Business News - August 2013

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Who’s Hiring?

ISSUE 221 AUGUST 2013

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FEATURES 12. A Lucky Country Makes Its Own luck 15. Who’s Hiring 28. Skills Week 32. Business Excellence

CONTENTS 4. Editor 5. Biz News 8. WCIG 10. New Appointments 18. NAB 20. Comment 21. Small Business Festival 22. Legal 23. Tax 26. Legal 27. Small Biz 31. VECCI 34. Travel 37. Masters Games 38. Tech Guy 40. Arts

15. Who’s Hiring?

42. Community 46. After Hours 50. What’s On

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BUSINESS NEWS | 3

EDITOR

Oh, to be bored...

The United States has long held election campaigns that are very big – big on wow factor, big on spectacle, and really big on speeches. They make for great viewing, and they’ve always made me very glad that they are happening over there, not over here.

importing Barack Obama’s social media campaign strategists, we may be on the receiving end of a few snappy lines of our own during the yet-to-be-called election campaign.

But I would happily forego all the one liners for a sense that whoever forms the 44th parliament will move away from narrow policy debates and genuinely act in the best interests of the people.

guess, like a lot of people, what I really want from my elected representatives is to be bored. I want to be dulled into a The Business Council of Australia says there state mind-numbing boredom by fiscally are nine key areas that the next parliament responsible policy moves aimed at longshould be focused on to ensure the future term sustainable growth. I want to be slumped prosperity of the nation. The BCA lists tax in front of the laptop trying to retain the details reform, sustainable population growth, of carefully researched social policy aimed carefully-planned infrastructure, productive at long-term sustainable and competitive workplaces, social improvement. And reduced regulation, increased I want to know that our I want to be not excited to international trade and parliament is helping the hear about the little things business, the preservation business sector... mostly that are quietly getting and further strengthening by government getting done. I want to hear about of the financial sector, a out of their way. funding announcements for coherent energy policy, local programs that make and an education and a positive difference in the lives of people training sector that fosters innovation and the who are doing it tough. I want to hear about development of smart technology, as the keys social investment strategies that allow people needed to lock in Australia’s future. There is no to create their own future paths. I want there wow factor in this list. to be fair and equitable access to health and Australia is now one of the world’s strongest education. economies, but we remain a small economy For all of that to be even remotely possible, I operating in a global world (to paraphrase BCA want to know that our parliament is helping the President, Tony Shepherd). The attributes we business sector get on with steadily growing need to exhibit as a nation are no different to the economy – mostly by government getting those any small business needs to exhibit to out of their way. succeed over the long-term; we need to be innovative, we need to be agile, we need to be What America does exceptionally is produce responsible and we need to be well managed. a well-turned political line. “…of the people, by the people and for the people” is a superbly So, Messrs. Rudd and Abbott, please, bore succinct explanation of what governments me… bore us all, for the good of the nation. should be all about. And with Kevin Rudd

Davina Montgomery

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BIZ NEWS

Emissions trading good for business The Australian Industry Group has lauded the early commencement of emissions trading as a positive move that will meet the major parties’ shared emissions targets.

“W

e will be looking for more detail, but in principle a switch to much lower internationally linked carbon prices next year would be very positive for businesses struggling with high energy prices and lost competitiveness. The earlier move to emissions trading would cut the carbon price by as much as three quarters while not reducing our capacity to meet the objectives of reducing emissions in line with Australia’s targets. The target, which is backed by both major political parties, is to reduce emissions to 5 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. This will be met as a result of the quantity of permits issued by the Australian Government and this will not be affected by the earlier transition to the emissions trading regime,” said Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox.

“However, industry has called for an immediate change along these lines and it would be preferable to see lower prices adopted this year and backdated to 1 July. This is something all sides of politics could

support either by floating the carbon price right away, or lowering the fixed price until auctioning can begin. This is a step that is both practical and affordable.

“As it is, an ETS starting in July 2014 would save business several billion dollars in costs that, our research shows, they would be very unlikely to recover from their customers.

Further, energy prices would be lowered both for businesses and for households. This would help stimulate the economy at a time when it is struggling to transition from the slowdown in mining investment.

“We are open to further changes, including by adopting the Coalition’s direct action proposal when further detail is available and it is demonstrably shown to achieve abatement at a cost lower than the internationally-linked emissions trading scheme. We urge all sides of politics to work together to improve business competitiveness now, through internationally competitive carbon prices, and into the future through a workable, efficient policy framework,” Mr Willox said.

Skilled migration body for Geelong The City of Greater Geelong has recently been gazetted as a Regional Certifying Body for businesses seeking to sponsor skilled overseas professionals.

The Geelong Regional Certifying Body will operate as a service to the region’s employers who have critical skill shortages that cannot be filled from the local labour market.

The Geelong Regional Certifying Body will ensure that employers with genuine skill shortages have access to the important and limited Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa.

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme allows employers in regional areas of Australia to sponsor employees who are foreign nationals for a permanent visa to work in Australia.

As a Regional Certifying Body, The City will assess employers’ Nomination applications and provide the Federal Minister with advice on the application, including: There is a genuine need for the employer to employ someone to work in the position.

The position cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident who is living in the same local area.

The business is located with the City’s designated area of authority.

To find out more about applying for an RCB assessment through the Geelong RCB, visit w w w.geelongaustralia.com.au / business / migration and click the RCB tab.

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BIZ NEWS

Job creation grants open for business The funding announcements that rolled into town in the aftermath of the announcement of the Ford Australia ceasing production in 2016 have come to fruition, with $24.5 million in funding grants available to businesses for projects that generate new jobs in the region.

