Grow Magazine Autumn 2017

ISSUE

06

APRIL 2017

HIP TO BE

COOL New era for iconic spud growers ■ Will airport plans fly?

■ Digital survivors look to the future ■

CONTENTS: 8

Future is in good hands

14

Town thinks outside the box

16

Web design gurus

20

Q&A with Nadine Hutchins

26

Trucker does it her way

32

Home and Away

34

Calendar of events

EDITOR Narelle Coulter narelle.coulter@starnewsgroup.com. au Phone: 5945 0642

CASEY CARDINIA REGION Samantha Henderson shenderson@casey.vic.gov.au

ADVERTISING

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AIRPORT SPECULATION TAKES OFF

Andy Jukes andy.jukes@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

Will a second major airport for Melbourne ever take flight in the south east? Business operators and tourists in the region are keeping their fingers crossed.

Mark Dinnie mark.dinnie@starnewsgroup.com.au

DESIGN

grow.

Cnr Princes Hwy & Army Road Pakenham 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Produced and published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty. Ltd. ACN 005 848 108.

ALL ON BOARD AS GROW EXPANDS WELCOME to the sixth edition of Grow magazine.

Grow is a fresh, regional business publication which highlights the many innovative and positive developments occurring in industries across the booming Casey Cardinia Region.

Grow is a publication for businesses to communicate with each other. Need marketing advice? Need to beef up security? Need to know what the NBN means for you? Grow can help, thanks to expert contributors and advertisers who are committed to helping businesses and the region succeed.

In this issue of Grow meet the CEO and founder of Pakenham tech-business PaSME, which was recently voted among the 100 coolest companies in Australia.

Also in the tech-space are husband and wife team Sukhbir and Anne Mehla, who operate Zeemo from the Casey Business Hub in Narre Warren.

The couple and their staff are kept on their toes by the fast changing world of web design and social media.

Growing her business on both sides of Port Phillip Bay is Sproutwell founder Lisa Crowley whose greenhouse business is thriving in Officer and Geelong making her an AusMumpreneur award finalist.

Federation University has made a long-term

investment in the region, taking over the former Monash University site in Clyde Road, Berwick.

Doctor Soma Pillay talks to Grow about her passion for education and what businesses can expect from the next generation of graduates from the university’s business school.

Star News Group Trading Terms and Conditions can be found on www.starnewsgroup.com.au

Find an electronic version of grow. online at:

growcaseycardinia.com.au

There is also an update on the new jobs-generating rail depots in Cardinia Shire and business leaders talk to Grow about what an airport in the region would mean for the local economy.

ISSUE

06

APRIL 2017

On a lighter note, Highview Accounting principal Silvio Marinelli talks to Grow about his love of cricket, a very English game which spun up friendships to a kid from an Italian immigrant family.

To make sure you never miss an issue of Grow subcribe to the e-magazine at growcaseycardinia. com.au To advertise your business in Grow contact Andy Jukes on 5945 0666.

Have an interesting story to tell?

Email dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au or call 5945 0642.

Editor Narelle Coulter

HIP TO BE

COOL ■

■ New era for iconic spud growers ■ Will airport plans fly?

Digital survivors look to the future

COVER PaSME founder and CEO Daniel Lewis.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

grow.

3

Greg Plant and John Kelso have combined forces at Powerplant.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

NEW CHIEF IS SWITCHED ON

By Cam Lucadou-Wells NO ONE could describe Hallam electrical

contractor Powerplant Project Services’ latest coup as a shock.

But the stunning appointment of the prominent former AusNet national services manager John Kelso as Powerplant’s first-ever chief executive points to the company’s surging success.

Mr Kelso, with 38 years in the utility sector, said he was attracted to Powerplant by its culture and the fact that it was “going somewhere”.

Powerplant is in the early stages of “asset relocation and lighting design” for the Thompsons Road upgrade - having also won the contract to design lighting for the M1 widening project.

After the project, the company will design lighting for the freeway between Pakenham and Tullamarine – excepting the city tunnels.

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Other projects include street lighting and asset relocation for the Mernda rail extension and highway upgrade in Traralgon, as well as new residential estates and suburbs across the state.

Powerplant’s staff has grown sixfold to more than 50 in the past five years. Last year, it added more than 600 projects.

Mr Kelso said Powerplant was part of a growth area – providing infrastructure and services for utilities – at a time when utilities were downsizing and outsourcing.

“It’s an exciting time to come to the business,” Mr Kelso said.

“We’re looking also at how to bring in new local talent, such as through traineeships, as a way of regenerating and building up new skills.

“Success is driven by having the right people and having the right culture.”

Mr Kelso pointed to renewable solutions as a possible new frontier.

“Where I came from (in the utilities sector), they were doing quite a bit in trialling the renewables space.

“We’re working hard to take these new technologies and to add those to the intelligent infrastructure solutions we give our clients.”

Director Greg Plant used to work for Mr Kelso 25 years ago.

He said the new chief executive shared the company’s enthusiasm for grabbing new opportunities, and brought extensive leadership, credibility and detailed knowledge.

“We’re looking to develop the business to best serve those infrastructure needs in this (south-east Melbourne) region and across the state.

“We’re also considering new opportunities interstate.

“But despite this fantastic growth, we don’t lose sight of what’s important to people in this area.”

FIRM IS FEELING THE LOVE Keenly-fought foosball competitions, hug blocking and pirate days are as important to Pakenham company PaSME as KPIs, performance reviews and balance sheets.

By Narelle Coulter TUCKED away above a cafe in a Pakenham

industrial estate, PaSME was last year named one of Australia’s 100 coolest companies by Anthill magazine.

PaSME CEO Daniel Lewis, 30, is just as likely to instigate an impromptu foosball session as is his staff.

For Daniel and his team, cool goes beyond the physical. Cool is how a company lives and breathes, how it honours its core values and nurtures its internal culture.

“Cool needs to be lived,” said Daniel, who is also known as ‘The Honcho’.

“Our core values are to always be innovating, commit to excellence, ensure integrity, enable empowerment and always have fun.“ PaSME – Platform as a Service, Smart Membership Engagement – is an online software development company that helps membership-based organisations manage their databases.

When Grow visited the PaSME office the question ‘How will you show off your fun today?’ was scrawled on the front door.

The walls of the open plan office (critical when it comes to being cool) were decorated with other motivational sayings.

“On windows, on doors we make sure we are reminding everyone because it needs to be lived,” Daniel explained.

Staff have the choice of working at a desk or making themselves comfortable in other working spaces dotted around the office, such as the grey corner sofa, a particular favourite of marketing manager Lindsey Leigh Hobson who can often be found curled up there under a red blanket, laptop on her knee.

“I believe an open collaborative environment is critical for a business to survive,” Daniel said.

“You’ve got the modern corporate approach of segregating everyone into cubicles and it just stops that communication and collaboration. It’s distracting for everyone.“ A biochemist by training, Daniel was working for a corporate not-for-profit assisting large corporations systemise and improve their

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engagement with staff and clients when the idea for PaSME was born in 2010.

PaSME helps organisations understand who their members are, giving them a much better chance of ensuring they sign up again once their membership expires.

I BELIEVE AN OPEN COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT IS CRITICAL FOR A BUSINESS TO SURVIVE

According to Daniel some organisations are not even aware that they are churning through members and that they will eventually run out of new people to sign up.

until a business actually recognises that they’re not going to have the success they potentially could,” Daniel said.

“PaSME came about when we thought what if we built a system and platform for the masses. I could provide consultation and assistance on a large scale rather than oneon-one.

“They need to make sure, especially those with a subscription or membership model, they need to make sure their focus is actually on keeping them. Great to get 100 people in door, but if you are losing 110, the game is over.”

Born in Queensland, Daniel went to secondary school in Rye and Rosebud. He still plays The Last Post for the Rye RSL each Anzac Day. He now lives in Pakenham with wife Holly, who grew up in the area, and their two children.

Holly is the brains behind the PaSME’s theme days and quirky staff challenges.

She organises fortnightly team building activities such as last year’s hug your boss day.

Staff literally embraced the challenge to see who could land the most five-second hugs on The Honcho without getting “hug blocked”.

“Any time I stood up, someone would covertly try and get near me,” Daniel said, laughing.

Holly has also organised dress like a pirate day, tongue-twister day and jellybean day.

Each week the PaSME team expands their vocabulary with word of the week. When Grow visited the word of the week was snollygoster (a shrewd, unprincipled person).

“We also have staff birthdays and other celebrations. It’s about understanding the people behind a business. Staff are the most valuable asset within an organisation and

“A leader’s focus should be on the people because you are a leader of people, not of an organisation.

