-19 DOGS NEW GOAL Business-friendly Bulldogs

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D-I-V-O-R-C-E Mind your business

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EIGHT TAX TIPS TO HELP YOU

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Business West is a division of Star News Celebrating our 101st Group Pty. Ltd. C family-run business. Proudly year as a familyAustralian-owned and independent.

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Manager/Editor-in-Chief General Manage Division, Geelong-North West W and published Jim Lawrence. Produced P

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Western icon makes es it into the Victorian an Manufacturing Hall all of Fame… …

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BUSINESS WEST

Cover Robert, Darren and Suzanne Rapa Suz Photo SEAN O’CARROLL O’

FROM THE EDITOR THANK you to the many readers and wellwishers who welcomed the first edition of Business West. Your comments have confirmed our belief that there is a place for a magazine with a distinct emphasis on local business.

Karl Longley, who runs Rhino Supplements in Footscray, emailed: I have just received my first edition of Business West. Well done, looks great and I can see it growing very rapidly as the months go by. Best of luck with it, and if I might mention there is an enormous amount of new business growth in the Laverton-Footscray area which could benefit greatly from this publication.

Dr Frank Davis, who operates a major dental clinic at Essendon Airport, wrote: Congratulations on the new publication which hit my desk yesterday. I have just finished reading it, and enjoyed it very much. I expect you will be very well received in the district, as there are many excellent businesses in the area, run by quality people. I look forward to receiving future copies.

This edition again highlights the amazing talent pool of innovative people and businesses in Melbourne’s West.

The contribution of Ferguson Plarre, a household name in this region, has been recognised by its induction into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame, yet another award for this remarkable company.

Airport West’s Cox Gomyl is reaching for the stars with an $8 million contract to clean the windows of the world’s tallest skyscraper in Dubai.

John Redmond

In 2008, Ferguson Plarre was named Victorian Bakery Manufacturer of the Year, and in 2009 won the Banksia Award for excellence in sustainability.

We celebrate Bulla Dairy Foods 100 years in business while welcoming two young mums who have embarked on a new venture in baby and children’s fashion.

Our cover story is one of how hard work, drive and vision resulted in two brothers and their sister achieving this year’s Melton Business of the Year.

The Bulldogs show they are as resourceful off the field as they on it with their campaign to tap into the local business community.

And we meet John Redmond, a larger-thanlife Wyndham industrialist who has four words tattooed on his left leg. Turn to Page 22 to find out what they are.

Remember, Business West is your magazine.

We welcome your views and suggestions.

Jim Lawrence jim.lawrence@starnewsgroup.com.au

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BUSINESS WEST

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Jo Osman, left, with Harry and Laura Cosentino with CoCo, and Heather Saxena, owner of Babies and Kids.

Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT

THESE new mums have worked out the ultimate work/life balance.

CHARLENE GATT learns how…

MUMS THE WORD SEDDON resident Jo Osman, 34, and Yarraville’s Laura Cosentino, 29, are the names behind new baby and children’s fashion and accessory sales agency, Sales By Jo and Laura.

at our jobs and we were in demand so we came up with the idea to do children’s wear,” Ms Osman said.

where in our previous job we had customers we knew for years and years, so it was easy,” Ms Cosentino added.

The pair did their research and found labels that weren’t represented in Victoria.

The women have a combined 25 years experience in the sales industry and worked for years as competitors.

They also discovered a DIY website that helped them build their own webpage, where they put the call out to suppliers. The response was phenomenal.

“It’s one of those things where you get what you give. The more you get, the more rewarding it is. But right now we’re taking baby steps towards the empire, we’re not going too fast,” Ms Osman said.

When they both started working for the same fashion textile wholesaler over four years ago, the pair formed a strong friendship and soon started looking into different business ideas.

They even did a floristry course before fate intervened and the pair fell pregnant at the same time.

Nine months later, Ms Cosentino gave birth to CoCo, and Ms Osman gave birth to Harry a week after. The bubs are now a year old.

After giving birth, both women knew they didn’t want to go back to full-time work, and they didn’t have the choice to job share their role and work part-time with the company they were with.

“We were approached by some suppliers in textiles and they were competitive to our employer, and people thought we were good

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BUSINESS WEST

“Straight away, within days, we had people calling us from all over the world. It was unbelievable,” Ms Osman said.

The company, which only started out in November last year, already represents Albetta, Baobab, Beautiful Soles, Cheeky Monkey, Eco Peko, Mini Life, Pipi Child, Smalls and Three Little Trees. All the labels are designed in Australia or New Zealand.

The women sell to all children’s boutique stores around Melbourne and Victoria.

Babies and Kids on Gamon Street, Yarraville, is one of their biggest accounts.

“The hardest thing was getting our foot in the door with people that don’t know our labels,” Ms Osman said.

“You have to build new relationships,

Ms Osman and Ms Cosentino also make sure to take care of their own babies.

CoCo spends one day at childcare a week, while Harry spends a day at grandma’s.

The rest of the week, Ms Cosentino will work a couple of days while Ms Osman minds both kids, and vice versa.

Both women, who are keen to have more kids, said they would not sacrifice family for the sake of the business.

“I wouldn’t want to put Harry into full-time childcare to run a business,” Ms Osman said.

“It can be hard with both of them, but you’d rather have them with you than in childcare.

“The people that we’re representing are aware of our business plan, they don’t expect us to be working 24/7.” [BW]

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PROFILE

SALLY’S

TALL

BY CHARLENE GATT PATTING rhinos and feeding giraffes is all in a day’s work for Werribee Open Range Zoo director Sally Lewis.

But it’s more than a job for the Werribee resident, who says the setting feeds her soul.

When Business West meets Ms Lewis at the zoo, we jump in a four-wheel drive for an impromptu safari.

Despite the smart suit, it is clear Ms Lewis does not spend her days in an office.

“To have a day where I’m in the office entirely and not interacting with staff never happens,” she said.

“My favourite parts are being part of a landscape outside of a cityscape. I love wide, open space. It’s those jaw-dropping moments when you get to do something like pat a rhino or feed a giraffe.”

It could be argued tthat growing o a farm up on in G Geelong has that effect.

ORDER

He Her lifelong interes in animals interest took a serious turn when sh she was 17 and became a cas casual safari guid guide at the Wer Werribee Zoo. Bac Back then, the zoo was only accessibl accessible via a bus tour, and Ms Lewis and the other 30 employees wo worked out of a small shed.

Ms Lewis sai said the zoo had more closely rresembled a th time. children’s farm at the She was soon p promoted to safari co-ordinator co-ordinator, a position she held for th three years, before becoming the zoo’s customer service ma manager for a further two.

“They were great tim times, but they were crazy times,” she said.

She then took up a position as the director of Portland Portland’s Maritime Discovery Centre to b broaden her leadership and strateg strategic planning skills.

She also held positions as the tourism business unit manager at the G Glenelg Shire Council, a director at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, a director at the Queensland Museum South Bank and the dep deputy CEO of the Queensland Museum before coming full

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

circle and taking up the position at Werribee Open Range Zoo over eight months ago.

“I was always keen to come back when the opportunity arose, and I’m very excited to come back at a time when the zoo is experiencing such growth,” she said.

The 224-hectare site is phenomenally different to the zoo Ms Lewis worked at as a teen.

Apart from the safari tours, which are still around today, the zoo has around 17 dedicated animal exhibits, with everything from free roaming giraffes and zebras to meerkats, lions, hippos, cheetahs, kangaroos, wallabies, and a variety of birds.

Ms Lewis said her biggest challenge was planning for the long term future of the zoo while still handling the day to day issues – but said her wide-ranging experience with zoos and museums meant she was perfectly placed in her career to successfully help the zoo grow.

“The first year is always the toughest in terms of change management. All the years following will become incrementally better,” she said.

“We’re the youngest of the three zoos and we’ve got all this land. There’s so much potential and it’s just a matter of slowly developing that.”

This year is proving to be a mammoth one for the zoo.

With weekends currently at capacity, the challenge is to encourage visitors to come to the zoo during off-peak times.

Ms Lewis wants to continue to add more big exhibits to Werribee’s ever-growing collection so that the zoo could cater for one million visitors a year.

The zoo recently opened up its new Rhinos Revealed section, and is gearing up to open an African cat exhibit in September.

The State Government recently gave the zoo a $1.5 million grant towards it $2.95 million gorilla exhibit they hope to open by December.

For the first time, Werribee Zoo opened after dark over a fortnight this month, with the zoo hosting torch-led tours.

The zoo, which attracted 300,000 visitors last year, works on a yearly budget of around $5 million and employs about 58 staff, with most coming from the West.

Ms Lewis lives 10 minutes away in Werribee and admits to playing visitor at the zoo on random weekends to road test exhibitions.

She usually brings her kids Larni, 6, and Tara, 5, to gauge their reaction, but said they have become desensitised to mum’s job and can be tough customers.

“They think it’s great, but it’s normal to them,” she said. [BW]

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HALL OF FAME FERGUSON Plarre is famous in Melbourne’s West and North for its delicious sausage rolls, tiddly oggies and cakes.

The company can now boast about being ng a leader in manufacturing after being inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. CHARLENE GATT reports…

THE honour is one of many in recent history for Ferguson Plarre, who last year took out the Banksia award for excellence in sustainability and in 2008 was named the Victorian Bakery Manufacturer of the Year at the Victorian Baking Industry awards.

Its baked goods have also earned the company over 120 awards in recent years.

CEO of operations Steve Plarre believes that recognising and honouring the values and culture of the company and knowing the company’s strengths and keeping to them are Ferguson Plarre’s ingredients for success.

“If we’ve had a skill over the years, it’s sticking to the knitting and not being distracted by all these other things that we could bring in under the brand,” he said.

“Bread started to be specialised, but we let it go and focused on cakes and pies and so continuing to market to that market and do it strongly rather than be everything to everyone.

“We’re very much a carer brand in terms of what we do. There are grandmas who have had their wedding cakes baked by us and we hope to continue those urban stories.

“We really try to use that as a competitive advantage in a world that gets a little bit loveless and lifeless.”

The company, which has run on five generations of the Ferguson and Plarre families, employs about 120 full-time, part time and casual staff out of its Keilor Park headquarters, and takes in about $17.5 million a year.

The Ferguson family started up their first bakehouse in 1901 and the Plarres soon followed suit in 1911.

KEEPING IT IN THE

FAMiLiES Both families continued trading through both world wars and the Great Depression despite tough conditions, and found unlikely allies in one another.

“The baking industry’s pretty tight. There might’ve been a flour shortage during the world wars and you’d help each other out. I think we were cross-supplying products for a while; they’d supply us their pasties and we’d supply our cakes to supplement the product range,” Mr Plarre said.

The families merged the business in 1980 to become Ferguson Plarre and ran its headquarters out of Keilor Rd, Niddrie.