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ity of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Keith Fagg, has urged Geelong based businesses to apply for the first round of grants from the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (GRIIF – and if you are keeping up with all of the new acronyms coming our way, you are doing very well indeed).

Applications to the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund will be jointly assessed by AusIndustry and the Victorian Government Department of State Development, Business and Innovation.

The first round of funding will be open for applications until 26 September.

• The number of sustainable new jobs the project will create.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for companies that are planning to expand or innovate and I strongly urge local firms to submit an application by the first round deadline of 26 September this year,” said Mayor Fagg.

The fund, comprising $15 million Australian Government funding, $4.5 million Victorian Government funding and $5 million from Ford Australia, was established in response to the announcement by Ford Australia that it would cease its Australian vehicle and engine manufacturing operations from October 2016.

Garden Shed Sales – The New Australian Economic Indicator?

The strength of the Australian economy differs depending on who you listen to. Economists argue the Australian economy has never been stronger. Retailers counter that consumer confidence and sales are low, that the indicators the economists are looking at are wrong.

Rob Barron – an online shed retailer from Sydney - believes some of the current economic indicators need to be retired and new, more relevant ones implemented. “If the number crunchers in Canberra want to really know what is happening in the Australian economy, they need to look at my shed sale statistics,” says Rob, who operates shedspot.com.au.

Amongst the criteria applications will be assessed against are: • The net economic benefit to the Geelong region.

• The contribution of the project towards the diversification of the region’s economy.

Applications for the first round close at 5.00pm Thursday 26 September 2013 and should be made via the AusIndustry website at www.ausindustry.gov.au.

Information seminars are scheduled to take place in August 2013.

Further information is available from the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46, the AusIndustry website at ausindustry.gov.au or by contacting VICIIF@innovation.gov.au

“When business confidence is high, sales of our larger sheds increase, as businesses requiring more plant and equipment storage room jump into the shed market. When consumer confidence is high, sales of large backyard and workshop sheds increase as more new homes are built and older homes are renovated, driving demand for these large sheds. When consumer confidence is low, overall sales of sheds decrease, but sales of smaller sheds increase as people needing a shed tighten their belts and get the smallest one possible.

“It’s an extremely useful and accurate economic health indicator and I’m offering my stats to the Reserve Bank to assist them with their economic forecasting,” Rob says, tongue in cheek.

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BIZ NEWS

NBN comes to town If your office is in the city, then the NBN is coming to a street near you – and, if you’re lucky, it might even come to your door.

N

BN Co has released a map detailing where construction of the National Broadband Network will start in Central Geelong. Member for Corio, Richard Marles, has welcomed the detail of where the NBN is planned for the CBD.

“The map shows that NBN fibre is being rolled out in the central Geelong area, which will allow business and residents access to faster, affordable and more reliable broadband.”

For more information on when the NBN is coming to your area, you can go to www.nbnco.com.au/rollout and type in your address.

Local businesses and not-for-profit organisations in Geelong will also receive free expert advice on how to make the most of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy, Senator Kate Lundy, Member for Corio, Richard Marles MP, and Member for Corangamite, Darren Cheeseman MP, announced the funding today during a visit to Geelong sports bar and restaurant, The Sporting Globe, which is working with Darebin Enterprise Centre.

“The Digital Enterprise program will help businesses like The Sporting Globe get the most out Darebin Enterprise Centre of the NBN and improve how Limited will receive an they deliver services online, said Local businesses and not-for-profit additional $639,500 through Senator Lundy. the Rudd Government’s organisations in Geelong will also receive Digital Enterprise program to free expert advice on how to make the most “It’s great news that SMEs and deliver services in Geelong not-for-profit organisations in of the National Broadband Network (NBN). and Melbourne’s North West Geelong will have access to this and Outer East. The Darebin important training. With the NBN, a Enterprise Centre Limited business in Geelong can compete has been funded to work with with companies in Sydney or local businesses in Geelong to raise awareness of the many Shanghai, Melbourne or Manhattan.” benefits of high-speed broadband and increase the take up of For more information, visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/ digital business methods. digitalenterprise

BUSINESS NEWS | 5

WCIG/WCN Strengthening Connections with Geelong Businesses and Jobseekers WCIG assists eligible jobseekers between the ages of 14-65 and has participants ready for employment. WCIG also specialises in mental health disability employment services.

‘Experienced not-for-profit disability employment services provider Westgate Community Initiatives Group (WCIG Inc.) as lead agent of the Working Communities Network (WCN) consortium is quickly building a strong profile in the Geelong region as an organisation of choice for both businesses and clients seeking partnerships for employment.

employees a business could wish for, especially when they have the right support to reach their potential and security in their employment.

WCIG/WCN enjoys strong relationships with a number of larger employers, like the Subway franchise in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, which have been a strong advocate in their support of our methods, operations and importantly, the results of the partnership and the team members they have gained through their work with WCIG/WCN. The traineeship opportunities for people with a disability are also fantastic ways to introduce participants to a new phase of their introduction or reintroduction to the workforce.

With recently opened offices in Geelong ,Corio and an outreach service in Whittington, WCIG/ WCN has strong and active networks with employers, and is seeking to further strengthen their ties with local businesses all in the name of their overarching vision of ‘Communities working together’, and ‘Workforce participation for all’.

WCIG/WCN, also specialises in mental health disability WCIG/WCN intends to expand its existing employment services, has business networks through collaborative participants ready for employment.

