Prepared for the Yass Valley Business Chamber Annual General Meeting on Friday 6 October 2023 at 7.30am. 

In the first instance, I would like to recognise the ongoing dedication and service provided by Committee members and active members alike. We recognise that committing to a volunteer organisation is a bold step especially when involved in one’s own business and personal life. We appreciate your commitment and want you to know that we recognise the value of your contribution. 

Over the course of 2023, we have deliberately set out to build on what has been a strong, evolving, and dynamic Committee over the past three years. We now have a much better understanding of the ‘life cycle’ of the Chamber and its impact on our individual personal commitments. As a result, we have set out to build strength not only in depth but breadth across Yass Valley. As a committee, one of our goals this year has been to help the business community understand and see that the Chamber truly represents the Yass Valley business community as a whole rather than being a Yass-centric organisation. The Yass Valley Business Chamber has a proud 100-year tradition of representing business within the Yass Valley. As part of the launch of Small Business Month this week, we recognised that Yass Valley, its identity, and businesses have not only evolved but grown over the years. 

Over 200 years ago, Hamilton Hume and his expedition first laid eyes on Yass Valley and identified it as a naturally beautiful place, rich in pastures and abundant in water. A place that would be great for settlement and sheep grazing. His was an early vision that would one day place Yass Valley on the international stage as the fine wool hub of the world, its natural fibre sought-after by the mills, fashion houses and runways of Europe and Asia. Like the great explorers of the past, Yass Valley’s business owners are pioneers carving out and contributing to our rich and diverse history and Yass Valley brand. Today Yass Valley boasts a proud aboriginal, strong colonial, and innovative agricultural history. 

Yass Valley though is not only home to wool producers and graziers but also home to world-class wineries, product makers and artists, first class experiences, events, and services. Yass Valley has become known as a wonderful lifestyle destination. A place to live, work or play. A place that is bursting with sensational experiences, a thriving arts scene, boutique shopping, great events and quality services and goods. 

If Hamilton Hume were to see the Yass Valley of today, he, as a business owner and entrepreneur would surely rejoice to see the evolution that has taken place from early settlement frontier to the thriving and diverse place that is made up of eight towns and villages, known as Yass Valley. 

The 2022-2023 Committee 

I would like to thank the Committee for your commitment. We have continued to achieve a lot over the past 12-months, and it is through your ongoing volunteered time, effort, and passion that we have been able to have a productive year and achieved a great amount. A very big thank you to: 

Vice-President: Jim Hutton

OBE Treasurer: Anthony Eldridge

Secretary: Jacquie Tewes

Ordinary Committee Member: Bridget Breen Guiney

Ordinary Committee Member: Tally Ryder

Ordinary Committee Member: Marie-Nicole Roberts

Public Officer/ Ordinary Committee Member: Andrew Curlewis 

Past 12-Months 

The past 12-months have continued to present challenges for business in Yass Valley. Businesses have faced inflation, continued material and skills shortages and rapidly rising interest rates. During this time, Yass Valley Business Chamber has continued to focus on its strategic priorities of collaboration and support, promotion and growth and government engagement. 

The past year’s achievements are a testimony of the performance of Yass Valley Business Chamber as a strong voice and advocate for business; a summary of some key achievements for the past 12-months include: 

1. Ongoing media exposure partnership with both Region Media (through RiotACT andAboutRegional) and Yass Valley. These partnerships not only continue to promote ourmembers and their businesses but are helping to drive visitors, support the local economyand lift Yass Valley’s profile in the region. See In the Media.
2. Organising and running the monthly Networking Breakfast including new formats that have facilitated member feedback, discussion panels related to Challenges and Opportunities experienced by businesses within Yass Valley. Catch the replays here: https://www.yassbusiness.com.au/videos
3. Organising and running in partnership with Region Media, Regional Development Australia Southern Inland; the refreshed and informative Yass Connect networking event on a quarterly basis at Yazzbar. Including helping businesses improve their Digital Connectivityand Grant Writing Skills. Check-out some photos here.
4. We hosted the new annual ‘Great Welly Toss’ event as part of Breakfast in the Paddock, see here.
5. Continued engagement with the Hon Kristy McBain, Federal Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.
6. Continued engagement with the former NSW Government including hosting Hon WendyTuckerman, Member for Goulburn and Minister for Local Government and Hon Victor Dominello, Minister for Customer Service. See photos of the Main Street Tour here.
7. Local Government engagement with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, and staff.
8. Continued participation on the Yass Valley Council Economic Development Committee whichhas been assisting Council in the identification of a range of project priorities.
9. Submissions to the NSW Government including Department of Planning & Environment onthe ‘Draft South East and Tablelands Regional Plan 2041 Submission’ view submission hereand Department Transport for NSW ‘Draft South East and Tablelands Regional TransportPlan’ view submission here.
10. The Chamber completed a submission on Council’s Integrated Planning & ReportingDocuments 23/24 view submission here.
11. Supporting members by providing letters of support, information about grants, incentivesand programs including partnering with Yass Valley Council to deliver NSW Small BusinessMonth 2023 launch and workshops, see event details here.
12. Contributing to the planning, running and promotion of the Christmas Late Night Shoppingand Parade Event including working with Region Media to widen the exposure of the eventacross the region.

We are pleased to have 6 new nominations for the committee with 5 current committee members renominating for another year. This will see a total of 11 out of 12 committee positions taken-up. The committee will have members who live and/or work in Bookham, Bowning, Murrumbateman, and Yass. This really helps to diversify our views, discussions and reinforce our focus on being representative of the whole Yass Valley. 

Looking Forward 12-Months 

We continue to operate under the Constitution, Vision, Purpose, and Strategic Priorities as identified by the 2020-2021 Strategy. Moving forward, we are looking to break the unofficial roles and responsibilities that relate to the Strategic Priorities into three new teams of: Events, Promotion and Growth. This will provide greater flexibility and enable the committee to be even more effective while managing our individual business and private life responsibilities. As previously identified, we will continue to broadly focus on the following areas: 

• More active engagement with other business chambers, action groups and committees.
• Building a stronger network for the business Chamber.
• Invite local groups, event organisers and committees to a Business Chamber breakfast orquarterly connect meetings.
• Advocate and be a stronger voice for Yass Business on issues like infrastructure, water,sewerage, roads, health, education, housing, shopping, staffing and the future of the YassValley.
• Further engagement with local and state government.
• Improving Yass Valley’s brand identity. There is still a need to create, cultivate andcommunicate the desirability of our region as a great business and lifestyle choice.
• Cultivate new and old members and volunteers.
• Establish a membership welcome pack.
• Contribute to solutions for the shopfront and home renting issues in Yass Valley.
• Mentorships for businesses and education resources.

Once the new committee is installed, we will complete a review of what we have been doing well and identify any additional opportunities that can be pursued by each team. 

In closing, thank you again to our members for your ongoing support. I’d ask you to spread the word, invite new businesses to our events and encourage membership registration. If you’re interested in being more involved, have ideas or need support for an initiative, please speak to one of the Committee members. Yass Valley Business Chamber is only as strong our collective group of members. If you are new and discovering the Yass Valley Business Chamber for the first time, I encourage you to learn more about our membership and contact us if you have questions. 

Kind regards 

Jack Walker President, Yass Valley Business Chamber