The company is 50 per cent owned by both the Ferguson and Plarre families, with the responsibilities delineated between the two.

The Ferguson family is responsible for retailing, finding new stores, staffing, franchising, and marketing and promotions, while the Plarre family focuses on manufacturing and operations.

On the Ferguson side, Ken is the CEO of retail, wife Pam is the general manager of retail, and Ken’s son Anthony and Pam’s son Chris also work for the company.

On the Plarre side, Steve is the CEO of operations, Mike is the general manager of manufacturing and sister Lauren works parttime in the office. Steve took over from his dad Ralph in June last year.

The strong family culture is also entrenched in the factory, with many brothers, sisters and couples working together.

Any employee who has been with the company for over 15 years gets their caricature done on a Hall of Fame in the Keilor Park head office. About 12 or 13 employees are currently up there.

Their longest-serving employee has been with the company for over 40 years.

The company moved to its Keilor Park premises – which is four times the size of its Niddrie factory – in 2007, and is currently running it and about 50 per cent capacity.

The plan, Mr Plarre says, is to open approximately five new Ferguson Plarre stores a year.

Ferguson Plarre currently has 48 bakeries around Melbourne.

“It’s never been growth for the sake of growth. We’d only ever add a store if we were absolutely spot on. You’ve always got to grow a little bit,” Mr Plarre said.

Perhaps unusually, Ferguson Plarre opens its doors to the majority of the baking industry.

“Whatever we can teach them, we do. And we do it with a mindset with what you put out, you get back, and we don’t welcome our direct competitors in the front door, but you don’t have to be too far removed from that.”

Ferguson Plarre has also had a particular focus on sustainability in recent years.

The company harnesses the waste heat from refrigeration systems, redistributes heats recovered from freshly baked products and employs new hybrid vehicle technologies to reduce its carbon footprint by over 5000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

Mr Plarre said the challenge in recent years had been “trying to take Ferguson Plarre from a well-ingrained family business to a more modern corporation that runs with proper governance and less reliance on who the family members are but what sort of skills they bring to the table”.

Mr Plarre knows this by heart. Both he and his brother Mike started with the company in their early teens and said they started off “doing all the dirtiest jobs”.

“We both spent a good five or six years scrubbing floors, heading up cleaning,

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BUSINESS WEST

pastry cooking, driving trucks, managing dispatch. It was very much bottom up,” he said.

“It’s great, because there’s still a couple of the crew I worked with years ago and they’re quite astonished when I can roll a hot cross bun. We’re not afraid to get our hands dirty.

“At the time, I thought ‘why do I have to do this? Can’t I just go and do the fun stuff’, but it’s only through hindsight that you see most of the crew downstairs respect the fact that we’ve done everything that they’ve done and I think we’ll continue that tradition.” [BW]

Ferguson Plarre CEO of operations Steve Plarre at the company’s Keilor Park factory.

N JANEVSKI Picture: DAMJAN

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11

BULLA’S 100 YEARS

CREAM OF THE CROP BULLA Dairy Food’s delicious recipe for success is an old one, but a good one.

CHARLENE GATT discovers the secret…

AND after celebrating 100 years in business last month, it pays to listen to industry elders.

“We’ve tried to keep it simple,” managing director Russell Sloan said.

“I think we’ve stuck to what we know, which is the thickened cream – the first product my grandfather started with – and then the icecream.

“We’ve stuck to those two, main, core, parts of our business, with the addition of some of the other dairy products like yoghurt and cottage cheese, which were added to the portfolio in the late 60s and early 70s.

“We try to be experts in that area and not deviate too much from that.”

It’s a philosophy that has spanned five generations and the same three families, and started in 1910 with cheese maker Thomas Sloan working from his Moonee Ponds backyard.

Mr Sloan produced thickened cream from cream and milk sourced from the Bulla area in Melbourne’s north-west, and the Bulla brand was born.

Within a few years, he was joined by brother-in-law Hugh Anderson and brother John (Jack) Anderson.

With a half-pint selling for one shilling in 1916, cream was expensive and creameries were considered to be quite profitable.

Today, Bulla manufactures over 300 products from its national distribution centre in Derrimut and factories in Colac and Mulgrave, exports to 20 countries across the globe and has an annual turnover of nearly $400 million.

It is the second fastest growing brand in Australia, the 34th largest brand in Australian supermarkets, and the market leader for bottled cream, ice cream, frozen yoghurt cottage cheese and drinking yoghurt.

Managing director Russell Sloan at Bulla’s national distribution centre in Derrimut.

Picture: SARAH MATRAY

The company employs around 550 employees, with 38 of them belonging to the 25-plus year club.

“People stay because they enjoy working for us, it’s a family-owned business and we try and make them feel like they’re part of a larger, extended family,” Mr Sloan said.

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

World War I was the first test for the growing company, and it passed with flying colours.

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BUSINESS WEST

At the height of the Great Depression, the company bought out the Colac Ice Works factory in 1935. People continued to buy cream and ice cream during this period, despite being seen as “luxury” items for the times.

The same year, Bulla became incorporated and took control of rival cream company Regal.

But it was World War 2 where Bulla really tested its mettle.

Employing a nearly all-male workforce, the company found itself short-staffed when some of its younger workers were enlisted for service.

In 1943, Bulla was dealt another blow when the Australian Government restricted the domestic consumption of ice-cream, cream and butter.

Peters was the only ice cream manufacturer protected and exempt from the restrictions in order for it to maintain supplies to Australian and American troops.

Profit dropped from £16,266 in 1941 to £1006 in 1943 and £855 in 1944.

The 1950s brought a welcome upturn to business. Bulla began to manufacture imitation cream, made from vegetable fat, to retain its customer base in defiance of the government embargo. The product is still sold today.

In the 1970s and 80s, Bulla produced its first line of low-fat yoghurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and later, frozen yoghurt, to embrace a new health wave.

Today, 100 years on from Thomas Sloan first making cream in his Moonee Ponds backyard, about six family members from the Sloan and Anderson families work for the business.

The company threw a lavish dinner at Melbourne Museum last month and commissioned a book, Bulla: Celebrating 100 years of Real Dairy Goodness, to celebrate its milestone.

The next 100 years are set to be one of growth and expansion.

Bulla is currently expanding its ice cream factory in Colac to cater for a surge in business. A similar expansion is earmarked for the Derrimut national distribution centre in March next year. [BW]

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COVER STORY

LET’S GET

FIGHTING fit has proved a winning business move for siblings Robert, Darren and Suzanne Rapa.

PHYSICAL

Their gym, the Caroline Springs’ Re-Creation Health Club, scooped the pool at the Melton Business Excellence Awards, taking out the Melton Business of the Year.

CHARLENE GATT reports…

THE company also won Best Franchise Business award and Apprentice of the Year for personal trainer Ergin Halil.

Success followed the day after the awards when fitness instructor Kelly Pete was crowned Miss Melbourne at the International Natural Bodybuilding Victorian titles.

Ms Pete is now considering trying out for the Australian titles in October.

“It was a big weekend for us,” Robert said.

It was a big weekend that was three years in the making.

THE START-UP In 2007, Robert was working in freight forwarding, Darren was an electrician and Suzanne was working in retail.

All three wanted to get out of their respective industries.

“I just wanted to open a business and fitness was booming,” Robert said.

The trio enlisted the help of their brother

and silent partner Mark, who has been in the fitness industry for the past 30 years and was a former manager at Melton Waves Leisure Centre.

Modern Medical Centre now stands.

Caroline Springs proved a natural choice because it was close to home for Robert, who lives in Hillside, and Darren and Suzanne, who live in Melton.

The Rapas designed a $1.5 million new gym to open up the road on Lake Street, but had difficulty trying to get money for the venture in the middle of the Global Financial Crisis.

Perhaps more importantly, the suburb had no unisex gym.

“Delfin was sort of freaking out, because at that stage Caroline Springs was nine years old and there was no gym, but there was demand,” Robert said.

Delfin’s only request was that they signed up to a franchise instead of coming in as a privately-owned business.

At the time Re-Creation had only a small presence in the West.

The Rapas first venture was also a small one, with them opening up where the

But expansion plans were soon on the agenda when the gym had signed up 500 members before they had even opened.

“Banks didn’t want to know anyone and when you’re trying to open a gym this size, you hit snags everywhere,” Robert said.

Persistence prevailed and the new, state-of-the-art gym opened to the public in December 2008.

THE GYM It’s a gym that has to be seen to be believed.

The 3156-square metre centre boasts just about everything a gym junkie could possibly want.

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14

BUSINESS WEST

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR

Winners are grinnersâ&#x20AC;Ś Suzanne Rapa with brothers Robert and Darren.

Picture: SEAN Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;CARROLL

Apart from the usual features â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 32-bike room, treadmills, cross-trainers, bikes and weight machines aplenty â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the main cardio room is fitted out with a two-lane 50 metre sprinting track; there is a free weights room with dumbbells that go up to 60 kilograms; a steam room; a boxing room fitted out with a boxing ring; a mind, body and dance studio; a â&#x20AC;&#x153;rampageâ&#x20AC;? boot camp room fitted out with artificial grass and a running track; a child-minding centre and a memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lounge.

There are also lots of small touches.

The group fitness room has a disco ball for night classes. There are hairdryers and straighteners in the ladies changing rooms.

The company is in the process of transforming its former kitchen and storeroom into a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-only weights room and Zumba classes have made it onto the group class timetable and are already attracting about 75 people a class.

The 2008 Mr Universe and Mr Olympia Warren Clampitt and Ms Olympia Lucy

Hermans have held nutrition seminars at the gym.

Ms Hermans is also Re-Creationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cardio box instructor and a personal trainer.

Penny Higgs, who starred in the 2009 series So You Think You Can Dance, started up her dance school at the gym.

Other groups, like Global Tai Kwon Do and the Caroline Springs Calisthenics Group, also use the gym.

The gym boasts over 3000 members.

Robert predicts the membership is about 60 per cent men and 40 per cent women.

The company employs 30 staff. Robert and Darren oversee the day-to-day running of the gym, while Suzanne covers administration and reception.

The Rapas parents even get in the act and come in every lunchtime to clean up the gym â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even though they have hired cleaners.

And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only the beginning, with the family looking to open another centre in the West in the coming year. [BW]

BY MICHELLE HERBISON ERGIN Halil, winner of the Apprentice of the year award, enjoys his busy job at ReCreation Health Club in Caroline Springs.

When he completed his Certificate III in Fitness traineeship last year, he was the first person at the club to do so.

Doing the traineeship enabled him to finish year 12 while gaining a qualification. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was going to leave school in year 11, but one of the teachers said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;why donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you find a gym and you can do a traineeship,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just liked going to the gym, so I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d see if I could get a job out of it.â&#x20AC;?

He is working his way up at the club, currently working four or five shifts a week for about five hours each. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the gym Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m kind of working everywhere,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I work at front reception, I go around the gym, talk to members, clean up, sometimes do gym programs for members, basically anything that needs to be done.â&#x20AC;?