‘WCIG/WCN is partnerships which support People Any workplace or business that is looking to add a valuable asset passionate about with Disability into ongoing sustainable employment. If you want to find out more to their workforce should contact WCIG/WCN to explore the options improving the lives of about the excellent candidates that available. WCIG/WCN is committed people living with a WCIG/WCN have to fill your vacancies, or even to discuss how we can support to assisting many people living disability’ your existing staff to gain a better with a disability who are keen and understanding of PwD, please contact us willing to re-enter the workplace on the below numbers. and maintain a financially secure, meaningful role in society.

WCIG/WCN’s Geelong offices are located at Level 2, 65 Brougham Street, Geelong, phone 5249 5855; and Unit WCIG/WCN provides many support incentives to both businesses and participants to ensure those involved are 1001, Corio Shopping Centre, Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio, phone 5245 3008. Enquiries are welcome any time settled into an optimal routine as quickly and seamlessly between 9am – 5pm weekdays. as possible. Businesses are offered wage subsidies, the facilitation of any workplace modifications that may be required, as well as onsite support for both the business and the participant from a fully-trained WCIG /WCN support staff member. Weekly Post Placement Support (PPS) for the participant occurs on an ongoing basis to create an additional support structure for the employee and employer. WCIG/ WCN also provides training for fellow staff members in the workplace as necessary to further facilitate the transition to working with or alongside someone living with a disability.

WCIG/WCN is passionate about improving the lives of people living with a disability, and making these linkages work for everyone, whilst understanding that much relies upon finding the right fit between employees and employers. From over 25 years of experience, WCIG/ WCN has seen that time and time again that people with a disability are some of the most reliable and committed

Creating partnerships for employment for people living with a disability

Visit or call us any time between 9pm and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Geelong (03) 5249 5855 Level 2, 65 Brougham Street, Geelong VIC 3220

Corio (03) 5245 3008 Unit 1001, Corio Shopping Centre, Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio VIC 3214

NEW APPOINTMENTS CREATIVE

BANKING

Adcell Group is pleased to welcome Linda France and Eagle Creative to their team.

Linda has over twenty years experience in magazines, newsletters, annual reports, point of sale marketing as well as a comprehensive understanding of all forms of media, from traditional print to the latest technological developments in the digital and electronic platforms.

Adam Doolan has recently joined the Westpac Geelong team, in the position of Local Business Banker. Adam has 10 years experience in the financial services industry, spending the last 5 years with Westpac. Adam had gained a great knowledge of the SME market in Geelong working as a Local Business Banker in the area.

BANKING

FINANCE Allan Houliston has joined Rams Home Loans Geelong as Senior Home Loan Manager. Allan has a strong awareness of the local market having previously worked as a finance manager with a major bank within Geelong for the last 5 years. He brings a strong credit skills coupled with a customer centric approach.

FINANCE

Gerald West has been appointed as Bank Manager with the team at Westpac Geelong Corner Moorabool and Malop Street. Previously Gerald was the Director of Sales at Mercure Geelong, and joins Westpac with a wealth of sales and management experience from the hospitality industry.

Customer service and advocacy are a high priority for Gerald.

REAL ESTATE

RAMS Home Loans Geelong congratulates Craig Lowther on his new position as Customer Service Manager. Since 2005 Craig has been very proactive as Business Manager and welcomes the challenges in the new position. Craig has over 30 years experience in banking and finance and bring a wealth of knowledge to the new position.

For the past 17 years, Tony Young has worked in quality boutique agencies, first in Adelaide then in Geelong. An active sales representative and auctioneer, Tony has now joined the highly experienced team at Whitford Real Estate as a solid all rounder with an extensive knowledge of the Geelong market.

TM

Visit our new website from your laptop Online applications Online quoting portal Live question portal Morris Finance TV

Call 1300 4 MORRIS 10 | BUSINESS NEWS

www.morrisďŹ nance.com.au

NEW APPOINTMENTS Recruitment Paul Warren has devoted over 14 years in Business Development and Recruitment roles with a heavy emphasis in relationship building and networking. Elementary Employment Services is delighted to welcome Paul as the Senior Recruitment Advisor and looks forward to an exciting future working to meet your business needs.

Recruitment The AGB Group is pleased to welcome Cellina Italiano, a motivated and energetic individual, as Personal Assistant to CFO, CEO and MD. Cellina, who is a qualified and experienced teacher, is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) and is pleased to undertake her challenging new role.

COMMUNITY SERVICES Karyn Hughes has been appointed as the General Manager Risk and Compliance at Karingal. A former consultant and Director of Corporate Governance Risk and Compliance Services at Deakin University, Karyn is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Board Director at the Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre.

GENERAL INSURANCE Chris Russell has been appointed as the General Insurance Broker at Crowe Horwath. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge in the General Insurance field specialising in the needs of SME, rural, commercial property and domestic clients, providing public and product liability, professional indemnity, business and trade packs, personal insurance and farm insurance.

LENDING BROKING Rodney Bed recently joined Crowe Horwath to provide business and private clients in Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast with business and property loans, cashflow finance, construction finance, residential and commercial sub-division finance, and farm finance. Rodney brings 35 years’ experience, mostly at CBA. YOUTH SERVICES John Townsend has been appointed CEO of Barwon Youth. John brings a strong background in social work and senior management in the community services and health industries, having worked extensively in England, Wales and Australia for government and NGOs. John looks forward to building the capacity and potential of this progressive youth services organisation.