Away from the office, Daniel loves to gather family and friends around the table for an old-fashioned board game.

He has a “massive” collection of games.

Among this favourites are Betrayal, House on the Hill and Cards against Humanity.

Just don’t mention Monopoly - “That’s not a game!”

Back in the office, Daniel’s focus this year is on capital raising to solidify PaSME’s financial foundation and grow the business.

PaSME was one of the first organisations in the Casey Cardinia Region to raise capital, more than $75,000, through angel fundraising. Angel fund-raising relies on investors backing an idea or an intangible concept.

“That was a good injection into the company to get us started. From there we have grown to seven staff and the size we now are.”

However, it also led to one of Daniel’s most acute business disappointments when he engaged an external organisation to handle a next level seed fund-raising operation failed.

“After seven months they didn’t get us anything. External assistance is vital in a lot of instances but I think from that experience I’ve learnt that some things need to be done internally.

“Now I’m focused on doing it myself and I’ll have those consultants advising me rather than taking the reins.

PaSME CEO Daniel Lewis and marketing manager Lindsay Leigh Hobson.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

“Now I’m focused on doing it myself and I’ll have those consultants advising me rather than giving the reins to someone else.”

functionality into the system allowing it to be exported throughout the Asia Pacific region.

He is acutely aware that a leader must ensure an organisation can continue smoothly if he or she steps aside.

Daniel’s aim is to raise $1 million in new investment to allow PaSME to further develop its product, hire more staff and increase marketing and brand awareness. He hopes PaSME’s future is a global one.

“We’ve built it from the ground up with a multi-lingual component. There is still a lot more work we want to do there, but it’s going to be accessible to vast markets.“

“I know my strengths lie in the start up and systemisation and that’s what I love doing.

On a personal level Daniel doesn’t see his own future as necessarily tied long-term to PaSME.

12344238-ACM15-17

From the start Daniel and his team have focused on integrating multi-lingual

“ I know I will always love PaSME but it’s a matter of looking at what’s best for the organisation and its staff and the people behind it. If that’s not me in the driving seat I’m okay with that.”

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Dr Soma Pillay is helping mould the next generation of business leaders.

SECRET WEAPONS OF LEARNING Dr Soma Pillay, senior lecturer at Federation University’s Business School, has two secret weapons when it comes to keeping her students engaged - laughter and music.

By Narelle Coulter AWARE that the first year students studying at Federation Uni’s new Berwick campus are unlikely to appreciate her favourite ABBA or Bee Gees tunes, Dr Soma Pillay turned to her teenage daughters for advice.

“My daughter is deep into K-pop so I play K-pop and also 2016 Mashups, whatever that means,” Dr Pillay said, laughing.

Dr Pillay has a laugh that reminds me of pealing church bells.

“I’m so guided by them I tell you.”

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She reaches over to the computer in her office desk and types into Google ‘best Mashup 2017’.

“Is that the title of an album?” I ask.

“No idea,” she says, with another cascade of laughter.

“I do know that it works wonders. Who doesn’t listen to music, irrespective of the type of music. Who doesn’t tap their feet from time to time, whether it’s to ABBA or Mashup 2017. Music is an important element in our lives and laughter helps people feel comfortable.

“Something as simple as coming across as approachable is really important and I have to say laughter is an excellent tool to keep students engaged. Laughter and music.”

Dr Pillay is one of two academics heading up Federation Uni’s new Berwick campus business school.

The university is sharing the Berwick Campus with Monash University this year.

Federation Uni will take full control of the Clyde Road site from 2018.

Dr Pillay said she was excited to be part of the team working with students during the university’s inaugural year in Berwick.

education

I LOVE MY JOB AND I FEEL SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT I DO.

She said the school’s values of respect, diversity, ethical behaviour, courage, integrity and resilience influence what happens in the classroom.

“Our values underpin our culture and the way we do things. We are designing products and preparing students for the real world,” she explained.

“In our business degrees we’ve adopted a learning and teaching plan that incorporates real world dynamics. We’ve adopted an experiential approach to learning, learning by doing.

“I think that one of the most appealing features of our program is that we combine academic perspectives with a very strong practical focus which makes it highly appealing in that we have valuable, transferable skills.”

She said the business school had started consulting with local businesses to gauge employer expectations around graduate employees.

She hopes that in three years Federation Uni Berwick’s first crop of business graduates will be “job ready with in-demand skills” ready to contribute to businesses across the region.

Born and educated in South Africa, Dr Pillay’s first job in Australia was as a research assistant and sessional tutor at Monash’s Berwick campus.

She then worked for Swinburne, before rejoining Monash at its Gippsland campus.

She joined the academic staff at Federation University in 2014.

“In 2016 when I was offered an opportunity at the new Berwick campus I gladly jumped at it with much, much enthusiasm because I wanted to be part of the new campus and am extremely excited to be here with everyone else who is totally committed to the cause,” she said.

Dr Pillay is an enthusiastic exponent of the business school’s focus on preparing “job ready” graduates who are equipped to deal with real workplaces.

education

“They have indicated they want people who are job ready and who posses in-demand skills. Equally important they must be good team players. If you can’t get along people it makes life a bit difficult.”

year at university, the other in her third year, had opened her eyes to the challenges faced by “Generation I”.

“Being a mother of youngsters really opened my eyes to some of the dynamics students are having to grapple with.

“We have a very dynamic group of students these days. It’s not just Year 12s, it’s also mature-age students as well such as mothers who are now able to focus on study and preparing to get back into the workforce. We are having to grapple with the I generation sitting together with mature-age students who haven’t really been up with the technology.”

She said it was important students could approach academics for advice and one-onone support and has been heartened by the number of students who knocked on her door in first semester.

“Our students feel really relaxed and confident they can approach academics for that one-on-one support. It’s very important that academics are approachable.”

Dr Pillay said she appreciated her own daughters’ “honest advice“ which she had incorporated into her work.

“I often laugh at my own jokes and at home I practise my knock-knock jokes.

Dr Pillay encouraged Casey Cardinia Region businesses to get involved.

“I said to my daughters I would love to share my knock-knock jokes with my students. My younger daughter said ‘Mum, can I give you some advice? Make sure the jokes are either towards the end of the course or, if you’re going to see them again, wait until second semester.’ She was worried it could put them off so badly they won’t want to enrol in my course in semester two.”

“Local businesses have a strong contribution and play a significant role in this,” she said.

Dr Pillay tilts her head back and another peal of melodic laughter fills the room.

“It exposes students to the challenges of the real world. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to put into context what they have learnt in class.”

“I love my job and I feel so passionate about what I do.

From next year, business students will be able to participate in a industry placement program, with pathways and opportunities for paid on-the-job work experience.

Dr Pillay said her daughters, one in her first

“It’s an intrinsic motivator, engaging with our future leaders. Training and moulding them so they are prepared for the real world.”

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SPUD GROWERS HAVE EYE ON THE FUTURE More than 60 years after the company was founded, the Cerchiaro family has taken full control of iconic Cardinia Shire business Red Gem Growers and Packers.

By Narelle Coulter MANAGING director Guido Cerchiaro and

his son general manager Robert Cerchiaro achieved full ownership of the potato and onion growing business in December when they bought out their former partners.

Robert Cerchiaro said both he and Guido, who was a founding partner, were excited about the future.

“Taking our business into the new era as a father-and-son team won’t be easy, fresh produce is never easy, it isn’t simple, but it’s what we know and love,” Mr Cerchiaro said.

“We believe we have the support from our existing staff, suppliers, growers and customers to continue the success.

“We have a rich history which can now be safely continued as a result of this buyout.”

The deal was clinched with the help of NAB’s Agribusiness Division.

Bank executives, including Sydney-based General Manager of Agribusiness Khan Horne, visited Red Gem’s Nar Nar Goon headquarters on 21 February to inspect the growing and packing operation.

They met with Guido Cerchiaro who outlined growth plans for the business. Robert was in Singapore at the time negotiating new Asian markets for Red Gem’s produce.

Briefing the executives on the company’s history and plans for the future, Guido Cerchiaro joked that when Robert showed him his wish list “I got a shock”.

Projects on the list included a new cool room at Nar Nar Goon, developing another 1000 acres at its Hillston farm and purchasing a state-of-the-art X-ray machine for more precise potato grading.

Robert Cerchiaro said Red Gem, which was established in the 1950s, was now a national operation and leader in fresh potato and onion supply domestically and for export.

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The company’s 48 equivalent full-time staff handle 20,000 tonnes of fresh produce annually.

“Business and fresh produce waits for no-one and it’s a race against the clock every day to get our produce from the farms to the store in the shortest and most efficient amount of time,” he said.