He said he liked the working environment of the gym. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best thing is that everyone knows everyone there, so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always got someone to chat to,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always busy, anytime I go in there everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always asking me questions.â&#x20AC;?

By mid-year he will start his Certificate IV to become a personal trainer so he can work one-on-one with clients. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You just have to go for it, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate, and do what you want to do,â&#x20AC;? he said.

As for future goals, Halil said he would some day like to open his own gym. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably a long, long time away,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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15

DESERT WONDER AN $8 MILLION contract to develop a window-cleaning system for the world’s tallest skyscraper has put Cox Gomyl’s Airport West plant on the map. CHARLENE GATT discovers how they did it…

THE company was awarded the mammoth task of cleaning Dubai’s Burj Khalifa’s 24,830 windows.

The metres metres metres plates.

skyscraper, which stands 828 high, has over 120,000 square of glass, and 45,000 square of aluminium and stainless steel

Despite the tall order, the system itself is laughingly simple.

Twelve machines, that cover about 40 storeys each, carry up to 36 cleaners, who use ordinary soapy water to wash the windows.

The machines are stored behind glass panels within the skyscraper when they’re not in use.

Meanwhile, unmanned machines clean the 27 top tiers and spire.

Cox Gomyl scored the contract after working on the Adia Headquarters building in Abu Dubai with Samsung Engineering and Construction, who went on to build the Burj Khalifa.

The skyscraper was unexpectedly shut down weeks after opening because of an elevator malfunction. It reopened in early April.

Shots of Cox Gomyl’s window-cleaning machinery working wonders on Dubai’s Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

Pictures courtesy of Cox Gomyl.

Cox Gomyl general manager Dale Harding said the company had come up against stiff international competition during the tenders process.

“The consultant put together a package of how they saw the cleaning scheme and all the machines working,

and then it was up to us to pick it apart and improve it,” he said.

“Rather than the machine launching from a trolley moving along a track inside the building, our system was launched by a rotating carousel fixed in one position.

“

It is also known for its work on the Eureka Tower, the Southern Star Observation Wheel, the Rialto, the West Gate Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

“I think it’s our engineering expertise

Despite the tall order, the system itself is laughingly simple.

“Instead of driving in and out it actually rotated into position, with part of the glass panel on the back of the carousel. It saved some space for the building developer and reduced the cost of the curtain wall works because they didn’t have to have separate panels.”

that differentiates us from the competition, and our ability to come up with fairly unique designs that most of our competitors are not prepared to attempt,” Mr Harding said.

The contract is Cox Gomyl’s second biggest behind that for the 497-metre Shanghai World Finance Centre, which was finished two years ago.

Cox Gomyl has also done similar multi-million jobs in Moscow and has just secured a contract for another one in Abu Dhabi

Cox Gomyl general manager Dale Harding at the Airport West plant. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

“The other aspect is our ability to take the contracts directly with the clients.

WHAT IS COX GOMYL?

“Most of the other companies deal through an agent or another representative, and on the big jobs in particular, that’s commercially quite risky, because there’s lot of money involved, andhas there’s lots toof assumptions Cox Gomyl evolved being made tender designer stage, for example, become theatleading people underestimate of thebuilding extent of their work and manufacturer and the time involved disputes evolve. maintenance units and worldwide.

“The main difference with us is that Wolseley Private Equity acquired we take theengineering contract right through to the Victorian company, customer, in charge of not only E.W. Cox,so in we’re early 2007. designing the Wolseley machine, but Since then, hasalso in terms of the installation, the providing performance and strengthened competitive position contract management. of the business by making two further acquisitions “We take onof allGomyL the risk,s.a but(based it also in makes Spain) andeasier Cradle (based we’re the contract to Runways manage because the U.K). inincontrol of the whole contract.” [BW] Cox Gomyl was formed and incorporated in 2008 by the merger of the three companies and is based in Melbourne with manufacturing plants in Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.

It employs 500 staff across the globe, with around 75 working from the Melbourne head office and Airport West plant.

Its Melbourne offices alone bring in about $25 million a year.

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17

NETWORKING

THE Western Bulldogs are snarling on and off the field in 2010, with their newest project set to claim a bigger share in the West. CHARLENE GATT reports…

THE Bulldogs Friendly Business program, which was launched last year after three years in development, is already kicking goals for the club.

Businesses include Footscray’s Alan Mance Motors, Subway’s five Wyndham stores, Quest Williamstown, Endota Spa in Point Cook and Sheds n More Sunshine.

The program aims to connect Western Bulldogs members with small to mediumsized business in the West by offering an RACV-style program where members receive discounts from businesses that are part of the program.

All businesses that have signed up are identified by a Bulldogs Friendly Business sticker that is placed at the front of the business.

In turn, businesses are getting their name out there and can network with one another at four specially-run functions held over the year.

The Bulldogs Friendly Business program includes its own directory where each business can create its own profile. Businesses also receive listings in the club’s four magazines.

Additional features, such as a website article, are done for businesses in silver and gold categories.

The Bulldogs are the first AFL team to place an emphasis on local business.

Jenna Godley, who is heading the program, said the Bulldogs want business in the West to see the club as being “bigger than football”.

“There’s a lot of businesses that want to help each other in our region,” she said.

“They’re more than happy to support people in the western region, which I think has been really fantastic. They’d rather support the person around the corner than a cheaper person further away and I think that’s a real community feel.

Bulldogs’ Bruce Kaider with Westpac’s Johnny Di Martino, centre, and regional manager Michael McCormick Picture: EMILY LANE “The West has always traditionally been the Labor heartland, the battlers, the downtrodden doing it tough, but now there’s so much industry coming through and some of these suburbs are quite wealthy now and they’re really well established, and that’s our backyard too, so there’s a few synergies for us,” Chief Commercial Officer Simon Garlick said.

About 140 businesses from across the West and even in the Docklands, Bacchus Marsh, Moonee Ponds and Pascoe Vale, have signed up to one of the gold, silver or bronze partnership offers.

Westpac Bank has recently signed a threeyear deal as the presenting partners of the program.

18

BUSINESS WEST

“We’re helping all businesses in the western region utilise our brand to coincide with their brand to increase exposure and increase traffic flow for their business.

“We’re also helping our businesses learn about their marketing, about their advertising and why they should network between other businesses.

“

We’re trying to own the West, I suppose you could say…

NETWORKING

QUICK OFF THE MARK

BY CHARLENE GATT ELITE Fitness owners and siblings Rochelle and Matt Finch jumped at the chance to join the Bulldogs Friendly Business program when they were approached almost a year ago.

Bruce Kaider and Jenna Godley head the Bulldogs business development push.

Picture: EMILY LANE “We’re trying to own the West, I suppose you could say.”

Mr Garlick said the program would also help to create a sponsorship pool for the club in coming years.

“It can go both ways. If I’m trying to target a major or a medium sponsor and they’re not ready at that level I can talk to them about this program,” he said.

“And Jenna knows if there’s someone that might want to commit a bit further, she can pass it up the line.

“We want to build relationships sponsors and make them long-term hopefully have them see the benefit get out of their involvement with us increase their sponsorship.”

with and they and

The pair, who have run the fitness equipment store from Highpoint’s South End precinct for nearly five years, forked out $1800 for a gold partnership and said they would be happy to support the program in coming years.

To find out more about the Bulldogs Friendly Business program, go to www.bulldogsfriendlybusiness.com.au [BW]

“The fact that we already had some of the footballers and staff come in (made us want to join) and we thought we could use that exposure and we wanted to support the football team,” Mr Finch said.

Turn to page 33 for pictures from the Bulldogs Friendly Business breakfast.

“It could take 12 months for the brand recognition to kick in, but this isn’t a short-term thing.’

Apart from the usual benefits received by businesses, gold partnership holders receive a football signed by the captain and coach, a Bulldogs Backyard Junior Membership donation and two Westerners tickets to one home game.

Ms Finch said the price of the partnership was comparatively cheap to a TV or radio advertisement.

Bulldog Friendly…

Rochelle Finch and brother Matt

Elite Fitness offers a 20 per cent discount on full-priced merchandise to all Bulldogs members, plus 10 per cent off sale prices.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

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BUSINESS WEST

19

Brimbank

focussing on economic prosperity

Industrial estate developments in Brimbank are continuing to attract new business to the municipality.

Brimbank City Council is working to ensure a thriving economic future for the City.

To achieve this, Council is increasing its economic development activity, seeking working partnerships with existing businesses and working to attract new business to the municipality to ensure local access to fi rstrate services, facilities and employment opportunities.

The Council Plan and the future

Providing access to goods, services, facilities and employment for all the community is an important focus for the future as outlined in the Council’s Proposed Council Plan 2010-2014.

Council recognises that the retention of existing business and the attraction of new business, together with strategies to focus on employment generation are critical to the future well-being of its community.

The Proposed Council Plan places signifi cant weight on business development and employment and will govern much of the work being undertaken by the Council’s Economic Development unit.

Council is committed to developing the municipality as a safe, attractive, vibrant, liveable and prosperous place that provides easy access to a range of retail, business, community, social activities, employment and residential opportunities.

Sunshine Town Centre is one of Council’s major focus areas with much work concentrating on the redevelopment of the Sunshine Station as part of the Regional Rail Link Project. This project has the potential to revitalise the southern section of Sunshine, to unlock land around the station for redevelopment and to provide a safer environment for the users of the station and for people living within the station surrounds.

Council has received funding from the Department of Planning and Community Development to undertake a range of improvement projects in the centre.

A second major focus for Council is the St Albans Town Centre. The St Albans Connect Project is a three year community and urban renewal project funded by Council and the Victorian Department of

Planning and Community Development that combines urban improvements, community strengthening and economic development initiatives to improve the quality of life of the local community.

Council is equally committed to providing local employment and business development opportunities outside the confines of town centres and urban villages. Strategic sites such as the Brooklyn Industrial Precinct, Broadcast Australia site in Delahey, the former Sunshine Quarry, Solomon Heights, the Orica site in Deer Park and the Calder Park Industrial Estate, will be vitally important to Brimbank’s economic future. Because of the locations, size, environment and/or current or past use, these sites will help Council achieve its economic, social, environment and cultural objectives. Council will work with the land owners to facilitate redevelopment opportunities.

In order to pursue local access to goods, services and employment for the Brimbank community Council’s Economic Development Unit works across a number of key areas including business networking, small business liaison, supporting education, training and skills development initiatives and business development and investment attraction.

Business Networking

Key elements of Brimbank’s business networking initiatives include the quarterly Business Bulletin publication, which is distributed to about 1000 businesses across the municipality, and the biannual Business Breakfast events.

The Business Bulletin is a six page publication that profiles local business operations, provides advice on new initiatives from government, details small business training opportunities on offer through

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Council and a range of other information snippets of value to small business. The Business Bulletin is available in electronic and hard copy form.