T 5224 7700 www.crowehorwath.com.au

L1, 200 Malop Street Geelong 3220 T 5224 7700 E geelong@crowehorwath.com.au

The relationship you can count on

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BUSINESS NEWS | 11

FEATURE

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A lucky country makes its own luck

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If Geelong wants to take advantage of the new broadband era and become a leader rather than a laggard, we need to get on with it – yesterday… That’s the message from IBM’s Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Andrew Stevens, and ‘Smarter Cities Executive, Catherine Caruana-McManus, at a presentation given to local business people and stakeholders at the Gordon Gallery in July. uring the Setting a Digital Services Agenda for Geelong – The Time is Now presentation, Andrew and Catherine explored the reasons why cities and companies now working on their digital strategies have a greater chance of being leaders in the broadband era.

As well as being instrumented, intelligent and interconnected, smarter cities are also making good use of the information they use technology to collect. “It’s one thing to have information, but it’s what you do with information that’s really important,” Catherine said.

“There’s a lot of macro-economic change underway in this country and it’s happening right here,” Andrew said, while talking about how digital services is playing a part in this. “Some of it is difficult, some of it is painful, most of it I would see is inevitable… the question is, do we wait for the inevitable or do we try to get ahead of it? Our view is that cities like Geelong and businesses who actually take an early lead are going to really position themselves well.”

“What we’ve found, where we’re leveraging the capacity for cities to become more productive, more efficient and provide greater access to wellbeing for their citizens, is when they’re using analytics and information systems to do that. Instead of thinking about the decision at the time, they’re thinking ahead of time and they have the capability to do that because the information has been collected and analysed.”

Andrew believes we are now in a post-industrial era and the “real golden era is yet to be seen in this nation”. This will be accelerated by the rollout of high speed broadband, which will enable the growth of digital services and the ability of businesses to take advantage of new opportunities and markets, locally and globally.

“We live in a highly competitive environment, where cities and regions are competing with other cities and regions,” said Catherine Caruana-McManus during her presentation in which she gave examples of Townsville and Geraldton as regional cities embracing digital opportunities to realise their ambitions of being a sustainable city and a digital services hub respectively. “At the same time, it’s about collaboration. The critical thing is how does a city like Geelong become an economic powerhouse? We believe very strongly that in order to be an economic powerhouse you must engage around being a smarter city.”

12 | BUSINESS NEWS

‘Thinking ahead of time’ is what Cr Rod Macdonald, holder of the portfolios of The Knowledge Economy, Planning and Major Projects for City of Greater Geelong, is keen to get the City and local businesses doing when it comes to digital services. He invited Andrew and Catherine to Geelong after hearing Andrew speak at an Australian Computer Society forum in Melbourne earlier this year. What struck him was the urgency with which we need to address this change in eras.

“When does an organisation need to develop a digital strategy?

‘The time was yesterday!’

“At IBM, Andrew has been caught up in the changes taking place across the globe and challenging them directly. He’s a very experienced technologist and a forthright speaker. In Geelong we need to hear from people with vision and people who have credibility and expertise that others will listen to. My only regret is that we didn’t have half of Geelong there to hear his message.”

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FEATURE Cr Macdonald says the digital era is well and truly accelerating, with change a constant feature.

“Within two or three years, a new product or innovation is being superseded. Whatever can be digitised will be. It essentially means that business models need to take account of this [and] that is the basic premise that a business needs to understand.

“To continue to grow in the face of this change, an organisation needs to be flexible and able to adapt and, in many ways, think outside the square. [It needs to ask] questions such as: what are our skills, what are the new trends in my industry, how can we set up to take advantage of the opportunities?

much like the environment that we’re in. Industries and individual businesses will have both challenges and opportunities thrown at them. It’s how we respond that matters.”

Cr Macdonald, Andrew and Catherine all agree that digital technology will also be the driver of new business and the NBN will play a big role in this for Geelong, the G21 region and Australia.

“This is where the big change will occur - the key for regional Australia. The decision about where people decide to live will be changed forever by the coming of the NBN. It is a vital piece of infrastructure and, at the same time, [it] allows us to be a part of the modern world,” Cr Macdonald says.

“Businesses must also consider that their market is no longer just in Geelong, but across Victoria, Australia, or Asia and beyond. “At a time when the planet is developing ever increasing demands This is where the digital revolution is an important factor. Consider for data, the NBN will put our country on a platform where we some of its impacts on a business, will have the opportunity to compete. starting with the web. A quality site Without the NBN, Australia would is essential. In the past, the phone be consigned to the ‘ICT dustbin’ of book, phone calls, brochures or Asia. media advertising were the keys, but “Everything that I’m learning is that in the “No longer will people have to live in using the Web allows your business trades, we need a lot more maths and Melbourne or Sydney or any other to be found and your products can be science than we needed in the past.” capital city. They will be able to live presented to a worldwide audience. If anywhere in the country and be others make use of it and you don’t, connected - instantly - to the world. then you get left behind.”

The decision [about where to live] Lowering and avoiding unnecessary costs are vital for all will come down to other factors, with lifestyle being right up at businesses and using the right technology can make a real the top of the list. difference, Rod says. “Do you maintain expensive servers, “We’ve talked about this over many years in Geelong. It’s constantly need to update software, have issues backing up and becoming increasingly important that resources are put into maintaining data? Using a cloud service could be a solution… maintaining our natural advantages and improving our offering perhaps at a fraction of the cost for which you maintain your to residents. People will be attracted not only by direct work current data. prospects, but also what job is available for my partner, where “The approach here is look at your operations, understand what do the kids go to school, what do I do on weekends or after work, could benefit from technology and what technology could allow or how connected to a major capital city I am should I wish to go you to change in the way you operate to increase efficiency and there for other attractions? reduce costs. If you can digitise it, do it.”