Red Gem supplies its renowned Sifra potato, marketed as Creme Royale, exclusively to Coles, the company’s largest customer.

The Creme Royale, along with the Mozart, are Red Gem’s biggest sellers.

“In 2017 Coles supermarkets are our largest customer but every customer large or small is crucial to the success of our business.

“We thank them all for their continued support,” Robert Cerchiaro said.

“Our potato varieties emanate from one of the world’s largest potato breeders which need to translate into commercial viability and value for the consumer and viability for our growing operations.

“Today, without any doubt, we have some of Australia’s best performing varieties being grown, sold and eaten.

“Our latest products include Red Gem sweet potatoes and washed potato pillow pre-packs and baking jacket potato trays as a meal solution for today’s contemporary consumers.”

Mr Cerchiaro said the buyout had ensured the future of the company’s workforce and its suppliers, and that he was confident that the benefits would flow on to the community.

“We now plan to reinvest heavily in our supply chain from our farms to our pack house. We look forward to engaging the local community as we strive for future success.”

NAB regional agribusiness manager for south-east Victoria Nick Davison said the bank was pleased to help Red Gem move to the next level.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WE STRIVE FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. He said Red Gem’s success to date had required a capacity to adapt to changing consumer demands plus the constant variables of the season.

“Red Gem is a strong local employer who also supports local and interstate growers – there are clear aspirations to continue to develop local and export opportunities,” Mr Davison said.

“NAB is proud to have a strong working relationship with Red Gem and looks forward to working closely with Guido and Robert Cerchario as they take Red Gem into the next phase of the business.”

He said Mr Horne had visited the Gippsland area numerous times and was optimistic about the growth of agriculture in the area.

Red Gem’s financial officer Michael Ryan said the NAB team did “a tremendous job” organising a package of finance to allow the complicated buyout to proceed smoothly.

“I couldn’t give them a bigger wrap in how they assisted with this transaction,” Mr Ryan said.

“This is a significant change. Now the business has a stable platform going forward.”

As he proudly showed the NAB executives around the Nar Nar Goon operation, Guido Cerchiaro said delightedly: “We’ve done a deal. You are part of the family now”.

Inspecting Red Gem’s Nar Nar Goon operation, from left, NAB Agibusiness manager Michael O’Keeffe, produce manager Travis Hibbert, owner Guido Cerchiaro and Agribusiness analyst Alex Fraser. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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MENTORING TO REAP SUCCESS Your Business Success 7 Step Process.

LATENT value in a business can be unlocked,

thanks to the intensive Your Business Success group coaching program.

The “powerful” 12-month business coaching program is being offered for the first time in the Casey Cardinia Region.

Katch Business Solutions and New Era Management Services are certified MAUS business partners that specialise in helping small to medium businesses achieve their full potential.

Behind the program are husband and wife team Tracie and Ken Hanvey, owners of Katch Business Solutions and Peter Smith, owner of New Era Management Services.

The trio specialise in business management, strategy implementation, financial management, brand management and marketing, retail and wholesale strategies, logistics and business systemisation.

They have joined forces to offer the course, which starts in May, to get businesses “re-inspired and re-invigorated”.

“The course is for businesses looking to invest in themselves and their organisation.

People who want to take the next step with a program that has evolved over the past 20 years,” Peter said.

“We’re looking at businesses in the small to medium category who have experienced success and are now looking to take it to the next level,” Ken said.

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“We’re encouraging owners to bring a key staff member with them. We are trying to attract people who are motivated and want to get their teeth stuck into something substantial.”

The course is limited to 10 businesses per session. Participants will meet for two and half hours each month for structured coursework, mentoring and problem solving.

Individual businesses will develop and identify outcomes, and will be presented with problem solving opportunities and a regular review of their business plan.

“At the end of 12 months, businesses that have successfully completed the program will have developed a detailed strategic plan,” explained Ken. “They will have done the work around systemising their plan. At the end of it, they are ready to go. They’ve got a plan, they’ve got the tools to measure the plan. These are real, tangible outcomes.”

Participants also have access to the MAUS cloud-based software for up to 10 users.

“There are plenty of business coaches out there,” Tracie said.

“The point of difference is that we have the MAUS platform which gives our clients the tools in a centralised location.”

The course also gives participants the opportunity to network with other businesses, and at the end of 12 months

the coaching team offer ongoing mentoring.

For those who can’t sign up for the full 12 months course, a series of half day seminars covering many of the topics covered in the full course are in development. The half day seminars offer one or more of the Your Business Success Group Coaching 7 steps in a smaller, less formal setting where the emphasis is on addressing one off immediate concerns and gaining some quick wins.

Participation for businesses in regional Victoria is offered via webinar.

Ken hopes the program will leave participants with a new-found passion for their business.

“I discovered that when you run your own business, the thing that leaves you quickly is the reason you got into business in the first place, your passion. It just becomes a job.

I’d hope we can reinvigorate people. If they could rediscover their passion, I reckon that would be a wonderful outcome.”

“It’s Australian based which is appropriate to the local economy. I believe in it and I know it works,” added Peter.

“It is powerful and it has been tested.

It works.”

The Your Business Success group coaching program starts on Tuesday 23 May at Settlers Run Golf Course, Cranbourne South. Contact Ken Hanvey on 0419 526 677 or Peter Smith on 0427 841 096.

Business coaches Ken and Tracie Hanvey and, seated behind, Peter Smith.

12340849-LB15-17

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New Era Management Services in conjunction with Katch Business Solutions is very excited to announce the formalisation of its Your Business Success Group Coaching partnership in Melbourne’s South East.

The partnership adds value to a comprehensive business improvement program developed over 20 years that combines the latest cloud based tools, templates and techniques with a suite of customised support services.

What your investment in the Group Coaching Program means for your Business.

Be mentored through our 12 month Group Coaching Program.

Learn from others who have real world experience. Take your business to the next level.

If you are planning on an expansion, want to tap into new markets or just grow your business and be more profitable in new and exciting ways then you should join this innovative program.

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Book now and receive a 40% discount. Sign up at neweramanagement.com.au/ybs-group-coaching Or call now to register: 0427 841 096 The program comes with a 100% money back guarantee.

Course In-Take: Next Group Coaching closes 30 April, 2017

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THE IDEAS THAT FLOW OUT OF THE BUSINESS GROUP MEETINGS ARE THINGS LIKE HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE INTO LANG LANG?

EVERYBODY NEEDS GOOD NEIGHBOURS How to keep shoppers spending money in their small town has prompted the Lang Lang Business Group to think outside the square.

By Rebecca Skilton THE survival of small towns depends on a revolving circle of community engagement.

That’s the notion that the Lang Lang Business Group has embraced to ensure its small town remains alive and thriving in a time of expansive growth across the Casey Cardinia Region.

Nestled within a short distance of Kooweerup, Pearcedale and Pakenham, the country town of Lang Lang can often be overlooked by shoppers seeking their weekly groceries or a birthday present for that special someone.

But as Lang Lang Business Group secretary and executive officer of the Lang Lang Community Bank Laura McBride explained, with 19 stores available, locals have no need to go anywhere else in search of their shopping, and it’s the role of the town’s business group to keep that communitybusiness engagement alive and well.

“The ideas that flow out of the business group meetings are things like how do we get people into Lang Lang?” Laura explained.

“After the newsagents closed down everyone was saying: ‘Oh no, why?’ We need to put the ownership back on everyone and say, ‘That’s why we need to shop here, that’s why we need to shop local’. Every shop here is locally owned – It’s only going to go back into the community. It’s a revolving circle.”

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While the business group has already implemented a number of initiatives to maintain a healthy business precinct in Lang Lang, the lead-up to Christmas 2016 saw the group introduce a new campaign; the first of its kind in the area: The Shop for 5 Campaign.

“The Shop for 5 Campaign concept was: how do we engage the locals to shop locally?”

Laura explained.

“How do we encourage local shopping as opposed to people going down to Kooweerup? Koowee has Woolworths so sometimes it can be more favourable to go down there, so basically it was what we could do in our town to entice people to stay here.”

The campaign was simple. When shoppers spent over $5 within a Lang Lang retailer, they received a stamp on a Shop for 5 loyalty card. Shoppers had to collect five stamps at five different retailers in order to fill their cards, which were then put into a draw at the local IGA. On 14 December, Laura drew our 25 winners who each received a $50 voucher to spend at any Lang Lang retailer.

“To get five stamps, if you went to the bakery to get your bread, the milkbar to get your milk, and then you went over and got your groceries at IGA, your feed from Larmax and get your hair done, it added up,” Laura said.

“We had 184 valid entries. It didn’t seem like a lot when we (saw) it, but it worked out to be

920 local individual shops of a minimum of $5 each. Over a month, that was $5,000 worth of shopping done locally.”