Brimbank’s biannual Business Breakfast events have been well attended by local business people and provide a great opportunity to meet like minded business people, to fi nd out about new Council initiatives and a chance to hear from a range of guest speakers. Speakers have included creative thinking specialist Jason Clarke, financial commentator Stephen Mayne and more recently business fi nance expert, Alan Miltz.

Small Business Development and Training

Council realises the value of small business to the local economy and works collaboratively with business associations across the municipality. An example of ways in which Council has worked with small business to improve outcomes was a sustainable small business management program in Sunshine. Sunshine businesses were the first participants in the program called Sustainable Sunshine which proved to be so successful it has since been used as a prototype for a program that has been delivered to over 1000 businesses across Victoria.

Education Training which was made available to year 10 students across the municipality.

In 2010, Council is sponsoring 300 students from 10 Brimbank schools to attend a one-day intensive workshop on employability skills.

The program which is entitled Polish is being delivered in conjunction with the Beacon Foundation and the Brimbank Melton Local learning and Employment Network.

Regional Development

Brimbank appreciates the benefi t of pursuing a regional approach to economic development in partnership with the other Western Region municipalities for the overall development of the west. Council is an active participant in Melbourne’s West Tourism, Melbourne’s West Export Network, Leadwest and the Women in Business Network.

Administrators and Staff from Council participate as board members of these organisations and Council has sponsored related events including the Leadwest Federal and State Government Budget Briefi ng Breakfast and the annual Women in Business May Breakfast.

Investment Attraction

Investment attraction is a key focus of Council’s Economic Development unit which is working hard to deliver large scale investment and new business start ups to Brimbank.

Small businesses across Brimbank play an important role in the community.

Council also works collaboratively with the Federal and State government to deliver a range of training programs for small business including the Energise Enterprise seminar which takes place in August each year.

Supporting Employment Outcomes for Brimbank Residents

Supporting employment outcomes for Brimbank residents, in particular for young people, has been a key focus in recent years. Council sponsored the Keilor Careers Group to deliver a Careers Expo in Taylors Lakes which was attended by more than 400 students who met with a range of different employers. Council also supported the careers group to produce a DVD on Vocational

Brimbank has many world class businesses operating within its municipal boundaries and is home to a number of brand organisations such as Australia Post, ARC, Boral, Bunnings, Hunter Leisure, FedEx, Fisher and Paykel, John Deere, Aldi, Lombards, Cadbury Schweppes, Caterpillar, Huntsman, Rhine Ruhr, Simsmetal, Schiavello, SEW Euordrive and Ferguson Plarre. Many new businesses are also choosing to start up or relocate to Brimbank and they too are strengthening the economic base of the municipality.

Business Breakfast events continue to be well attented by local business people.

Recent Arrivals

Council recently assisted Preshafruit to locate in Derrimut. Preshafruit is a small familybased company that aims to bring a range of fresh tasting fruit products to the Australian consumer. The key to the business is an innovative Australian-fi rst process known as high pressure cold water preservation that is used to pasteurise and preserve fruit products.

Major international printing group Vistaprint has also chosen to make Brimbank home.

The company is establishing its Australian headquarters on the Paramount Estate in Derrimut. Vistaprint like Preshafruit was attracted to Brimbank because of its location advantages and the availability of competitively priced flat land. Other businesses to locate to Derrimut recently include Sleepyhead, Jakmax, and Apprenticeships Victoria.

Similarly, the northern end of the municipality is experiencing rapid industrial growth. In recent years key industrial players such as Lombards the Paper People and Fergusson Plarre and most recently, the Rand Group, have chosen to relocate to industrial estates in Keilor Park.

The decisions by these companies to call Brimbank home is resulting in massive investment in plant and equipment and the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

To find out more about these or any other Brimbank City Council Economic Development initiatives and services or for more information on how we can assist your business to operate or relocate to Brimbank, contact Council’s Economic Development Officer, Brian O’Dwyer on 9249 4630 or email ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

PROFILE

IN THE FOOTSTEPS

OF HEROES

BY CHARLENE GATT WHAT sums up a man? Ask Redmond Repetition Engineers owner John Redmond and he’ll tell you endurance, sacrifice, mateship and courage.

The words are tattooed on his left leg and stand as a testament to his work ethic and another thing close to his heart: the two tours he has done of the Kokoda track.

Marlene would run the machine at their Hoppers Crossing home, and John would come home from a 12-hour shift working for what would become his opposition and work about four or five hours a night to get the business started.

“It was mainly the desire to succeed. The desire to try and be the best you can possibly be at whatever you do,” he said.

Two big collages of the 2008 and 2009 treks take pride of place in his Hopper Crossing office to give a daily dose of perspective.

Over 1981 to 1983, the pair bought second-hand equipment and opened a small factory in Williamstown.

“You just sort of think about what those kids went through and what the kids of today take for granted,” the passionate Carlton Football Club member said.

They then moved to their current Industrial Avenue site and designed and built their first plant.

“These guys gave their all and gave their life at 18 and we’ve got 18-year-old kids that want the best Nike runners, want the best outfits, want the best of everything, and they’re very impatient.

“You just put things into pictures like that, and it motivates me every day. When it gets tough out there, you walk in and say ‘well, that’s not tough out there, that (Kokoda) was tough’. When you do walk that track, you come back with a different set of beliefs, a different set of priorities.

“Mentally, it was very tough, because there was torrential rain for so long. You really appreciate what they did over there.

“A very close friend of mine, ex-Hawthorn coach and Carlton coach David Parkin came and gave a presentation to our first group, and he said the Kokoda track was 70 per cent mental, and 30 per cent physical. I agree 150 per cent.”

It’s not a new concept for the 62-year-old.

Mr Redmond originally wanted to be a pastry chef, but said he was “pretty hopeless at it” and fell into engineering.

He and his wife Marlene started up Redmond Repetition Engineers 37 years ago with one machine in his backyard and $2000 in his bank account.

22

BUSINESS WEST

Today, he owns a 4500-square metre factory that produces precision components for some of the biggest global brands in military, aviation and automotive.

Like many companies today, Redmond Repetition Engineers does its part for the environment. The company recycles all its waste material, and its factories are heated by redirecting the heat off its index machines through the roof.

“We’ve set the benchmark in industry.

We’re not just an engineering shop, dirty and smelly and oily. It can be state of the art and attractive and appealing for the people that work here,” he said.

In 1999, Redmond Repetition Engineers was awarded Wyndham Business of the Year.

His company has an annual turnover between $7 million and $9 million and he employs around 40 staff.

Two of those employees are his daughters Jenny and Kerry, who are both dentists by profession. Wife Marlene is now retired, but still pops in to see how the company is running.

One of his apprentices, Ricky Parker, was recently shortlisted for an industry Apprentice of the Year award.

And Mr Redmond is a man who is not afraid to get his hands dirty.

“I don’t class myself as a boss really. I just class myself as one of the guys working here.

It’s nothing for me to get out there and drive a forklift or unload a truck,” he said.

“I was unloading a transport truck in the driveway once with a pair of jeans on and a potential customer came in and said ‘excuse me, can you show me where John Redmond is?’ and I said ‘you’re looking at him’. He expected a guy in a suit, but I don’t like wearing them. I wear them to the football, and that’s about it.”

Last year was a turning point for Redmond Repetition Engineers, with the company going back to basics to recover from the Global Financial Crisis.

“We made the company grow, sometimes too fast,” he admitted.

“I think when a recession hits, it pulls you back to the basics of what you were doing right 10 years ago, and you reassess everything in your life.”

When the recession hit, the company went to a 38-hour, four-day week to cut operating costs and retain the entire workforce.

It’s a lesson learnt the hard way, but learnt nonetheless.

“I think in all facets of business, the four magic words – endurance, sacrifice, mateship and courage – comes into it,” he said.

“You need endurance to stay in business, you need to make sacrifices, which is your family, the mateship is the mates that stick with you in the tough times and support you when there’s a recession, and the courage and the balls to just get out and have a go.”

And there’s no signs of slowing down, with Mr Redmond saying there wasn’t “a hope in hell that I could retire”.

The proof is in the pudding. Five years ago, Mr Redmond announced he would take Fridays off work and spend some quality time with his wife. That lasted two weeks. [BW]

“

I don’t class my myself really. as a boss really myself I just class mys guys as one of the g working here…

Redmond Repetition Engineers owner John Redmond at his Hoppers Crossing plant.

483355-SH24-10

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

Tabcorp Park officially became Victoria’s home of metropolitan harness racing when it hosted its first TAB fixture on 5 July 2009.

MELTON ON A WINNER

The racetrack is 1040 metres in circumference and is the largest TAB track in Victoria.

The track has the nation’s highest camber on its turns at 14 per cent, which reduces the stress on horses’ legs, in turn reducing injuries, prolonging race horse careers and promoting speed.

Three-year-old pacing filly Jordan Ashleigh, trained by Melton-based Maree Caldow and driven by her husband John, was the first horse to win a race at the venue.

The racetrack is serviced and maintained by A-Class recycled water, pumped to the venue from Western Water’s recycled water plant seven kilometres down the road.

Tabcorp Park General Manager Joe Ivific looks out over the new track.

Picture: SARAH MATRAY

BY CHARLENE GATT MELTON’S Tabcorp Park is racing ahead of the competition, with expansion plans announced less than a year after opening to the public.

The state-of-the art racetrack, hotel and entertainment facility will continue to grow with the recent announcements of an 87hectare boom precinct and a new $2.6 million multipurpose facility to be built this year.

Harness Racing Victoria has entered into a joint venture with the Melton Shire Council and Ecnam properties to develop the 87 hectares of land abutting the Tabcorp Park venue into a mix of residential, commercial and retail components.

A school or TAFE is also being considered to attract more people to Melton. The HRV will work with the local community to come up with the right mix for the mammoth development.

Meanwhile, the multipurpose building will be located on the hill adjacent to the venue’s winning post and will include a 250-seat café for race night dining and a Sky studio for oncourse presenters.

The cafe will provide cheaper sitdown

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BUSINESS WEST

dining options to the existing 300-seat bistro.

Construction will begin in next month, and the new facility will be ready in time for December’s SEWEurodrive Victoria Cup Carnival.

The State Government is providing $2.34 million towards the project, with Harness Racing Victoria paying the balance.

Tabcorp Park General Manager Joe Ivific said there was strong demand for the cafe, with the existing bistro booked out every race night.

Mr Ivific, who was the project manager for the Tabcorp Park development, said the venue drew in about 2000 punters on an average Friday night race night since racing commenced at the 1040-metre track in July last year.

Tabcorp Park, which spans over a 25-hectare block, also boasts a 41-room four-star hotel, function and conference rooms, bistro, sports bar, TAB and 80-machine gaming room.