“In Geelong, we are among the first regions in Australia to have Cities and regions also need to ask questions about the fibre rolled out. We will have a temporary advantage over some opportunities and potential in embracing the digital revolution areas. But it won’t last. We need to move quickly and establish and the process is now underway to develop a Digital Economy Geelong as an innovative and attractive place to live and to set Plan for the G21 region. ICT Geelong (the Geelong region ICT up a business. Others surely will.” cluster) has been engaged by Regional Development Australia According to Cr Macdonald, Geelong is in a prominent position and the G21 Regional Alliance to draft the plan, which is and ‘ticks a lot of boxes’, a point also raised by Andrew and expected to capture a snapshot of the level of digital adoption Catherine. and digital capabilities of organisations, as well as provide recommendations to ensure the region is well positioned to take “Basically, there is digital opportunity for you as a city, and the advantage of the NBN. A survey of local businesses from all question is really will you rise with all boats according to the tide industries in the region was conducted in mid-July to understand and wait for the inevitable, or will you be leaders?” Andrew asked the current use of digital platforms and expected trends in digital his audience in the Gordon Gallery to consider the near future. adoption.

“You have some natural advantages here around your location, your lifestyle, your workforce and the infrastructure that already According to the digital economy proposal strategy, “the project exists, and the NBN is going to provide a real step up in that will provide a current status of digital uptake and adoption opportunity. [There are] a number of government projects here, within the G21 region. It will also provide case studies of ‘best including the NDIS, which could be a real leader, and the TAC practice’ in digital adoption by businesses and regions, to show and others have chosen to locate here because of your strengths. what can be achieved by successful implementation of digital initiatives. This will also be assessed in the context of future “The opportunity isn’t just a market here in Geelong, it’s a market implementation of high-speed broadband (via the NBN) in the in Australia, it’s a market worldwide. There’s a law on opportunity region.” A summary of outcomes and recommendations should in the digital world that says that every opportunity has an equal be available in October. and opposite threat and I don’t think it’s a viable strategy… to say we’ll just wait, we’ll wait for this to take root, we’ll rise with all Council is also planning and developing a digital strategy to boats, because that’s due to happen. I would recommend that guide the future development of Geelong, identify opportunities you engage…” and outline a way forward.

Yesterday, that is.

“A documented strategy is important, as it allows people to follow and piece together the priorities and understand the journey,” Cr Macdonald says. “As a living document it will be changeable, JUDY BAULCH

BUSINESS NEWS | 13

Community Partnership

Kings Funerals contributes to Hospital Community Appeal

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ings Funerals is proud to be a partner of the St John of God Geelong Hospital redevelopment Community Appeal. This partnership will create a therapy garden, with the dual purpose of assisting rehabilitation patients as well as providing a tranquil space where patients, family members and friends can peacefully spend time together.

Louise King said St John of God Hospital Geelong plays an important role in the community, offering care and support to patients and their families across the Geelong region and well into Western Victoria.

“Much of their care is for people experiencing health challenges, changes in personal circumstances due to health-related issues, or receiving complex care,” she said.

“The therapy garden will provide a place where rehabilitation patients can begin restoring function through the experience of walking on different surfaces including grass, gravel and harder surfaces like concrete, as well as taking some time out to spend with their loved ones.”

St John of God has a vision to become the best regional private hospital in Australia and the development of this therapy garden is a wonderful way to create a healing space that will complement the delivery of distinctive care and services to our community.

“As a family, and as a company, we provide support on a daily basis to families suffering loss, or who are supporting a lovedone at end of life. The therapy garden provides a wonderful opportunity for supporting people to renew spirits, bring a sense of serenity and healing and making the time spent in hospital a more uplifting experience.” Louise said.

St John of God Hospital CEO, Mr Stephen Roberts said that without Kings’ donation the creation of the garden would not have been possible.

“This donation embodies the giving nature of many in Geelong’s community that together have contributed support for the expansion of the hospital.”

“Through this donation, Kings Funerals are creating an opportunity for innovation within the redevelopment that will better help us meet the needs of our community,” he said.

The redevelopment is set to be completed April 2014, and at this time the reflection garden will be open for public use.

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14 | BUSINESS NEWS

COVER STORY

Who’s Hiring?

News reports on who’s firing (or retrenching) tend to make big headlines, particularly when large numbers of jobs go from big employers. Job losses have become part of the landscape across Victoria in 2013, but the real question isn’t who’s firing, it’s who’s hiring?

G

eelong has faced or is getting ready to face job losses at Qantas, Target, Ford, potentially Shell, and perhaps Alcoa.

Jobs are in the thoughts of many of us at the moment, with recent announcements causing concern for our own futures and that of our children.

Most of us know someone who has been affected and understand the turmoil that comes in the wake of job loss.

There have and will be other job losses in the region, as a result of fall out down the supply chain and current government restructuring. A lot of these losses will bite below the radar.

The devastation that this causes individual families cannot be underestimated. However, an objective look at the current jobs situation reveals some strength in the jobs market, and reasons for optimism. Perhaps one of the most positive signs is the determination with which Geelong’s decision makers are addressing the issue.

Understanding of current dynamics and the means through which transformation can be achieved is strong.

The Federal and State governments are also investing heavily, with $24.5 million allocated to help affected workers reskill and find new work in Geelong. Ford has also contributed to this fund.