With the campaign completely funded by the Lang Lang Community Bank, the operation came at no cost to individual businesses.

Every business approached participated, allowing invaluable insight into the workings of the Lang Lang community and the importance of local shopping.

“The core of all our vouchers were spent at IGA, but many were spent down at the newsagents before it closed up. Others were spent over at Auntie’s Place buying presents (or at) the pharmacy, so they were used at a variety of different places for a variety of different reasons,” Laura explained.

However, despite engaging just over 10 per cent of the Lang Lang community through the campaign, the efforts made by the business group are seen as a learning curve, with similar operations in the works for the Lang Lang community.

“People are coming to Lang Lang to be a part of what we’ve got here,” Laura said. “It’s our job to engage the businesses and people that are here to continue that country town feel.

“I think it’s a mission, there’s a lot more work to go,” Laura said. “But (the campaign) is a step in the right direction.”

IT’S OUR JOB TO ENGAGE THE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TO CONTINUE THAT COUNTRY TOWN FEEL…

Robin Elijah of the Lang Lang Post Office, executive officer of the Lang Lang Bendigo Community Bank Laura McBride, and Ben Mulcahy of Lang Lang’s Mulcahy’s Meat Showcase.

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Husband and wife team Sukhbir and Anne Mehla.

ZEEMO DOES IT THEIR WAY When entrepreneur Sukhbir Mehla started his web design business while completing his MBA 15 years ago, he was commonly asked questions like what was a website and what was email?

By Narelle Coulter “TODAY a well-designed, interactive,

website is great. But a lot of businesses have those now. Engaging content and creative marketing strategies are what will help deliver your business message clearly to your target audience and make an impact,” Sukhbir said.

Sukhbir and his wife Anne are the brains behind Zeemo, a marketing and web design business located in Narre Warren.

“With changes in consumer behaviour came the need for more innovative ways of marketing a business. Standing out from the crowd became critical for business survival.

Zeemo has continued to evolve with these changes to ensure the businesses we help better engage with their customers,” Sukhbir explained.

What started as predominantly a website

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design and development business has expanded to include content strategies, photography, creative branding, marketing collateral such as brochures, and eNewsletters.

because we have two young children. During the week work can extend into the evenings if required but I think we’ve been able to find a great work-life balance. Being able to switch off is extremely important,” Anne said.

Zeemo’s client base is varied from a gardening superstore to a book publisher, pool builder and furniture retailer.

What also helped the family’s work-life balance was relocating the Zeemo office from Clayton to Narre Warren.

“I like to call it a bag of allsorts,” Anne said, laughing.

“We live in Upper Beaconsfield and travelling so far to work each day meant we were wasting a lot of time on the Monash car park,” said Anne.

“It’s great for me, being a creative person.

I like the challenges different industries present.”

While Anne is the creative engine, Sukhbir is focused on brand development.

The couple work well together in their different roles and try not to take work home with them.

“We dedicate our weekends to family time

Since starting in 2002, Zeemo has developed a loyal client base all over Australia. The couple believe their customer loyalty comes as a direct result of Zeemo’s ongoing, innovative approach to finding new ways of connecting businesses with their target audience.

Anne has started attending the networking breakfasts organised by the Casey Cardinia

Business Group and went to last year’s women in business luncheon.

“It’s really nice to get involved. You start to see a lot of familiar faces and it’s a great opportunity to understand the challenges that other business owners are facing.”

Giving back to the community is also important to the couple. Last year Zeemo donated its services to not-for-profit start-up SleepBus. “We decided it was a really worthy cause to put ourselves behind. So we donated our time and resources to this project. We helped develop their brand identity and a fully responsive website, with all the bells and whistles,” Anne said.

“We’ve been really fortunate to get to where we are today and we recognise that sometimes other companies need that helping hand to get off the ground. It was a really uplifting experience.”

Sukhbir is proud that Zeemo has withstood the tests of time and puts that down to building relationships and listening to his clients’ needs.

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“Building strong relationships comes from giving the right advice. We always recommend services to clients that we believe will help them overcome the challenges they are facing as a business.

I think that’s one thing we’ve done successfully since day one.“

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SKY’S THE LIMIT Will a second major airport for Melbourne ever take flight in the south east? Business operators and tourists in the region are keeping their fingers crossed.

By Bonny Burrows INTERNATIONAL exportation, a world full of customers and endless possibilities are on the cards should a South-East Melbourne airport materialise.

Council and businesses alike are getting excited about the opportunities an airport in this region would bring.

While not yet set in concrete, a push for the airport to be built in Kooweerup is gaining momentum, with multi-level government support and international interest.

Melbourne-based businessman Alande Mustafi Safi was recently in Dubai talking with interested parties who had said they wanted to own an airport in Melbourne’s south-east.

The Victorian Government has also eyed an airport for Melbourne’s south-east since 2002, and its 2013 population growth blueprint Plan Melbourne contains “early planning works” for the development in the case one was needed and private investment secured.

Gerard Kennedy, a director of Mr Safi’s Paragon Business Group, said the time was now- demand was here and investors were interested.

The news has got businesses and residents optimistic the long-awaited project will come to fruition.

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If approved, the facility could rival Tullamarine, servicing up to 5.1 million domestic passenger movements annually and creating more than 6000 ongoing jobs and an additional 1000-plus during construction.

Jobs could boom and local businesses grow beyond belief; tourism has the potential to skyrocket.

Tynong apple producer Nine Mile Fresh co-owner Rob Thompson said a local airport would be of great benefit to the company.

“As our business expands to include more and more export and the city becomes harder and harder to cross, our business can only benefit from the creation of a new airport facility,” Mr Thompson said.

Lynbrook manufacture Worldpoly – a leading producer of welding machinerydescribed a local airport as a great idea, and one which would have a string of benefits for local business.

Nine Mile has been supplying Coles supermarkets across the country with fresh produce for the past 25 years.

“We frequently utilise airfreight to supply spare parts to clients in remote and regional areas, and not having to get these across to Tullamarine would decrease transit times significantly,” Worldpoly marketing manager Nikita Hall said.

An airport would allow further exportation and business growth, Mr Thompson said.

Ms Hall said employees frequently travelled to regional areas interstate for meetings

COUNCIL AND BUSINESSES ALIKE ARE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AN AIRPORT IN THIS REGION WOULD BRING

Interest is growing for an airport at Kooweerup.

“and an airport out this side of town would be a huge encouragement for us to go on these trips more often”.

the region and in protecting Melbourne’s liveability and competitiveness,” Councillor Owen said.

“The thought of having to drive all the way to Tullamarine or Avalon is enough to make us reconsider the need to travel these days,” Ms Hall said.

“Possible benefits include boosting tourism by delivering millions of passengers annually to the doorstep of Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland, helping to unlock the potential of the region’s fresh food and agricultural industrials to new and emerging markets and opening new opportunities and delivering significant efficiency gains for local export businesses.”

Cardinia Shire Council is also optimistic the project could take off.

Mayor Brett Owen said a Kooweerup airport had the potential to deliver “significant” economic and social benefits to the shire and broader areas.

“Cardinia Shire Council believes the development of a south east Melbourne airport will be essential in supporting population and employment growth in

COUNCIL AND BUSINESSES ALIKE ARE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AN AIRPORT IN THIS REGION WOULD BRING

Gerard Kennedy said investors wanted to build an airport.

Mr Kennedy said that financial investment might not be around the corner, but it was something he was confident would occur.

“Someone will fund it if the Middle East doesn’t – it’s not a new idea,” Mr Kennedy said.

Apples could be just one of the fresh products freighted around Australia from a south east based airport.

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Q&A: NADINE HUTCHINS visiting them. If we can convince them to visit local businesses and attractions it will grow our businesses and create additional jobs in the region.

What has been your biggest career success to date?

I don’t have a ‘biggest’ career success really … just lots of ‘wins’ along the way. Something that I am very proud of is the growth in passenger numbers at Puffing Billy since becoming marketing manager in 2008. In my first year 250,500 passengers travelled on Puffing Billy compared to 417,155 in the 2015’16 FY – that’s an increase of 66 per cent. This financial year we’re expecting 470,000 which would be an 87 per cent increase from when I first started. The challenge now is making sure we can cater to this increased demand and ensure everyone goes home with a smile on their face!

Nadine Hutchins is the marketing manager for Puffing Billy Railway. It is her job to promote the iconic tourist attraction at home and abroad.

Nadine shares her working day and how she likes to let off steam away from the office.

Describe a typical working day?