The decision to turn Melton into the metropolitan home of harness racing proved

an easy one for Harness Racing Victoria, with 22 per cent of Victoria’s horse population from that area – the state’s highest proportion of harness racing horses.

“We brought the racetrack to the centre of harness racing,” Mr Ivific said.

Now the challenge is to grow.

The venue currently plays hosts to a range of functions, tribute and cabaret shows and is set to become a venue for exhibitions and shows.

In September, Tabcorp Park will host a wedding expo, and Victoria’s Annual Olive Festival is locked in for November.

“We don’t want to be Meltoncentric, we want to cover the western side of Melbourne,” Mr Ivific said.

“We’re only a year old, and it’s hard to drag people away from where they’re used to (staging functions).

“One of our greatest deficiencies is that we don’t have public transport to the venue in any form.”

But that too is set to change, with a new train station earmarked for Ferris Road as part of the Toolern precinct structure plan. [BW]

(LR) Barbara Horn, Director of Operations Museum Victoria, and Ken Mirams, General Manager of Dow with the 1200 litre mobile water tank.

Picture: SARAH MATRAY.

DOW’S GOLDEN GIFT

BY CHARLENE GATT A JOINT rain harvesting project between Scienceworks and Dow Chemical Australia will reduce water wastage at the popular Spotswood museum.

Scienceworks has bought a 1200-litre mobile water tank to water the grounds thanks to a $50,000 grant from Dow Chemical Company, whose Australian headquarters are in Altona.

Tenders are also out for the installation of 40,000-litre above-ground rain water harvesting tank and a 9000-litre water collection tank for the runoff fire services water.

Scienceworks will also install a series of underground tanks that can store 80,000 litres of runoff water at the tail end of the project.

dialysis unit and to Laverton Secondary College to teach students about robotics.

active role in the development of sustainable water management practices.

Dow employs around 300 people across manufacturing sites in Altona and Geelong, and business centres in Altona, Camberwell and Sydney.

“There is an urgent need for world attention to focus on the vital importance of fresh water and on the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This includes making maximum use of rainwater harvesting and the adoption of sensible water using habits by all sectors of the community.”

It delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products.

On April 1 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide.

The Dow grant was part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations of operation in Australia.

“The water issue is a major thing for us and as part of our theme for contributions to science, energy and the environment, Scienceworks was a natural fit,” Dow General Manager Ken Mirams said.

The company has spent the last 12 months putting back into the community, and has also given donations to the Williamstown Hospital’s

“Scienceworks’ rain harvesting project allows us to not only support a community institution, but also to continue playing an

Musuem Victoria Director of Operations Barbara Horn said the funding would help Scienceworks utilise a lot of water saving initiatives.

Scienceworks attracted a record 530,000 visitors last year, thanks largely to its longrunning Star Wars exhibition.

The museum usually plays host to around 450,000 each year.

Ms Horn said the project is just one of the sustainability measures Scienceworks implements across its Spotswood premises.

The museum sources solar energy from its lightning room, holds a solar car challenge each year and has an interactive display on stormwater damage. [BW]

BUSINESS WEST

25

SMALL TALK CEO MARIBYRNONG City Council is searching for a new CEO after Kerry Thompson resigned the post last month to take up the CEO position at Wyndham City Council.

Ms Thompson finished up at Maribyrnong on 18 June and takes over from Wyndham’s acting CEO Bernie Cronin this month.

A council statement said Ms Thompson’s successor would be appointed following a rigorous selection process.

Harvester Technical College and will give year 11 students an Intermediate VCAL and a Certificate II in Sports and Recreation, and in year 12, a Senior VCAL and a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation.

The program is aimed at students looking for an early start to a career in sports administration, sports marketing, facility management or coaching.

Once completed, students will be qualified to enter the workforce or continue with further education.

Vince Haining, the council’s general manager of infrastructure services, has been appointed as acting CEO.

TRANSPORT

Ms Thompson was appointed to Maribyrnong in September 2003 on a five-year contract that was renewed in 2008.

CAROLINE Springs will get its first bus route next year as part of a $2.8 million public transport package for the North-West.

Before her appointment at Maribyrnong she worked at the City of Melbourne for four years as director of city assets and services and acting CEO. She has also held positions at the City of Geelong and Wyndham.

The new route, which will go from Watergardens train station to Rockbank Middle Road, will be introduced in early 2011 and will run until 9pm, seven days a week.

Last year, Ms Thompson was chosen to carry out a three-month secondment with the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority to help streamline joint relief efforts by the Federal, State and Local Governments.

Wyndham City Council has been searching for a new CEO since the Wyndham rates issue that saw the sacking of CEO Peter Marshall and the resignation of Director of Corporate Services Peter Gould.

SPORTWEST A NEW Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program aimed at sportsmad students will start this July at Victoria University.

SportWest VCAL, a joint initiative between VU and the Western Bulldogs, is aimed at sporty year 11 students in the West as an alternative to traditional VCE. The program will commence at Sunshine’s

He is a current director of the Western Bulldogs and has an ongoing role as chair of the Federal Government’s Defence Strategic Reform Advisory Board.

Mr Pappas, who devotes about two days a week to the part-time role, is briefed every Tuesday morning on any issues surrounding the university, and works closely with Vice Chancellor Liz Harman.

“My vision for VU is the same as VU’s vision for VU. The set of values I have about education, and the importance of accessibility to all, the importance of excellence in what we offer, is in accord with what VU wants to do,” he said.

OLEX TOTTENHAM cabling company Olex is keeping busy making power cable for the Victorian desalination project six months after securing the $43 million contract.

Simplified bus routes and connections to Woodgrove Shopping Centre, Melton station and Melton Town Centre are also on the cards.

Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding visited Caldermeade recently to inspect works on the underground power supply, where 87 kilometres of underground power infrastructure has already been laid.

“Many of the existing bus services in the outer north-west date back to when the area had a much smaller population,” Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said.

Olex will supply about 225 of the overall 260 kilometres of copper cable required for the desalination project. The remaining 35 kilometres will come from Belgium.

“(We) will be introducing new and improved bus routes to cater for the transport needs of an area that has changed and grown significantly in the past few years.”

The copper cable will carry electricity to power the desalination plant through a new 87 kilometre underground transmission network from the plant site near Wonthaggi to Cranbourne.

CHANCELLOR GEORGE Pappas officially became Victoria University’s fourth-ever Chancellor in an installation ceremony recently.

Mr Pappas has wide ranging experience across the commercial, government and university sectors and is also well known for his contributions to the wider community, including his work with Monash University and Melbourne High School.

Olex will spend the rest of the year making the cables before jointing and commissioning them. The project is expected to run until April 2011.

The cabling used in the project will be the longest piece of cable in the world to handle a voltage of 220 kilovolts.

The cabling company was awarded the contract in November, securing 375 jobs.

The announcement came four months after 464532-SH24-10

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26

BUSINESS WEST

SMALL TALK the completion of a $20 million upgrade to the Tottenham plant, including a one-of-a-kind drum mover, new machinery, a new control system and upgrades to the Olex tower.

COMMUNITY GATEWAYS VICTORIA University has developed a mobile career counselling service that will give free study and employment advice to people in the West.

The Community Gateways outreach service was launched at Highpoint Shopping Centre recently after a six month pilot in neighbourhood houses, libraries, youth centres and shopping malls.

During the pilot, career counsellors offered free study and employment advice to over 400 people, including career changers, retirees, the unemployed, migrants and curious shoppers.

People interested in training or further education can receive information about courses offered by VU and other universities and institutions.

The service also includes a custom-made Community Gateways van that is set up as a state-of-the-art classroom.

The university has forged several partnerships with business, community and government organisations as part of the Gateways project.

The service has six weeks a year of rent-free mall space at Highpoint, and the Western Region Westpac Branch managers network will display Gateway information in its banks.

Victoria University Vice Chancellor Liz Harman said the initiative would eliminate the need for

people to go to university campuses to get career advice.

and 30 per cent of all land is either on the waterfront or golf course.

“It isn’t easy to go into a great big enterprise with 48,000 students and knock on the door and say ‘I need your help’,” she said.

Fifty per cent of the project is guaranteed open space, and the lake is twice as big as Albert Park Lake at 150 acres.

“The Gateway is about opening doors.”

SALTWATER SHIPYARD BAE Systems Australia (BAE) has begun work on the first of 36 models of the Royal Australian Navy’s three Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) at the Williamstown Naval Shipyard.

So far the $300 million project has created 400 jobs and cemented the shipyard’s reputation as Australia’s most qualified builder of naval vessel models.

Recent upgrades to the shipyard included a new large construction hall, automated panel line, robotic profile cutting line, and start-ofthe-art blast and paint facility.

SANCTUARY LAKES

THE first group of residents of Melbourne’s newest bayside community Saltwater Coast have received their land titles.

The 87 home lots are for Stage 1 of Saltwater Coast that first went on sale to the public in November 2008.

FKP has so far undertaken about $20 million of construction which began in June 2009.

Purchasers of Stage 2 and Stage 4 home lots are expected to receive their land titles over the next month.

An extensive upgrade of Point Cook Homestead Road is also expected to be finished over the next month.

SANCTUARY Lakes has brought forward its latest land release after the development sold a block of land a day on average this year.

Executive General Manager Residential Communities Evian Delfabbro said the offering was truly unique, providing a coastal lifestyle 20km from the CBD.

Land is now available on traditional lots and north-facing waterfront land at an average of $284,875.

“This is our biggest investment in Victoria to date and to see it start taking shape and for titles to be issued is very exciting,” he said.

Sanctuary Lakes Resort Real Estate Director Ruth Ritchie said future land releases were attracting a lot of market interest because of population growth, and its proximity to Melbourne.

Saltwater Coast Stage 10 Garden Square is currently on sale.

She said the last land release had six people camping out to get first choice.

The Sanctuary Lakes residents investment has more than 50 staff maintaining the manicured parks, lake, golf course surrounds and club services.

Club services include a clubhouse, café, restaurants, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, and 24 hour security.

The development started about 15 years ago

Prices start at $238,000 for land ranging from 400 to 887 square metres.

AWARDS SUNSHINE Hospital Comfort Care for Families Program’s special care nursery has been honoured in the 2010 Minister for Health Volunteer Awards.

The program has been running for more than eight years and consists of 12 specialist volunteers who provide comfort to babies by nursing, rocking and providing a soothing environment to settle infants.

Employers Protect Yourselves Now! ULLYING IN THE WORKPLACE is becoming an increasingly common workplace problem and if you don’t have the proper processes and procedures in place your business could be liable.

B

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BUSINESS WEST

27

FOR

RECIPE

SUCCESS

Family tradition… Tony Cavallaro prepares the pastry.

Picture: SARAH MATRAY

BY CHARLENE GATT FOOTSCRAY’S T Cavallaro and Sons is not just your average pasticceria, it’s an experience.