For a quick reality check, manufacturing is no longer the biggest employer in the region. A diversified economy has been emerging over the past 10 to 20 years, with employment in other areas growing as the more traditional local economic bases have declined.

As G21 CEO Elaine Carbines points out, “We have been working for a long time to look at how to transition to a diversified economy. Geelong is in a transition phase and

we shouldn’t be afraid. We intend to take everyone with us. That is the role of the G21,” she said.

Ms Carbines highlights the huge growth in health, education, hospitality and new types of manufacturing that has diversified our economy.

“Large employers in manufacturing have been very hard hit by the global financial crisis, the high Australian dollar, the world wide glut in aluminium - and their own lack of agility in adapting to change,” she said.

Today, manufacturing accounts for 12.8 per cent of the workforce. Of course, this is still a good proportion, but in 1986 it was almost 28 per cent, accounting for more than a quarter of the Geelong workforce. Now coming third, behind the health care/social assistance and retail sectors, manufacturing currently employs around 10,154 people in the region. It is still the largest contributor to Gross Regional Product, at $1.7 billion value added.

Despite the hit that manufacturing has taken in Geelong – and in recognition of its strong contribution - all key players agree that manufacturing still has a strong future in Geelong. It will be a different future, however, with Geelong set to be an advanced manufacturing hub, rather than a post-manufacturing economy.

Chairman of the Geelong Manufacturing Council, David Sykes, emphasises the importance of retaining manufacturing in the region.

“Skills are transferrable,” he said. “Manufacturing jobs are generally well paying and full time. This supports individuals and their families, adding significant value to the community. Services do not make manufacturing, whereas manufacturing supports services.

BUSINESS NEWS | 15

COVER STORY “The resilience of individuals is amazing,” Sykes added.

“I am sure many will rise to the occasion, accept the challenges and grow into new opportunities. What these may be is somewhat speculative, but the days of having a “job for life” have gone. We all of us have our skills, knowledge and work ethic to sell.”

International research backs up the critical role that manufacturing has to play in developed economies. World expert on innovation management and strategy, Professor Göran Roos, who visited Geelong earlier this year, argues that a healthy manufacturing sector is a “must for any advanced economy with ambitions to maintain economic and social well being.”

Professor Roos’ research shows that labour productivity and earnings are substantially higher in manufacturing than in the rest of the economy. For economies such as Geelong, he emphasises the need to aim for “high value add, low volume, niche product/service/system offerings.”

Europe has retained a manufacturing focus for the future and, overall, manufacturing is not in decline in the OECD. “Like Switzerland, Australia has an outstanding base of engineering and technical talent. As long as labour does not exceed 15 per cent of the cost base, the disadvantages of offshoring outweigh the advantages,” he said.

Deakin University’s Vice-Chancellor, Jane den Hollander.

“Education is not just about jobs, but about preparing people for the 21st Century, who can think critically, culturally and entrepreneurially. We don’t know what the later part of the century will be like yet, but we will need people who are able to think, and who are excellent communicators.”

It is estimated that 65 per cent of primary school students will work in jobs that have not yet been invented. Also, the current pace of change means that, on average, 30 per cent of the curriculum needs to be updated at the end of each year of university. This means that preparing for the future is less skill based and more about having the generic skills to transfer and adapt to new situations.

Professor den Hollander emphasised the importance of digital fluency, with the Australian digital economy currently estimated at $50 billion and growing. Online retail and teleworking are also forecast to grow rapidly.

In relation to the second Skilling the Bay priority, capitalising on infrastructure development, City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Keith Fagg, argues that the region has the infrastructure for a strong future, including the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct (GREP) and the potential development of Geelong as a Centre of Excellence in areas such as advanced manufacturing/materials/carbon fibre, disability care and the TAC.

Strong government support is, however, vital. “The smaller “We have the fundamentals right the economy, the greater for growth in logistics - with port, the need for government “It is estimated that 65 per cent of primary rail, air and road – and we have intervention – for industry, school students will work in jobs that have tourism, which brings over $1 innovation and research policy billion to the Geelong economy not yet been invented. Also, the current - to ensure strong, diversified, each year and employs over local manufacturing. You need pace of change means that, on average, 3,800 people,” he said. a well functioning innovation 30 per cent of the curriculum needs to system.”

There will also be strong be updatedd at the end of each year of construction opportunities in university.”

An important state-funded the region, with the population project that is addressing expected to grow by 200,000 in the Geelong jobs issue - by the next 30 to 40 years. creating a jobs vision for Geelong and working to improve the match between emerging job opportunities and skill development - is the “Skilling the Bay” project, led by The Gordon, in partnership with Deakin University. The project’s recent jobs summit brought together key decision-makers – from industry, business, government, and the welfare and education sectors - to identify strategies to help Geelong through the transition process.

In order to create sufficient jobs growth, the summit identified the need for ‘dynamic change’ that will focus on: enhancing and attracting industry, moving to a knowledgecentric and innovative economy, and developing the skills of the workforce (including working to alleviate disadvantage).

The summit prioritised four areas, for which strategies are expected by September.

• Increase Geelong’s education attainment levels, which lag behind the state average; • Maximise the potential of infrastructure to enable economic and social development; • Attract public and private sector investment, with a focus on the private sector; and • Create a culture of enhanced entrepreneurialism.

Consistent with its history of manufacturing, Geelong has lower levels of higher education attainment, but higher levels of vocational education than the state average. Year 12 completion rates for the G21 region also lag - at 36 per cent of the population, compared to 42 per cent, for Victoria.