No day is the same. It will be a combination of internal and external meetings, report writing, heaps of time responding to emails, hosting tour operators and film crews and of course keeping abreast of all Puffing Billy’s marketing and event developments. I’m also involved in various tourism groups such as chair of the Casey Cardinia Tourism Advisory Committee, chair of Casey Cardinia Tourism as well as a member of the Attractions Policy Committee for the Victoria Tourism Industry Council, hence all the meetings!

What are your impressions of the Casey Cardinia Region from a business perspective?

Dynamic – with 12 families per day moving into the Casey Cardinia Region it opens up so many opportunities for businesses. I’m excited seeing these figures because all the people living in the Casey Cardinia region will be looking for things to do during their leisure time, especially when they have family and friends

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What has been your biggest career failure to date?

Returning to the same role that I’d resigned from. Early in my career I left my job to go overseas backpacking for two years, returned with no money and was offered my old position back. Although it was great to work with my colleagues again, the actual role wasn’t challenging any more … I’d grown so much during those two years away and really should have taken on something more challenging upon my return.

Puffing Billy Railway has just completed our master plan which has been developed to guide the railway into the future. It contains projects that will allow the railway to accommodate visitor demand, improve the overall visitor experience, generate revenue to support the ongoing sustainability of the railway, upgrade existing infrastructure and improve facilities.

The total master plan projects are costed at $78 million over a 10-year period. It will create 270 additional jobs and generate additional economic capture of $19 million. As a result the railway has submitted a request for funding in the 2017-’18 Victorian budget – hence selecting these Victorian ministers to have lunch with!

How do you relax away from work?

I love taking long walks with my husband and our dog to one of the amazing cafes in Emerald and having a leisurely brunch!

Tell us something most people would not know about you?

I went skydiving in Africa and survived to tell the tale!

What is your business mantra?

Do not become complacent – you need to keep questioning and challenging what you do, why you do it and how it can be improved.

What did you learn from that experience?

Once you resign from a position – don’t go back!

If you had to invite five people to a business luncheon, who would they be and why?

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas, Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren, Monbulk MP and Deputy Premier James Merlino and Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford.

Q&A

TOURISM’S TRAIN OF THOUGHT

By Garry Howe

The three tourism chiefs assembled their members for a networking night, from left, Tourism Network Yarra Valley president Christine Veenheuizen from Brentwood, one of Healesville’s original guesthouses, Dandenong Ranges Tourism Network Mary Wiking from Mt Evelyn’s and Casey Cardinia Tourism president Nadine Hutchins, the marketing manager at Puffing Billy.

REGIONAL tourism operators shared a train of thought in late March.

Members of the Dandenong Ranges Tourism Network, the Yarra Valley Toursim Network and Casey Cardinia Tourism came together on Tuesday 28 March for a networking dinner aboard tourist icon Puffing Billy, where collaboration was the key message.

Puffing Billy CEO John Robinson applauded the three groups for the joint initiative and emphasised that working together was the key to continued success.

“Tourism is about sharing with each other,” Mr Robinson said. “It’s about working together as a team, not as a sole operator.

It’s all about experiences shared.”

Mr Robinson spoke of Puffing Billy’s growth – from 260,000 passengers in 2012 to 475,000 currently – and said the vast majority of that came from the international market.

He said the railway had developed an 18-month master plan to help capitalise on that growth.

“We know we provide a wonderful train ride through wonderful scenery and villages, but we want to improve our visitor experience,” he said.

One element of that development would be to make more of the dining experience and even look into accommodation options.

Guests were treated to a three course meal – entrée and main on the journey from Belgrave to the Packing Shed in Emerald and then dessert and coffee on the return trip.

They included Alva Hemming, marketing manager of Go Beyond Melbourne, a new touring alliance developed by Visit Victoria and four participating regions – Geelong and The Bellarine Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and Yarra Valley

and The Dandenong Ranges.

Food on the Puffing Billy dining packages is now provided by Ken Billman from Elevation in Emerald – an example of a successful collaboration between operators.

Mary Wiking, president of the Dandenong Ranges Tourism Network, described the event as tremendous success.

She thanked Puffing Billy, one of its member organisations, for its hospitality.

“What a magnificent event you put on for us,” she said. “Puffing Billy is the best member you can get!”

Wine & Dine

Winding through the Dandenong Ranges, on board Puffing Billy’s beautifully restored dining carriages provides a perfect setting for your work function, birthday celebration or a great outing with friends.

Lunch daily Dinner most weekends

Learn more at

puffingbilly.com.au/grow Telephone 03 9757 0700 grow.

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We invite you to Puffing Billy for a different experience - travelling First Class!

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DEPOT JOB BOOM LOOMS

By Bonny Burrows A BOOM in construction jobs is observed in Pakenham and its surrounds, thanks to two multi-million dollar rail depots.

A massive purpose-built factory on Pakenham’s Greenhills Road has hit peak production and 200 local concretors, steel fixers, welders and plant operators are busy at work creating concrete segments for the state’s Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project.

At a cost of $1.6 billion, the project will see the removal of nine local level crossings and the construction of five new stations.

It’s a project typically contracted out to national industry big wigs, but with a State Government commitment the project will use at least 92 per cent local content. Industry and Employment Minister Wade Noonan insisted the jobs were staying here.

“By setting strict requirements for local content on major projects, and putting more apprentices and trainees into work, we’re making sure Victorians reap the benefits of our investments,” Mr Noonan said.

It’s a boost any community would welcome,

Premier Daniel Andrews and Industry and Employment Minister Wade Noonan say the area’s two major rail projects will boost jobs. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

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and the Pakenham community certainly has, but the jobs don’t end there.

Another major rail depot under construction in Kooweerup is expected to create 400 jobs at its peak and another 100 ongoing local jobs on completion, with a particular focus on those struggling to find work.

The Pakenham East Train Depot will include a maintenance facility, high-tech simulator and stabling for up to 30 of the state’s new High-Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT).

Described as a huge win for local employment and rail service, the factory will be built with 87 per cent local materials.

Even better for the local community is a promise its workforce will comprise 15 per cent apprentices and trainees and 7 per cent of employees will be from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

IT WILL PROVIDE WORK, SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND HELP THOUSANDS MORE GET HOME SAFER AND SOONER

Member for Eastern Victoria Daniel Mulino said the project would support “bigger trains and better services” right along the Cranbourne line.

Premier Daniel Andrews said more jobs would also be up for grabs with the extension of platforms at 18 stations along the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, benefiting commuters and workers alike.

“It will provide work, skills and opportunities for hundreds of people and help thousands more get home safer and sooner,” Mr Mulino said.

“This isn’t just good news for drivers and public transport users, it’s great news for Victorian workers and industries,” Mr Andrews said.

experts in their

FIELD Dale Munckton, Managing Director of Ace Communications Group THE National Broadband Network (NBN) is now available or will be shortly, across many areas throughout the Casey Cardinia Region, so now is the time to familiarise yourself with everything you need to know about the NBN.

What are the benefits of connecting to the NBN? An ADSL internet service may have been ample for a business 5-10 years ago but for most businesses an ADSL service is not meeting their needs anymore. Once connected to the NBN you will typically be able to upload and download substantially faster than your

NBN AND ITS BENEFITS current Internet connection.

Faster Internet speeds not only increases efficiency but opens up possibilities such as cloud based applications, online back-up and VoIP (Voice over IP).

to connect to the higher NBN speeds. NBN connection speeds can also be effected by your NBN provider and the available bandwidth within their network.

risk not being able to make and receive phone calls.

Time to review your phones

NBN connection types

If you aren’t already using VoIP (Voice over IP) for your business phone system it is time to review this option. By transferring your phones to VoIP your calls will travel over your NBN Internet service which for most businesses will result in cost savings on both line rental and call charges.

Prior to connecting to the NBN, if you have an EFTPOS machine or monitored alarm you will need to contact your bank or alarm company to find out what changes they need to make to your equipment. If you wish to retain your fax line you will need to speak to your potential NBN provider about their recommended options for faxing over the NBN.

Your location defines how you will be connected to the NBN and the connection speed you will receive. Most locations will be connected by FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), FTTN (Fibre to the Node), FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) or HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial).

In some areas wireless and satellite technologies are used to deliver the NBN. How fast is the NBN? How you are being connected to the NBN (FTTP, FTTN etc.) will determine the speed of your connection so this is something best discussed with your potential NBN provider. NBN connection speeds start at 12/1Mbps through to 100/40Mbps however Wireless and Satellite services are unable

In addition to cost savings, a VoIP-based phone system may provide added functionality and benefits from your current system.