From its homely feel as a quaint European kitchen to the lovingly handmade cakes, biscotti and arguably the best canoli in Melbourne, the small shopfront in Hopkins Street has served people’s sweet tooths for the last 54 years.

Every person you see or talk to in store is a member of the Cavallaro family.

The Footscray institution all started with patriarch Tommaso Cavallaro and his wife Sarina, who had two pasticcerias in Lipari, Italy, before moving to Australia in 1949 and opening a bakery shortly after in their Yarraville home.

In 1956, the pair opened their first store in Footscray, and such was the popularity of their products they were commissioned by several Melbourne bakeries that year to supply food for the Melbourne Olympics.

In the early days, Tommaso, Sarina and their five children lived in a small area in the back of the shop.

all pretty even tempered and we get along really well,” Serfina said.

The Cavallaros and their sweets have become household names. Tony said customers have come from as far as Brisbane from word of mouth to taste their famous canoli, and they have customers from all over Melbourne.

The family was commissioned last year to make the cake for Footscray’s 150th birthday celebration, and also made a cake to celebrate the refurbishment of the Nicholson Street Mall. e uunchanged c a ged family a y The family says tthe recipes, made only by hand, and fresh he secret to their ingredients, are the success. hat prevents the It is this reason that ng the business family from expanding and opening another store. e by hand. You “Our work is done can do it by machine, but it’s not the same,” Carmelo said.

“You can’t be as particular as we are and expand,” Tony adds.

“We didn’t have a car and we didn’t need one – everything was next door, across the road or a short walk away,” son Tony said.

m extends Their perfectionism mportant to perhaps the most important cake anyone gets to choose – a wedding cake.

Tony and his older brother Carmelo have both worked behind the counter for much of their lives, along with their wives Serafina and Rosa, children and nieces and nephews.

dition It is a Cavallaro tradition that every member of the family has made their own.

Following their parents’ retirement, the brothers took over the shop and have never looked back.

stry “For us, as pastry chefs, when you get married, you want to ke. make your own cake.

“It’s not easy working with family, but we’re

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BUSINESS WEST

We’ve all been here (in the store) on the morning of our weddings putting the finishing touches on our cakes,” Tony said.

And do they ever get sick of eating their own cakes or canoli?

“Does it show?” Tony laughs, patting his belly.

“I’m a sucker for tasting things straight out of the fryer. We taste everything.”

Everything except rival canoli, that is…

[BW]

The family’s original hand-written recipe for canoli.

Q&A ESTELLA HUTCHINSON President Women in Business Network ESTELLA Hutchinson runs Wicked Nutrition, a mobile nutrition service that allows clients to be seen in their own homes or workplaces. Miss Hutchinson also offers a range of nutrition presentations for work and community groups.

She has run the business for the past three years. She has recently launched another business, Natural Business Consulting, which offers affordable business advice to new small and home-based businesses, specialising in complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. Miss Hutchinson took over from Michelle Micallef as the Women in Business Network president in March.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY As much as I would like to, I can’t! It is rare that I am doing the same thing two days in a row. Visiting clients takes a large part of my day as well as administration (marketing, bookkeeping etc). In addition my work day often starts or ends with a networking function – I may attend either for my own businesses or for the Women In Business Network.

WHAT WAS THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT BEHIND WICKED NUTRITION During the final years of my Nutritional Medicine degree (I studied part time while working full time, so it took 5 years) I started looking around at what was already in the market place and asked prospective clients their impressions. What I found is that there were always practitioners willing to tell you what you shouldn’t eat but very few who would focus on what you CAN eat.

So Wicked Nutrition is all about incorporating good nutrition into your life, rather than taking away the foods you love and leaving you feeling deprived or rebellious.

Estella Hutchinson Women in Business Network president Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

DO YOU FOLLOW YOUR OWN NUTRITION ADVICE Absolutely! It’s easy to follow my own advice because I focus on what you can eat, rather than what you can’t – so I know for example I can have a little bit of dark chocolate everyday!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER SUCCESS TO DATE Making the transition from working for a public service department (a safe, stable job) to running my own business where every day is different and has its own challenges.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER FAILURE TO DATE I don’t consider anything that happens in my life (working or personal) as a failure, everything is just an opportunity in disguise!

HOW DID THAT HELP YOU GROW AS A BUSINESS WOMAN I like to look for the opportunity in every situation – what can I learn about myself, about other people and business?

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORK I joined the network initially because I wanted to have more contact with other small and home business owners – so we could learn and develop together. There is a lot of isolation in home based business and the WIB Network is a great affordable way to meet other women in a similar situation. I joined the committee because I wanted to more actively contribute to the ongoing development of the Network.

IF YOU HAD TO INVITE FIVE PEOPLE TO A BUSINESS LUNCHEON, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY Justin Herald – I’ve followed Justin’s career since the days of Attitude Inc. (there was a time it was the only ‘label’ I wore!) and we have such a similar philosophy that I’d love to do lunch with him!

Michael E. Gerber – The E Myth gave me a great foundation to my business life and I’d like to thank him personally!

Quentin Bryce – She has such a wonderful career and I’d love to chat about the experiences and knowledge she has gained.

Robin Williams – Because lunch shouldn’t be taken too seriously, rather it should be enjoyed.

Charlene Gatt – Because someone has to pay the bill!

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS MANTRA Failure is never quite as frightening as regret. Evolve, change, move with whatever life gives you.

WICKED NUTRITION IS A HOME BASED BUSINESS. HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK, AND IS IT HARD TO SWITCH OFF AT THE END OF THE DAY It can be hard to switch off, especially when there have been some particularly interesting or challenging clients during the day!

I enjoy catching up with friends, in some ways they take the place of colleagues – I never expected to miss having work colleagues!

I also like to relax with yoga, walking a friends’ dog, swimming and trying out new hobbies like belly dancing!

BUSINESS WEST

29

STRATEGIES

BUSiNESS HAZARD CALLED

D-I-V-O-R-C-E MARRIAGE and relationship breakdown is a business hazard that many business owners do not factor into their business plan.

No one enters a relationship or marriage with the belief that it is going to end.

Relationship breakdown and divorce is an unfortunate reality for many couples.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there were 47,000 divorces granted in Australia in 2008 and the median length of marriage to divorce was 12.3 years.

With one in three marriages ending in divorce, individuals are now opting to protect their assets by entering into a Binding Financial Agreement.

A Binding Financial Agreement is a contract between two people irrespective of gender who are living together on a genuine domestic basis and want to formulate what will happen in the event of a relationship breakdown.

This agreement can be entered into by people who are intending on getting married, who live together in a de facto relationship or who are married, and whether or not they have children. There are a number of legal requirements that need to be met for the Binding Financial Agreement to be valid.

Business owners who enter a Binding Financial Agreement are being pro active rather than reactive in protecting their assets.

These agreements are for individuals who wish to rationally and fairly decide how their assets will be divided at a time when there is no conflict and less emotion involved.

Binding Financial Agreements are particularly useful in a situation where a party has a business, property or inheritance to protect. In the event of a relationship or marriage breakdown, a business will be considered to be an asset of the marriage and a valuation of the business would be required. This may mean that the business owner is required to borrow funds to pay out the other party.

Individuals who enter into a Binding Financial Agreement can avoid this situation.

Binding Financial Agreements may not be romantic but they are necessary if you want certainty in the event of a relationship breakdown and wish to protect the business they have worked so hard to build.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR JOANNE Randello heads the family law team and is a senior associate of Meerkin & Apel practising in Family Law disputes and litigation.

Joanne has extensive experience in complex property disputes and children’s matters. Joanne has particular expertise in agreements which protect assets prior to, and during cohabitation or marriage. Joanne is an advocate of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, such as mediation and often uses ADR to commercially resolve a dispute.

Meerkin & Apel’s offices are at 1st Floor, 215 Barkly St, Footscray.

Phone: 9689 8933

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BUSINESS WEST

THE CASE STUDY NIGEL and Gina marry in December 2000. They are both aged 40 and have a child aged 8 years.

Nigel runs a successful IT business and at the commencement of the marriage has assets (including his business) worth over $5 million.

Gina is a teacher on a modest income. Gina owns a property worth above $500,000.

After about 12 months, Nigel’s parents are tragically killed in a car accident. Nigel is the sole beneficiary of the estate worth about $1.5 million.

Nigel invests these funds into his business and is able to expand his business considerably. After about 10 years of marriage, Nigel and Gina separate and Gina issues proceedings in the Family Court seeking spousal maintenance and a property settlement.

Gina is seeking that Nigel’s business and other assets are valued so that the court can make a final order regarding a property settlement.

Nigel is now faced with the prospect of costly and protracted litigation. After working so hard to build up his business, Nigel questions why he is in this situation.

Nigel may have avoided the unnecessary expense of family court proceedings by entering into a Binding Financial Agreement with Gina.

Nigel would have preferred to work out privately and carefully how assets would be dealt with instead of now being involved in Family Court proceedings.

STRATEGIES

eight

TAX TIPS

TO HELP YOU!

1. WRITE OFF BAD DEBTS Often in business work has been invoiced to customers and has yet to be received.

While this in itself creates cash flow for the business, it is further compounded by the fact that the business has paid income tax and GST on the amount invoiced. It is therefore important for businesses to review their accounts receivable (debtors) lists before June 30, to write off any bad debts from customers.

To qualify as a bad debt, there must be no reasonable likelihood that the debt will be recovered. If, after writing off the bad debt, it is recovered, the amount must be treated as taxable income in the year it is received.

2. BRINGING FORWARD EXPENSES Businesses should consider bringing forward expenditure to claim the tax deduction in the current year. Some expenditure such as stationery, subscriptions and rates can be brought forward. While other expenditure is subject to the prepayment rules, which mean that the expense is written off over the period it relates to.

For small businesses, those that have less than $2 million in sales can prepay expenses for up to 12 months. For example a small business can prepay their interest on their loan at or before June for the next 12 months and obtain a tax deduction in the current financial year.

3. PURCHASING PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND OTHER DEPRECIABLE ASSETS Businesses that purchase plant & equipment and other depreciable assets such as motor vehicles or office equipment, should be aware that the tax deduction obtained is claimed over the effective life of that asset. Only those assets which are deemed to have an effective life of less than 12 months can be claimed as a tax deduction in the year they are paid.

For small businesses however assets costing less than $1,000 can be claimed in the current financial year if purchased before 30 June. The recent federal budget has proposed that this amount be increased to $5,000 by 2012.

4. REVIEW PRIVATE USE OF COMPANY ASSETS AND LOANS The Government has recently introduced legislation expanding the effect of section 7A of the Income Tax Act. Existing rules apply to private loans and have the effect of loans being treated as income to individuals. New rules relate to the private use of company assets by individuals.

The change means assets owned by a company, available for use and under the control of an individual may create a benefit which will be deemed as a payment to an individual in much the same way as a private loan.