“The key to sustaining future growth is education,” said

16 | BUSINESS NEWS

“We shouldn’t limit ourselves to one industry. We need to be open to opportunity. Collaboration needs to be the name of the game. No single team member has it all. The benefits of collaboration and clustering can achieve great outcomes.

For instance, we will have Deakin’s new Fibre Centre and Institute for Frontier Materials; and the new Centre for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, which can work with CSIRO’s animal health lab; and Disability Care Australia, which can cluster with Barwon Health and the TAC.” The Skilling the Bay project has identified a number of potential growth industries available to Geelong: • Industries for transition: Clean tech and advanced manufacturing, and food manufacturing.

• Industries to further enhance: Transport and logistics; construction; and education (international student market).

• Industries to develop and attract: Advanced materials design; fashion and retail; and health technology and innovation.

Skilling the Bay Project Manager, Greg Leahy says: “Which of these is developed and supported will, in part, arise out of the Skilling the Bay initiative and the work of other key agencies, including Enterprise Geelong and State and Federal Governments.”

As the Chair of the Skilling the Bay Steering Group, Grant Sutherland explains: “It is likely that Geelong will focus on building on its considerable existing strengths to further diversify the regional economy and establish an ongoing job creation model.”

COVER STORY The Geelong Mayor agrees, adding that, of the above industries, transport and logistics has particularly strong potential, especially in the area of port operations. On the recommendation of Infrastructure Australia, the City of Geelong, the Committee for Geelong and a number of port users recently commissioned a study on the future of port growth. The results of this study are due to be released by the end of August.

fostering of the arts and a vibrant culture will attract new people, help to retain our youth and contribute directly to creative perspectives and solutions.

‘We must never forget the centrality of culture and the arts, and its ability to attract people and assist in creating new industries and new ideas,” said Professor den Hollander.

“Successful businesses are evolving to be healthy, productive and agile,” she added. “Smart businesses nurture a culture of innovation and use that. We must innovate ourselves first, or risk becoming part of the problem.”

As regards the third Skilling the Bay priority, there is universal agreement that greater private investment is needed in Geelong. Research shows that the service sector Job Creation in the Geelong Region cannot be the economic base • Cotton-on set to employ 400 staff over the coming of a region, with its reliance 18 months. on government funding and lack of external selling power • National launch site of Disability Care Australia – making it inherently vulnerable.

60-80 jobs.

Geelong’s largest employers (over 500 employees) largely • National Headquarters of Disability Care Australia – operate on government funding, 300 jobs from next year. employing around 15 per cent • $24.5 million jobs fund (from State and Federal of the workforce. These include Governments and Ford).

Barwon Health, the Department of Education, Deakin University, • Potable water pipeline in Golden Plains Shire to the City of Greater Geelong, the support intensive agriculture -expecting 775 jobs Transport Accident Commission over 10 years. and the Gordon.

• $10 million revamping of CBD - to encourage With an aging population in commercial and business services. the Geelong region - and • The $103 million Australian Future Fibres Research opportunities to service fastgrowing Wyndham, particularly in and Innovation Centre (AFFRIC) is currently under construction at Deakin University. It incorporates the education and training - service growth is expected to continue, $34 million Australian Carbon Fibre Research Facility, especially in health, education, which will house a carbon fibre pilot line, capable finance and insurance, arts and of producing 20 tonnes of aerospace quality fibre recreation, professional services, annually. AFFRIC will provide for up to 300 additional accommodation and food. staff and students.

However, this growth needs to be balanced by private investment.

• Current upgrading of Geelong Hospital, including three new wards.

The City of Greater Geelong has just appointed a new Executive Director for Enterprise Geelong.

According to Cr Fagg, the sole focus of Enterprise Geelong will be on economic development activities, to work towards sustainable employment growth and to encourage business and property investment.

• New 32-bed community hospital at Waurn Ponds (Barwon Health).

“It will be all about jobs,” Cr Fagg said. “Its focus will be on private enterprise.”

• Avalon Airport - approval for an international terminal (development could bring 1000 jobs).

“It is a challenge and an opportunity for us to create a situation where private enterprise sees Geelong as a great place to do business, with affordable land, great skills and an attractive lifestyle,” the Mayor said.

• The Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases ($12 million collaborative research hub) (30 new ongoing jobs – 107 construction jobs).

• Expansion of St John of God Hospital, to be completed by May 2014 (includes 64 new beds) – 125 new ongoing jobs across nursing, therapists, medical, admin, etc.

• New $447 million Epworth Hospital (jointly with Deakin) in Waurn Ponds -1000 construction jobs, 1,100 ongoing jobs.

• Extension of Geelong Ring Road to the Bellarine Peninsula (Portarlington Rd.)

• Construction (population expected to grow 200,000 in the next 30-40 years).

Finally, with respect to the fourth priority - creating a culture of enhanced entrepreneurialism a strong change is required.

“The key to economic development is not to pick the winners, but to create an environment where winners can emerge,” said Cr Fagg.

A creative class, including entrepreneurs, can contribute to expanding mindsets, networks and connections. The

According to Geelong’s Chamber of Commerce, the contribution of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to employment in Geelong cannot be under-estimated.

“They are the engine room of the economy, in terms of employment growth, and in many ways are equally as important as larger businesses,” said Kylie Warne, President of the Geelong Chamber.

It is estimated that SMEs businesses employing up to 200 staff - employ over 60 per cent of the total Australian workforce. Ms Warne said that SMEs provide work in multiple sectors, “putting our future employment eggs in a wide range of sectorial baskets, rather than just one.”