Copper network switch off Many businesses will be in an area where the old copper network is switched off about 18 months after the NBN becomes available. Prior to the copper network being switched off it is essential to have transferred your phone services to utilise your NBN connection, otherwise you

EFTPOS/Monitored alarms/ Fax lines

How to choose a NBN provider There are many considerations when transferring to the NBN, so your choice of NBN provider is very important to ensure a smooth transfer. NBN requirements can vary from business to business so look for a provider who is prepared to discuss and work through your specific requirements.

Contact Dale at www. acecommunications.com.au

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Zac, Ben, Sue, Paul and Kane Clough outside the new Pakenham dealership.

FAMILY AFFAIR GOES ZOOM The official opening of a new Pakenham Mazda dealership marks a significant chapter in a local success story, as GARRY HOWE reports.

IT HAS been a little over four decades since

a 22-year-old rev-head – sporting a mullet and a love for anything with an engine – lobbed into Nar Nar Goon chasing his dream.

A young Bruce Clough had honed his mechanical skills and customer rapport in a thriving ‘backyard’ business, fixing and modifying cars in the driveway of his father’s Werribee home.

He was ready to take the next step and quickly snapped up a towing and mechanical repair business he saw advertised in The Age in late 1974, despite the initial misgivings of his then girlfriend and later wife Sue, who thought he had taken her to the end of the earth.

Over the next few years Bruce and Sue grew both the business and a young family, with four boys being welcomed into the fold.

Sadly, Bruce succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer in July 2013, aged only 61.

Towards the end, he got the boys – Paul, Kane, Ben and Zac – together and told them that he had taken the business where he could and it was up to them to go to the next level.

That next chapter was celebrated in February with the official launch of the new state-

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of-the-art Pakenham Mazda showroom on Commercial Drive in the South East Business Park.

separate ways and Bruce followed his father to Werribee, where Jack took a share-farming job.

Plans to move the dealership to Pakenham – while maintaining the service station in Nar Nar Goon – were hatched just over a year after Bruce’s death.

Bruce got into a fight on his first day at Werribee Tech. School wasn’t really his go and they parted ways at the first opportunity, with Bruce landing a job as an apprentice motor mechanic at the Metropolitan Board of Works.

“Bruce would be very proud of what the boys have done,” Sue said.

Bruce’s legacy will live on in the new venture.

A timeline marking significant developments in the company’s history hangs proud in the foyer and the staff handbook will be rewritten to reflect the Clough journey.

“It’s our story and we are proud of it,” said Paul, who is now dealer principal.

That story had humble beginnings.

Born on 21 May 1952, Bruce Stanley Clough was given up for adoption and spent the first eight months of his life in a Berry Street orphanage in Collingwood.

He was adopted by Jack and Barbara Clough – who were taken by his big brown eyes – and he grew up on a farm in South Gippsland, attending primary school in Poowong.

Jack and Barbara eventually went their

His father thought it was the dream job and that, on the government payroll, he would be set for life, but the pace was a little too slow for Bruce. He liked to do everything at full speed, whether that be behind the wheel of a car, a boat, flying a plane in later life… or under the hood of a vehicle.

One day a boss told him to wheel a garage creeper under a car and sleep for two hours because he was working too fast.

To satisfy his ambition and thirst for work, Bruce started fixing and modifying cars in the driveway of his father’s home and it soon became more rewarding – both in a financial and spiritual sense – than the ‘dream government job’.

“It was like I had a hobby with an income,” he later explained in an interview. “The Board of Works was only 38 hours a week and I wanted to do more.”

Bruce told Sue he would give Mazda a call and they had secured the dealership within three months, with the first truckload of six Mazda vehicles arriving in December.

“Mazda was doing well in the 1970s and ‘80s, but lost its way a bit in the ‘90s,” Paul explained. “They were good, reliable cars but were not inspiring and lacked the flair of some of the other brands.”

The growth eventually came on the back of the “Zoom Zoom boom” and Australia now has the highest market share for Mazda in the world and has the highest rate of customer satisfaction.

Mazdas are now the second most popular cars nationally.

The backyard work also honed his penchant for customer service.

Bruce and Sue to “take their little business up the road to Pakenham”.

“Looking after my customers became more important and I realised I had to change jobs.”

Bruce said the land was not for sale and a protracted battle ensued. The Cloughs ended up buying three acres from local identity Mick Carney to allow them to stay on the site, albeit set back a few metres.

By the time he had finished his apprenticeship – with the backyard mechanical work and a bit of bus driving on the side – the ambitious young Bruce had saved enough to buy two blocks of land in Werribee, which were sold to help secure the Nar Nar Goon business.

There were tough times at the start.

Bruce and Sue, who married in 1975, initially lived in a caravan at the back of the leased workshop and eventually gutted and renovated a small cottage on the property.

They had to close the business down for 12 months and – at that stage with three of the four boys in tow – survived solely on income from the towing business.

“Bruce always had good vision,” Sue said.

“He could always see where things were heading.”

The Cloughs soon added a few used cars to the business and in late 1994 seized an opportunity to add the Mazda dealership.

A few years later the freehold came up and they bought that, closing down the takeaway food outlet to just concentrate on petrol, towing and mechanical repairs.

Bruce and Sue had just arrived back from an overseas trip and were heading back to Nar Nar Goon when they noticed the Mazda dealership in Pakenham had closed up.

In 1985 the Road Transport Authority came in and acquired the site to allow for the duplication of the Princes Highway, telling

It had been run for years by the Elliott family and been passed on to the Blanchards, who closed it after a couple of years.

It was the growth of both the Mazda brand and the Cardinia Shire region that led to the development of the new dealership.

Paul said Mazda had confidence that the Cloughs had the area well covered, but were mindful of the need for future expansion.

So the boys put the feelers out for a new site and Ray Weinzierl from Car Megamart offered the opportunity of a corner block on Commercial Drive in the new South East Business Park at Pakenham.

Montlaur Project Services and construction firm the APM Group, which built the events and administration centre at Racing.com Park at Tynong, were engaged and the new state-of-the-art showroom quickly took shape.

Paul now heads up the operation as dealer principal, Kane is sales manager, Zac is service manager and Ben heads up the pre-delivery operation.

Although their surroundings are all shiny and new, links to the past remain.

Sitting in a frame on the top of a filing cabinet in Paul’s office is a VACC Tech School Special Mention certificate, presented to one Bruce Stanley Clough back in 1969.

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Above: Bruce Clough realised his dream.

Left: The original Bruce Clough Motors in Nar Nar Goon.

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Casey Stewart is a woman doing it her herself in the predominantly male trucking industry.

PUTTING HER FOOT DOWN The adage ‘without trucking Australia stops’ is especially true for outer suburban growth regions.

Hallam truck parts business Truckline has a very special woman behind the wheel, who has her roots firmly in the Casey Cardinia Region.

By Victoria Stone-Meadows CASEY Stewart grew up around trucks. Her father drove trucks, her grandfather drove trucks, she and her brother would compete to be the first to call out the make and model of a truck when travelling with their dad on the highway, and she has worked her way up through the ranks of the trucking industry.

Long story short, Casey Stewart is all about trucks and is currently Truckline’s territory business manager for Victoria and Tasmania.

Australia’s largest retailer of aftermarket truck and trailer parts, Truckline supports all makes and models of North American, European and Japanese commercial vehicles.

Despite being a heavily male dominated industry, the Kooweerup woman has never let

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her gender get in the way of her hard work and determination in the trucking industry.

“I actually rang and thanked them when I got my current role,” Casey said.

“My grandfather and father were both truck drivers for their entire working lives,” she said.

Casey’s practical knowledge about truck parts and their function within an engine came from learning on the job while working alongside her father and grandfather.

“I grew up in trucks, around trucks and learning about everything to do with trucks, so when I was 15 I knew I wanted to work in the industry. Family friends in Clyde, Helen and Ian Castles, gave me a start in their truck and trailer parts business,” Casey said.

“A lot of the older drivers would come in and say ‘I need a part, don’t know what it’s called, come out to the truck and I’ll show you’,” she said.

For about 10 years Casey spent her time working with Ian and Helen on and off and learnt the importance of a hardy work ethic.

“They would take you out to the truck and point out the problem part and explain what it did – it was the best way to learn.”

“Helen was a hard task-master but at 15 I had a lot to learn and I will always be grateful to them for giving me a start and teaching me everything I needed to know,” she said.

Casey now has returned to her hometown of Kooweerup with her husband – who also drives trucks – after working in various truck-related businesses over the years.

I NEVER ASK ANYONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT I CAN’T OR HAVEN’T DONE MYSELF, AND I PUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING.

Six years ago she started at Truckline in Hallam as a spare parts salesperson and since then has risen though the business to where she is now.

She said there were times when being a female in the trucking industry made her job difficult but her attitude to her work always made her a valuable asset to any team she worked with.