5. PAYING SUPERANNUATION BY 30 JUNE Employers can only claim a deduction for superannuation contributions in the financial year it is physically paid. It is therefore important for employers to pay their employees super before the end of the financial year to claim the deduction in the current year.

Employees and employers alike should also consider maximising their superannuation contributions before 30 June which can reduce their overall tax liability. Those thinking of contributing into super should be aware that there is an annual maximum that can be used to reduce their tax liability.

For those aged under 50 the maximum is $25,000 p.a. whilE those older can put in $50,000 p.a.

6. VALUE YOUR TRADING STOCK Businesses that have trading stock will need to value any stock on hand at year end. Most businesses would generally use the cost of the goods. However, if the market value of the stock on hand is lower than the cost of the goods, businesses may be able to use that value instead. The value of closing stock does not include GST for businesses registered for GST. 7. DISPOSE OF NON-PERFORMING INVESTMENTS Dispose of any nonperforming investments to take advantage of the capital loss. Use these funds to reinvest in more worthwhile areas. Losses can be offset against other capital gains, but taxpayers need to be

With the the end of financial year fast approaching, it is time for businesses to prepare and minimise their tax bill.

Fabio Cammarano has 8 tax tips for you to review and act on before 30 June 2010. mindful of the ATO’s warning against ‘wash sales’ where the asset is reacquired within a short period of time, solely to realise a capital gain.

8. TRANSFER BUSINESS PREMISES TO SUPER A small business owning premises through another structure could consider the transfer of their premises to a SMSF (Self Managed Super Fund). This may provide opportunities for the fund to borrow in order to acquire the premises and take advantage of Capital Gain Tax (CGT) concessions. The transfer could split between a contribution, borrowing and straight purchase.

FABIO CAMMARANO is a partner of Collins & Co. and heads up the Valuation & Forensic Accounting Division.

He specialises in tax advisory and valuation services for a wide variety of businesses, with a strong focus on the SME market.

He works with small and medium sized businesses ranging from $500K to $100M turnover.

Fabio can be contacted on 9680 1000 or fc@collinsco.com.au

BUSINESS WEST

31

STRATEGIES

LEADING TO THE FUTURE

BY ANTON MAYER LEADWEST, since its inception at the end of 2007, has taken on a leadership role across number of key issues identified as needing to be overcome if the western region of Melbourne is to fulfil its community aspirations. The key pillars for LeadWest’s agenda focus on: Education and skills, economic development and jobs, transport infrastructure, health and community development, environment and image along with tourism and the arts.

LeadWest has coordinated across the western region the development of a number of detailed submissions to Government, both Federal and State, on a number of strategic infrastructure imperatives such as Transport, broadband, education and health services, as well as holding a number of forums spotlighting significant issues for the West.

Some of the most important LeadWest submissions related to transport, including a

submission to the State Government regarding the East West Links Needs Assessment Report (Eddington Report) and a submission to Infrastructure Australia in support of the State Government’s request for Federal funding from the Building Australia Fund for key elements of the Victorian Transport Plan.

As part of its response to the Eddington Report, LeadWest strongly advocated Government support for the electrification and duplication of the rail line from Sunshine to Melton and for the upgrade of stations and establishment of new stations on that line.

LeadWest’s submission to Infrastructure Australia gave strong support to the State’s application for Federal funding for the Regional Rail Link from Werribee to Melbourne, the Truck Action Plan in the inner West, the Westgate Bridge Alternative, the Metro Rail Tunnel from Footscray to Domain and eventually to Caulfield and the Melton Rail Upgrade.

In all of this activity, LeadWest worked closely with all interested parties in the West, in particular the Western Transport Alliance and our member Councils and nonCouncil members, so the West’s submissions represented, in large part, a unified approach.

This cooperative model with all significant stakeholders in the West is one which sets LeadWest apart from other regional advocacy bodies.

Going forward, the focus of LeadWest will be to support local jobs growth initiatives, supporting the newly established Local Employment Coordinator and Regional Development Australia network in the West.

Anton Mayer is CEO of LeadWest.

He can be contacted on 9317 5794 in Suite 209, 1 Thomas Holmes Street, Maribyrnong.

BIZ CONNECTIONS

BUSiNESS

BY THE BAY

Connecting people… Tanya Lacy

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BUSINESS WEST

BY CHARLENE GATT A NEW Hobsons Bay business group is creating opportunities for all businesses – from the big industrials to small businesses – to connect and share their expertise.

The Hobsons Bay Business Connections was launched in September 2009 and involves a group of local business-minded people creating a vibrant business network for Hobsons Bay. Under leadership team Dino Gulizia, John Dawson, Mark McIvor, Vicki Lauder and Tanya Lacy, the network aims to share ideas within the business community to make local businesses more successful.

The network held its first function, The Panel, in February, featuring winners of the recent Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards sharing tips and discussing what sets them apart from other businesses. About 65 business owners attended.

The first panel discussion featured Able Industries head Stephen Martyn , Geoff Tighe from El Zorro Transport, Craig Bennett from Quest and Elliot Daniel from restaurant Nosh@ Newport.

Ms Lacy, who runs leadership and enterprise solutions business Intercept, said the network worked the motto “locals sharing knowledge”.

“The more connection points you’ve got, the more business you’ve got,” she said.

“I don’t see it as work when you connect with people that want similar things. My natural thing is connecting people and I’ve made a whole life out of it.”

The connections have already started.

When Williamstown Primary School needed more chairs for its Big Picture workshop, Ms Lacy referred the school to Craig Bennett from Quest in Williamstown North, who was only too happy to help out.

The school in turn has referred Quest to other people.

“It’s great to be able to keep prosperity in the West,” Ms Lacy said.

But it’s just the start.

Ms Lacy said she hoped to get up regular Heels and Deals meetings, where business women get together to talk work.

She is also considering a possible mentor program and eventually hopes to expand Business Connections in the West once Hobsons Bay is up and running.

Star News Group is the media partner of the Hobsons Bay Business Connections and Leadership team. [BW]

AFTER HOURS

BULLDOG FRIENDLY BUSiNESS NETWORK

BREAKFAST 1

THE Western Bulldogs and Bulldogs Friendly Business presenting partner Westpac hosted its first networking function for season 2010 recently at Whitten Oval.

2

1. Mary Walker of Amante Jewellery and Anne Muir of Dreamtactics lifecoaching.

2. Joy McCormack, Embroiderme, Colin Shiel, WBP Property and Paul Burgess, Westpac Footscray.

Pictures: EMILY LANE 5. Dick Crocker and Paul Whyte of Geelong Galvanising.

3. Barry Hall, Bulldogs board member and John Wise of TJS Cleaning services.

3

4. Daniela Guertler of Westpac and Sandra AddisionZita of SAZ Just Makeup.

5

4

LEADWEST/BRIMBANK COUNCIL BUDGET

BREAKFAST STATE and federal politicians took to the stage for the LeadWest-Brimbank Council 2010-11 Federal and State budget breakfast briefing at Ultima Receptions in Keilor.

Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten and Roads Minister Tim Pallas discussed budgets before fielding questions from the 100-strong crowd.

Professor Elizabeth Harman, Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University, Katherine Cook, C.E.O of Western Health and Katherine Henderson, Regional Director of DEECD.

State Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas

Nik Tsardakis and Colin Twigg, both of the Committee for Wyndham.

BUSINESS WEST

33

AFTER HOURS

WYNDHAM BUSiNESS AWARDS

LAUNCH 1

2

3

1. Ryk Eksteen of Collins and Co, Amanda Newton of Negotiis and Ron Holman of Negotiis.

2. Craig James, Chief Economist Commonwealth Bank.

3. Hayley Armstrong of Dancemax and Karyn Foote of Prime Health Group.

WOMEN IN BUSiNESS NETWORK

Pictures: EMILY LANE

1

BREAKFAST FORTY female entrepreneurs breakfasted at the Youth Now office in Sunshine for the annual Women in Business Network Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day breakfast.

Brimbank City Council administrator Meredith Sussex AM discussed the re-development of Sunshine and how the suburb has changed, plus gave her opinion on where she thinks the West is headed in coming years.

Former Darlings Downunder owner, and 2009 Star Business Woman of the Year, Tania Avtarovski talked about the challenges of setting up her own business and officially launched her newest venture, The Business Mum Mentor.

1. (L-R) Tania Sacco - Youth Now, Janet Mastropasqua - Esems, Estella Hutchinson and Lavisha Kapoor - Women in Business Network, and Harriet Serafim - Star News Group.

2

3

2. Guest speaker Tania Avtarovski from The Business Mum Mentor.

3. Guest speaker Meredith Sussex AM, Administrator City of Brimbank.

34

BUSINESS WEST

Pictures: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

AFTER HOU HOURS

WERRIBEE BiZNET DINNER WYNDHAM business owners wined and dined at Sanctuary Lakes resort recently for the monthly Wyndham BizNet dinner meeting.

Lateral Insights founder Liz Blake was the guest speaker on the night and gave out tips for increasing employee engagement and job satisfaction.

The July BizNet dinner will be at the Werribee Racing Club on 13 July. Please see events calendar for more details.

1

1. John Higgins, from The Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide, Vonni Vaughn, and Cheryl Fernadez from Tracy the Placement People, at the Wyndham BizNet Dinner.

2. Alan Higgins of the Obi Group, and Bob Fairclough of Innovation Solutions Professionals.

3. Tracey Bradley of VIP Family Day Care, left, with Kerry Licheni and Rosemary Murphy of Two Together Book-keeping.

2

3

Pictures: EMILY LANE

ST ALBANS SECONDARY COLLEGE BUSiNESS

BREAKFAST

Students Emina Sinanovic and Kristina Sungovska, principal Kerrie Dowsley, Lou Gionfriddo from Tobin Brothers and student Ellen Martin.

BENDIGO BANK SEDDON BRANCH BIRTHDAY

(L-R): Board member Violet A Browne, Peter Bozovic and Noel Attard from Lorikeet Playgroup, and Kelly Powers Director.

BUSINESS WEST

35

BW NETWORK Business West Network – a growing directory of local businesses ready to do business with you.

You can join the Business West Network by registering online at www.starnewsgroup.com.au/ businesswest to make sure you receive your personal copy of Business West AND receive a free onetime 30-word listing for your business in a future edition.

ZAPHREN CREATIVE

MACGREGOR LOGISTICS

AROMA RELAX

50 Queensville Street, Kingsville 0416 268 959 www.zaphrencreative.blogspot.com

45-49 Vella Drive, Sunshine West 9312 7711

38 Central Parkway, Caroline Springs 0418 224 944

With 38 years of experience, MacGregor Logistics provide exceptional logistics services, specialising in food, wines and spirits.

Natural medicine practitioneraromatherapist concentrating on treating children and adults with physical, emotional and psychological issues with massage and the use of essential oils.

Zaphren Creative is a Melbournebased communications design studio that offers a holistic approach to marketing, from initial brief through to the printed or published material.