“In the early days of my career I had to have a thick skin, customers would come in and if there was a male behind the counter with me, they’d make a beeline for him which was frustrating,” she said.

“I found that by working hard to prove myself, I overcame the stereotype – I gained respect by learning and doing.

“I’ve personally done all of the roles that fall within my team so I can confidently manage team members in those roles.”

She said her approach to her work was very pragmatic and she didn’t place unrealistic expectations on her team.

“My team is very customer-focused; we’re almost a little bit old-fashioned in how we approach service. Going that extra step for our customers is just what we do,” she said.

Casey chalks up some of the credit for her amazing success in the industry to the workplace culture of Truckline.

She said the cultivation of staff that really cared and had practical real-world knowledge of the industry meant their customer service was top notch.

“Our philosophy is that we focus on good old-fashioned customer service, combined with our broad and diverse knowledge of

Casey and grandfather Bob Odlum, who passed on a love of trucks to his granddaughter.

European, Japanese and American trucks and trailers,” she said.

Through her long days and years of hard work, Casey learnt how valuable it was for anyone to have dedication and commitment in their chosen field.

When asked what advice she would give to other young females looking to join the trucking industry, Casey said as long as you worked hard, you would be all right.

“This industry lets you be yourself, there are no pretences,” she said.

“I was told to find something that I love and then it would never feel like work, and that’s honestly how it is at Truckline – it’s all about working for a great company with great people.

“It’s a small industry, everyone knows everyone, and it really is like a family full of good, hard-working honest people. I can’t imagine working in any other industry.”

She said trucking was an important part of the Australian industrial landscape and anyone should be proud to be a part of it.

“The line ‘Without trucks Australia stops’ is absolutely true – I take my hat off to truck drivers, it’s a hard job where you don’t get to see your family much and you could even lose your life like my best friend did,” she said.

“I don’t think most Australians realise just how tough it is. I’m really proud to be part of it.”

Never afraid of a little hard work, Casey said she would definitely take on the challenge of stepping further up the hierarchy if the opportunity presented.

“You never know,” she said.

“They might need a woman at the top to shake things up.”

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Richard and Ali Fromhold have sold their family’s SportsPower store in Main Street, Pakenham. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

SPORT ICON CHANGES HANDS Getting people to shop locally will be the biggest challenge faced by the new owners of Pakenham’s SportsPower predicts Richard Fromhold whose family recently sold the business after 25 years.

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By Russell Bennett SPORTSPOWER has been a fixture in Main Street for nearly 26 years. The Fromholds started a sports, bikes, and camping business in Bayswater in 1978, before buying the toy store three doors up. After 13 years in Bayswater they relocated to Pakenham on 4 July, 1991. During this time, the Fromholds had other stores in Narre Warren, Dandenong, Berwick and Warragul.

Ian and Aileen’s son, Richard ‘Fromy’ Fromhold, began work in the Bayswater store at just 16 before moving out to Pakenham. He and his wife Ali purchased the SportsPower business from his parents 14 years ago.

WE’RE LOCALLY OWNED, WE’VE ALWAYS EMPLOYED LOCALS – WE’RE LOCALS FOR LOCALS. “We’ve extended a couple of times – we’ve seen quite a few changes – and we’ve had a lot of great staff over the years,” Richard said.

“It’s been a real journey.”

Now, it’s time for his family to move on – closing the page on the Fromholds’ last connection to SportsPower stores.

Richard and Ali are looking forward to new beginnings, and whatever their future may hold they will tackle head on.

“But the biggest challenge has probably been keeping local people shopping in Pakenham,” Richard said.

“With new owners, that’s their biggest challenge going forward too – to ensure that local people shop locally.

“Han and Jiao are living locally and have a young family, just like we have.

“They’ll be contributing to the community, forming relationships with people, and giving back – just like we have.

“The challenge is always keeping locals shopping in town because the alternative is that local businesses aren’t supported and they therefore disappear and people don’t have a choice – they’ve then got to travel.

A new, local husband and wife team – Han Zhang and Jiao Shen – have taken the reins from the Fromholds and they’re taking on a business at its peak after it recorded its most successful 12 months due to great local support.

Han and Jiao know that’s the key to keep the success going.

“We’re locally owned, we’ve always employed

locals – we’re locals for locals,” Richard said.

“You might be able to buy a product online, but you also need to remind yourself particularly that, if you’ve got kids, if you don’t support local business – where are your kids going to work?

“That’s something that we’re very mindful of – we’ve got a young family, Han and Jiao have a young son, and most of our customers have young families, that’s our key demographic.

“I get mid 20-year-olds coming in and buying gear for themselves, and I remember them from when they were little kids.”

But after nearly 30 years, it’s time for new beginnings.

“For that entire time, it’s been my life and my family’s life so that’s a big part of this as well, and a hard part of it,” Richard said.

“This is the last piece of the puzzle involving my family.

“I lost my dad nearly three years ago and Dad started the business in Bayswater. All of the family worked in the business, so it’s sad in that respect, but for us it’s just a new phase of our lives and it’s just time for new challenges.

“We don’t know what that looks like yet, but I’ll be putting more time into the family and our two young boys.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t let people know earlier, but it’s all happened pretty quickly.”

Fromy and Ali encourage their loyal customers and past employees to pop in and say ‘g’day’ in the coming week, and most of all to continue to support local businesses.

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Mumpreneur Lisa Crowley.

Picture: GARY SISSONS

MUMPRENEUR MINTING MONEY ‘Mumpreneur’ Lisa Crowley turned a small, home-based Ebay business into a multi-million dollar operation. She hopes her story will inspire other women to follow their business dreams.

By Luke Voogt FOR ‘mumpreneur’ Lisa Crowley, Officer was

the perfect “growth corridor” to build a thriving, multi-million dollar business.

Lisa opened her first display centre there in 2013 after finding a niche in the greenhouse market.

a full-time “Ebay business” in 2011 into what is now “Australia’s biggest greenhouse supply company” with operations in both Officer and Geelong.

“It all started with a product container of about $25,000,” she said.

Lisa’s rapid rise saw her make the final of the AusMumpreneur Award in 2016.

“It’s basically the only outdoor greenhouse display centre in Australia,” the 39-year-old said.

“It was an amazing experience to be up there with all those fantastic women who built their businesses from nothing,” she said.

“I could give you 20 different greenhouse photos and they would look the same, but they’re not.

“I think there’s still a bit of a perception of women at home with children. But all women can do this – have their own business. I would like to inspire other women to go on and do this as well.”

“It became very evident ... that customers wanted to come in and touch the products.

People can actually see what they investing their money in.”

In seven years, Lisa grew Sproutwell from

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Funnily enough, Lisa has never been a keen gardener.

“It definitely didn’t come from a passion for

IT DEFINITELY DIDN’T COME FROM A PASSION FOR GROWING FOR ME. growing for me,” she said.

“When I started this business, my sons were aged one and three – I wanted to still be able to contribute to the family’s income.”

Lisa was a new home consultant, while her husband Clayton worked for a construction company.

When the business began, she had to teach herself the ins and outs of greenhouse gardening, as well as how to drive a forklift.

WE LOVE IT … FOR EVERY YEAR THAT PASSES, I BECOME MORE EXCITED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

“When we first started my biggest obstacle was freighting and storing these greenhouse products,” she said.

After years of work, her eldest is following his mother’s example.

“They’re not a generic off-the-shelf products,” Lisa said.

“No one in Australia can sell these particular structures.

“He’s keen to produce his own range of scooters,” she says.

“Months and months went into it. We found there was a real niche for gardens that were looking for that kind of structure.”

“They’ve grown up with a mother who’s always run her own businesses. Although they’re young they understand they can do anything they put their mind to.”

The ever-expanding company opened its first warehouse in Geelong in July 2016, which has become the company’s new headquarters.

Sproutwell stocks everything from hobby greenhouses to wind-resistant commercial setups for the more serious growers.

“Up until that point, we used a fulfilment company for storage.”

“Over recent years, greenhouses have become more about sustainable and organic growing. People don’t have to worry about pesticides.”

The company owns all its unique moulds.

The back-to-back winners of the Good Organic Gardening’s outdoor award now employ 11 people.

If Lisa’s dedication is anything to go by, the company will only continue to grow.

“We love it. For every year that passes, I become more excited and passionate about it.”

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“We supply to a lot of restaurant owners,” Lisa says.

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CRICKET DELIVERED AN AUSTRALIAN Grow takes a look at what those in business and industry do when they are not working – what drives them at home and away from the office, shop or factory floor. Silvio Marinelli is a Cranbourne accountant who is as familiar with a cricket bat as he is with a calculator.

NARELLE COULTER spoke to the sports fanatic.

SUMMER 1978: as the hot afternoon sun beats down a group of up to 15 boys gather to play cricket in the bowl of a court outside young Silvio Marinelli’s Cranbourne home.

The game stretches on into the evening, over after over to the cries of “Howzat?” and “Not out!”.

Silivo’s Italian immigrant parents are perplexed by their son’s obsession with this strange game but are glad that it has allowed him to make new friends.

Nearly 40 years later Silvio’s parents still live in the same Cranbourne house.

And Silvio, who is a partner and director of Cranbourne firm, Highview Accounting, is still as passionate as ever about cricket.

He laughs as he remembers the Cranbourne where he grew up, a scuffed cricket ball or footy never far from reach.

“Oh geez. It was pretty quiet in 1978,” he said.

“It was very much a small country town.

There were two service stations in the main street. Wasn’t a lot around. I used to be able to walk in a straight line to primary school.

Cranbourne Park was north of Cranbourne in 1978, now there is a whole suburb called Cranbourne North.

“It was predominantly dirt roads, open drains, very much a country town. To go to Dandenong was 45-minute journey. It was an event. You had to pack a lunch.”

He looks back fondly to his boyhood obsession with cricket, following his heroes Lillee, Chappell and Thomson, the superstars of Kerry Packer’s audacious assault on the traditional world of cricket.

“Basically the bowl of the court was our sports arena. It was footy during winter and cricket during summer,” Silvio remembered.

“The (games) were pretty serious, absolutely.

I remember a few broken windows, bumps and bruises and scrapes. You spent all your

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time outdoors until your mum called you for dinner and you’d still get a couple of overs in,” he said, laughing.

“We were always playing footy and cricket at lunchtime and recess. You’d scoff down your lunch and get into it.”

From an ethnic background, the Marinelli kids weren’t encouraged to play sport.

Despite their parent’s ambivalence, Silvio’s brother played Aussie Rules and his sister was a runner.

“I sort of bucked the trend a bit, especially with cricket. It was basically 10 Australians and me from an Italian background. There were certainly no other kids like that.”

He remembers World Series Cricket being brought to life on the family’s first colour Rank Arena TV. “I remember World Series Cricket as a kid.

I was five or six years old at the time and that was my introduction to cricket.

“You had the best of the best. I understood it was Australia against the best players.

That’s probably where my fascination with cricket started, World Series Cricket.“ He pauses for a moment when asked what it is that so fascinates him about cricket.

“From a playing point of view, for a team sport, it is still very individualist. When a bowler is bowling to a batsman, he has the field to help him, but ultimately it’s one on one but still within a team environment.

“It’s quite a unique sport. I’ve always found that a real challenge when I was batting or bowling. That one on one within a team aspect. I’ve always found that quite fascinating.

“I loved the older players, Greg Chappell and David Hookes were like my heroes. Dennis Lillee and Thommo (Jeff Thomson) were my heroes as a kid. I loved when those guys were playing.”

I LOVE SPORT AND I LOVE THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY … IT’S CRANBOURNE AND IT’S CRICKET. Silvio’s own playing career started as a junior at the Cranbourne Cricket Club. He then played school cricket for St John’s and then senior cricket at Devon Meadows before returning to Cranbourne.

A Life Member of Cranbourne Cricket Club, Silvio played in one of the club’s two turf one premierships, served as president and still sponsors the club.

Cricket has given him life-long friendships, as well as a host of loyal customers. Nine out of 10 players in that original turf one winning team are clients of Highview.

“Hence why we still sponsor the club because they’ve been so good to me. You’ve got to give back to the club.“ One of Silvio’s proudest achievements was founding the All Abilities Competition with team-mate Shaun Petrie.

Fifteen years ago the club was struggling for volunteers. So Shaun and president Silvio decided to invite anyone who loved cricket to join the club, no matter what their physical ability.

“When we took over running the club we had an open policy – anyone who turned up got a game no matter what ability you were, if you paid your fees you played. From a team perspective we went from seven teams to I think at our peak we had 24 teams. So we just opened the door to everyone.”

home and away

Cranbourne accountant and cricket fanatic, Silvio Marinelli.

LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD TO US; GST, SUPER CHANGES, CAPITAL GAINS, BEING IN THE RIGHT SPOT AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE GROWTH IN THIS AREA IS INSANE.

Silvio’s other great passion is Highview Accounting.

“But you’ve also got to position yourself and do things well.”

The business started as a small practice in Devon Meadows in 1990. Silvio worked for Highview before buying into the business when he was 28.

Silvio’s office is adorned with sporting memorabilia. In pride of place is a cricket bat signed by the 2011-’12 Bushrangers.

Now based in Cranbourne, Mornington and Prahran, the partners took on five new staff last year and the Cranbourne office moved to bigger premises in Codrington Street at the end of March, which has the capacity to accommodate 50 staff.

Richmond Football Club is his other great passion. When his dad first came to Australia he settled in Richmond.

A framed team of the century jumper adorns one wall. He once played golf with Richmond legend Matthew Richardson.

Highview is also expanding to include insurance and legal advice.

“He was okay, actually he was pretty good.

Unfortunately, he got paired up with us.”

“Legislation has been pretty good to us; GST, super changes, capital gains, being in the right spot at the right time. The growth in this area is insane.

Silvio’s wife Vicki is an equally passionate sports fan. They met playing indoor cricket.

home and away

“We are both very passionate about sport.

I talk to some mates – they have to battle for the remote to watch sport – but not in our household. We watch the women’s footy, the women’s basketball, women’s cricket.”

On Silvio’s bucket list is a trip to see The Ashes played in England and a tour of the West Indies. He hopes one of the two will co-incide with his 50th birthday in five years.

And he hasn’t ruled out a return to cricket.

“I might return to cricket to play with my godsons. One plays for Pearcedale, the other for Carlisle Park Vikings. I don’t like my chances of getting them to Cranbourne.

I might have to defect.

“I love sport and I love this local community.

So the Cranbourne Cricket Club sort of provided an outlet for both of those things.

It’s Cranbourne and it’s cricket.”

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may cALender of

events april

18

2

Digital Engagement Seminar

2

An informal opportunity for local home-based businesses to meet other like-minded people.

Light refreshments, tea and coffee provided.

Small Business Bus – Berwick

13

Business Mentoring Sessions A 45 minute knowledge sharing session with an experienced, qualified business mentor to help your business overcome an issue or knowledge gap.

Grow Your Business – Cardinia (session 2) Business Coffee Club

june

17

16

Growing Gippsland Business – Cardinia (session 1)

19

18 30

Grow your business – Casey (session 1)

Business Mentoring Sessions

Grow Your Business – Cardinia (session 3)

Grow Your Business – Casey (session 3)

22

A 45 minute knowledge sharing session with an experienced, qualified business mentor to help your business overcome an issue or knowledge gap.

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21

Record Keeping Workshop for small business

Business Mentoring Sessions

A 45 minute knowledge sharing session with an experienced, qualified business mentor to help your business overcome an issue or knowledge gap.

14

Tax Essentials for Small Business

20

Business Coffee Club

24

An informal opportunity for local home-based businesses to meet other like-minded people.

Light refreshments, tea and coffee provided.

15

18 Funding avenues and financial analysis

Business Coffee Club

Small Business Bus – Hallam

Grow Your Business – Casey (session 2)

An informal opportunity for local homebased businesses to meet other likeminded people. Light refreshments, tea and coffee provided.

1

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Making the most of your talent and team

RECOGNISING THE BEST OF THE BEST are back for another year to recognise the best and brightest in the business community.

to be recognised, receive publicity, network and establish relationships with other local businesses and business leaders and gain feedback from industry experts.”

The awards cover 12 separate categories as well as the coveted Casey Cardinia Business of the Year Award and People’s Choice Award.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen said even the application process provides a chance for businesses to reflect on their contribution to the South-East.

All businesses in the region are encouraged to apply for the awards with nomination open until Wednesday 31 May.

The Categories for the 2017 Casey Cardinia Business Awards are:

THE 2017 Casey Cardinia Business Awards

City of Casey Mayor Cr Sam Aziz said the awards aimed to recognise and celebrate the best in business across the region.

“Entering the awards is a great business development opportunity, providing a chance

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O O O O O O

Agriculture and Food Business and Professional Services Health, Education and Wellbeing Home-based Business Hospitality Manufacturing

O O O O O O O

New Business Retail Social Enterprise Tourism Trades and Construction Environmental Sustainability People’s Choice Award

Finalists will be announced at the Casey Cardinia Business Breakfast on Wednesday 6 September and winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday 27 October at the Cranbourne Racing Centre.

For more information or to apply for an award, visit www.caseycardinia.com.au/ businessawards.