BILLIARD TABLES BY DESIGN Unit 6, 308 - 322 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 9369 8881 Custom design and traditional billiard tables/ bars. Repairs, renovations and removal specialists. Full range of accessories, table tennis, soccer, air hockey tables and darts.

DEBORAH SELLECK BRIDAL AND EVENING COUTURE 80 Charles Street, Seddon 9687 8493 Deborah Selleck Bridal and Evening Couture specialises in elegant one of a kind exquisite bridal and evening gowns. made from the finest imported fabrics. New ready to wear range now available.

QUEST WILLIAMSTOWN NORTH 115 Kororoit Creek Road, Williamstown 9393 9700 4-star serviced apartment accommodation located on the shores of Port Phillip Bay. Nightly, weekly, monthly and extended stay rates available.

WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL PO Box 197, Werribee 0459 069 162

Full range of bookkeeping services on MYOB and QuickBooks including accounts recievable, accounts payable, payroll, BAS completion, prepare file for accountant and training. Accounting Diploma Registered BAS Agent.

Facilitating the ongoing positive economic and cultural development of the Wyndham Region.

DIABETES EDUCATION TO ASSIST (DETA)

PO Box 3111, Caroline Springs 9360 5898

Diabetes consultancy.

23 Orange Street, Williamstown 0422 132 841 Bartercard is Australia’s Number one trade exchange offering members the ability to boost sales, cashflow and customer base.

We provide our clients with the best service, most integrity and greatest quality offered within the industry.

PO Box 4291, Hoppers Crossing 0418 355 300

526 Macarthur Street, Ballarat 0408 394 156

BARTERCARD MELBOURNE WEST/ GEELONG

32 Paringa Way, Burnside 0425 701 967

BOSZ CONSULTING SERVICES

YOUR BUSINESS ALLIANCE

Your Business Alliance provides professional sales and marketing services for small to medium businesses.

VERVE CONSTRUCTIONS PTY LTD

MELBOURNE WATER New Farm Road, Werribee 0418 518 025 Melbourne Water Healthy Waterways Program offers river health education to support the community, schools, and businesses to be actively involved in monitoring and protecting the health of our waterways.

SERVANIS I.T. PO Box 3102, Caroline Springs 83617226 Servanis-I.T. is your mobile on-demand information technology specialists when you need it, keeping your maintenance costs at an affordable level without the overhead of full time I.T. staff.

WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL PO Box 197, Werribee 0412 335 541 Wyndham City Council’s Economic Development Unit’s vision is to foster responsible business development, employment opportunities and promote Wyndham as a place to invest, live and recreate. For all investment and business enquiries please call (03)9742 0901.

Register to get your FREE copy of BUSiNESS WEST now!

Go to www.starnewsgroup.com.au/businesswest 36

BUSINESS WEST

BW NETWORK INNER CLARITY

T TRIPLE K LANDSCAPES PTY LTD

TRACY THE PLACEMENT PEOPLE

14 Robb Street, Essendon 0400 584 598

4 Elegan Court, Hillside 0409 539 065

17 Hall Street, Newport 8331 5000

Art and healing, creation from within, look to nature to connect to your inner nature.

I draw from the disciplines of kinesiology, massage and reflexology to acheive this philosophy.

We build beautiful gardens. All aspects, landscape design and construction Bobcat hire, concrete, paving, pools, pergolas, decking, stonework, real and fake lawns, tank and well systems, soil and pebbles, irrigation, ponds and water features.

The Tracy Group recruitment and placement specialists for all businesses and jobseekers.

Accredited training and education as well as temporary and permanent labour hire. The Tracy Group offer complete employment solutions.

NORTH WESTERN MELBOURNE SKILLS STORE

AUSTRADE

PO Box 2752, Melbourne 9655 4815 Skills Stores organises to have peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skills assessed to gain a formal qualification.

Recognising the skills and experience they have gained through work, volunteering and life skills.

EASON SECRETARIAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES PO Box 3007, Strathmore 9379 3844 Focus on your area of expertise while we do the administration for you. We can assist virtually or on-site.

FLORALEVENT 23 Grant St, Bacchus Marsh 0408 066 651 Florist and cafe specialising in weddings and events.

45 Princes Highway, Werribee 9742 0915 Austrade assists Australian businesses to export and facilitates inwards investment from overseas.

SUPREME OFFICE SOLUTIONS (SOS) 16/2 Techno Park Drive, Williamstown 9397 7780 We are a team of experienced, professional bookkeepers who provide bookkeeping services to small business. We is located in offices in Williamstown. Efficient service and reasonable rates.

KH CONVEYANCING Suite 1, 284 High Street, Melton 9971 0112 Whether buying or selling for the first time or a property enthusiast, I can assist you with all aspects of conveyancing necessary to get your property transactions settled smoothly.

METRO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 461 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn 9831 3000

QIC

Metro Property Management leading real estate business managing properties here there and everywhere. Our clients know us, like us and trust us.

399 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes 9361 5511

TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

Watergardens Town Centre Owner and manager of shopping centre with about 240 retail outlets.

83 Hannan Street, Williamstown 8398 0805 Websites that achieve more!

MINDSCOLLECTIVE PTY LTD KAOSDZINE Level 13, 200 Queen Street, Melbourne 8648 6545 We are an outsourced creative agency.

We help startups to midsize businesses to look professional to compete with confidence. We aggregate resources together from different countries to your needs, but specialise in graphic design, websites and marketing.

15 Shearwater Crescent, Maribyrnong 0412 016 106 We provide the latest and most effective personal development programs and coaching for parent, child and teen.

Focusing on developing emotional selfawareness to build greater self esteem and success in life. Increasing better performance in school, life and family relationships.

THE PROFIT FROG 12 Angelique Grove, Albanvale 0410 670 831 The Profit Frog focuses on growing business revenue without expensive advertising.

Drawing upon existing resources and assets, The Profit Frog structures unique marketing for profit growth within 90 days.

Register to get your FREE copy of BUSiNESS WEST now!

Go to www.starnewsgroup.com.au/businesswest BUSINESS WEST

37

BW NETWORK KENNARDS HIRE

INFOCUS WERRIBEE

SANCTUARY LAKES CLUB LIMITED

758A Princes Highway, Laverton North 9314 1511

22 Princes Highway, Werribee 8742 3344

Greg Norman Drive, Sanctuary Lakes 9394 9044

Kennards Hire are open 7 days; 7am-5pm.

Kennards supply for hire; tools plant and equipment for construction, maintenance and DIY. Kennards Traffic Management hire electronic message boards lighting towers and generators.

Infocus specialises in providing advice to individuals in the areas of wealth creation, debt reduction, mortgage management, retirement planning, superannuation and personal insurances (life insurance and income protection).

Sanctuary Lakes Club is a members golf club with magnificent facilities including a Greg Norman designed championship golf course, a driving range, a restaurant and bar, and a function centre that hosts up to 120 people. The hospitality facilities are open to the public.

COLLINS & CO

PARTNERS RETIREMENT PLANNING AND INVESTMENT ADVISORS

127 Paisley Street, Footscray 9680 1000 Collins & Co Accountants are the largest accounting firm in the Western suburbs, looking after small to medium sized businesses across Victoria, with a strong presence in the Western suburbs.

33 Glenferrie Road, Malvern 8508 7800 Partners is a financial planning and investment practice that works with clients and their accountants to achieve financial solutions that enables them to lead the lifestyles they choose.

CS CONSULTING GROUP 108 Watton Street, Werribee 9974 8333

PETER ROGOZIK PROPERTY CONSULTING

Strategic Business Advisors, specialising in accounting and taxation, business development, financial planning, lending and human resources.

Unit 2, No. 2 Berry Street, Yarraville 9689 9080 We offer a complete range of services exclusively for buyers of property. Our services include sourcing and evaluating properties, checking of contract, negotiation, investment analysis and property management.

PET GOODS DIRECT 31/428 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 8360 8995 From all the major brands of pet food to everything you will ever need for your dog, cat, bird, rabbit, tropical fish Pet Goods Direct has it all, we even stock products for horses and reptiles! Bring along your dog, pets are welcome in our stores. We also have an in-store veterinary clinic and professional dog grooming.

INDEPENDENT DISTILLERS 50 Swann Drive, Laverton 8369 0300 Independent Distillers manufactures, markets and sells a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for domestic and export markets.

MAB CORPORATION PTY LTD PO Box 7657 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 8681 2222 MAB Corporation is a privately owned, property development company that has been successfully operating since 1995.

With over $2 billion in projects including industirial and commercial land located in the western suburbs.

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY Footscray Park Campus, Ballarat Road, Footscray 9919 4011 VU is the primary university in Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West, with excellence across higher education and TAFE. Over 50,000 students study at campuses in Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West and CBD and partner sites overseas.

INTERCEPT (VICTORIA) PO Box 7265, St Kilda Road 9397 4697 Intercept is a leadership and enterprise solutions business. Established in 1996, we specialise in bringing the best out in individuals and teams. From SMEs to corporates, from CEOs to employees.

Register to get your FREE copy of BUSiNESS WEST now!

Go to www.starnewsgroup.com.au/businesswest 38

BUSINESS WEST

FOR YOUR DIARY

JULY Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1 2 3 4 Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn.

Round 14, MCG, 7.40pm.

Essendon vs Adelaide.

Round 14, Adelaide, 7.10pm.

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Western Bulldogs vs Carlton.

Round 15, Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm.

Essendon vs Melbourne.

Round 15, MCG, 2.10pm.

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Wyndham BizNet Dinner meeting.

Daryl Wilson and John Redmond guest speakers.

Werribee Racing Club.

6.30pm-9.30pm. Cost $25 for members, $45 for non-members.

Call Roma on 0418 533 806 to book.

Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide.

Round 16, Darwin, 7.10pm.

Essendon vs West Coast.

Round 16, Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm.

Responsible Service of Alcohol course.

East Keilor RSL. 9.30am-1pm. Cost $75.

Call 1300 665 633 to book.

How to handle your bank seminar. Wyndham Civic Centre. 6pm-8pm.

Cost $20. Call 9742 0916 to book.

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Secret Girls Business Expo. Moonee Valley Racing Club Celebrity Room. 7pm-late. Cost $57 before 9 July, $67 thereafter. To register, go to www.klassevents. com/events.php

Budget, Save and Spend workshop for 10 to 17 year olds. 43 Unitt St, Melton. 11am-12pm.

Cost $7. Call Sarah on 0408 611 454 to book.

Essendon vs North Melbourne.

Round 17, Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm.

26 27 28 29 30 31 Marketing Your Business in Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Environment.

Hobsons Bay Business Connections.

Altona Sports Club, 6pm.

Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle.

Round 17, Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm.

Got a business breakfast, workshop, seminar or event coming up in June and July? Make sure it is listed in Business Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s For Your Diary feature by emailing business.west@ starnewsgroup.com.au

BUSINESS WEST

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