Given long-term sustained support, such as that which manufacturing has received in recent times, Ms Warne believes that, within similar three to five-year timeframes, “micro businesses and SMEs could employ hundreds, or even thousands, of additional people.”

Another crucial factor in Geelong’s future is the need for businesses to operate in the global context. For instance, by 2050 Indonesia will be the fourth largest economy, with 60 million people in the consumer class, who have a large demand for goods, services and lifestyle products.

“We need to lift our gaze,” said Cr Fagg. “The sheer volume of South East Asia, together with Europe and our other export markets, offers tremendous opportunities.”

Claire Whiteley CLAIRE WHITELEY

Claire Whiteley is a writer and PR specialist with over 15 years experience, in sectors ranging from tertiary education, finance and transport, to government bodies and UNESCO. Claire currently manages Reach PR - a Geelong-based PR consultancy - helping businesses, research organisations and government agencies to get their message heard in the right places.

www.reachpr.com.au

BUSINESS NEWS | 17

ADVERTISING FEATURE

A New Era of Value Added Banking

N

AB has opened its new Geelong Business Centre – the first NAB Business Centre in Australia.

Stretching the size of four tennis courts, the facility in Brougham St will house around 50 Business Banking staff, with an open-door policy, giving customers free access to meeting and conference rooms, event spaces and free Wi-Fi in an open-plan format.

Barb Cronin, Business Banking Executive, said the opening of the Business Centre was another way NAB was investing in the state economy.

“NAB is a strong supporter of investing in local communities, and we’re delighted to be cementing our position in the greater Geelong area with this new $2.5 million business facility,” Ms Cronin said.

“Our purpose at NAB is built around putting our customers at the heart of everything we do and helping them realise their potential, the Geelong Business Centre will help us deliver this.”

City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Cr Keith Fagg, has welcomed NAB’s investment in local business in and around Geelong.

“I warmly welcome the new NAB Business Centre to the heart of central Geelong. This is a fantastic initiative to support our small to medium sized business sector, which is a key driver of economic activity and jobs,” the Mayor said.

“The innovative NAB centre will be a great resource.

With its meeting spaces, technology and business advisors on hand it will encourage local business people to meet and network in central Geelong.

Congratulations to NAB for identifying the opportunity

and bringing the new Business Centre to Geelong, which I understand is the first of its type in Australia.”

NAB Business customers and staff were involved in the design process, taking part in on site workshops and focus groups to provide feedback on which facilities would be the most beneficial to their businesses.

“The Centre provides a great opportunity for NAB to deliver even more value to its local customers,” Ms Cronin said.

“NAB Business has the most number of bankers in Geelong, and while competitors are reducing their footprint in the regional hub, NAB are proud to have an even larger presence.”

Facilities available to NAB Business customers include: · Free bookable meeting, large conference and event spaces (up to 100 people); · Casual drop-in workspaces · Access to catering through local companies; · Free WiFi - quality coffee facilities and live ABC 24 in the customer lounge; · Dedicated car parking and bike racks; · Opportunity to collaborate with NAB staff who will work in the open-plan format.

NAB Business customers are already enquiring about using the space for upcoming board meetings, AGMs, events and conferences.

NAB Business customer Andrew Richards, Managing Director of Darriwill Farm, will be one of the first of our customers to benefit from the services.

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18 | BUSINESS NEWS

Free bookable meeting rooms

ADVERTISING FEATURE

“At Darriwill Farm we are very excited about the benefits that a business like ours will gain from the opening of the new NAB business banking facility in Geelong.

The conference meeting rooms offer our business the opportunity to hold meetings with our franchisees in a central convenient location,” Mr Richards said.

Like many business people running operations in Geelong’s industrial zones, Andrew Richards has found himself holding supplier meetings in a small kitchen area at the back of a warehouse. The opening of the NAB Business Centre means these same meetings can now be held in a professional, fully serviced environment.

Ms Cronin said the Centre could also prove to be a big advantage business people who travel throughout the state or country to hold meetings.

“They can come in here and hold a teleconference with someone from interstate, or they can drop in while they are travelling to have a quick coffee, plug in their laptop and work on a strategy paper on a big LCD screen, for example,” she said.

NAB is also supporting local community organisations by welcoming them in to utilise the Centre’s meeting and conference facilities.

While this is NAB’s first Business Centre in Australia, the bank already successfully operates a number of business centres in New Zealand through the Bank of New Zealand, part of the NAB Group. BNZ have created 33 of what they call Partner Centres, which have proved incredibly popular with business customers and have provided the example for the newly created NAB Business Centre in Geelong.

The flexible, user-friendly model of business centres are becoming increasingly popular around the world, particularly in major business centres, but while those

centres operate on a user-pays system, the new NAB centre is provided free of charge.

“Already we’ve had interest from customers wanting to bank at NAB, because of the value this Centre could add to their business. These are business people who are interviewing for staff in small kitchen areas, having supplier meetings in noisy cafes, and they are putting a dollar value on what this Centre could offer their business,” Ms Cronin said.

“One of the great advantages of having a customer or a prospective customer come onsite, is that the moment they might require an asset finance specialist or a treasury specialist, they can get that from the Centre simply by stepping into the back of house and speaking to a specialist. There’s a very real immediacy to the response.”

The NAB Business Centre Geelong is a significant investment in business in both the Geelong region and across regional Victoria.

“There have been two or three headline stories recently in Geelong that have been the focus of a lot of media attention, and that can mar the broader perspective of what is really going on in Geelong. Once you look beyond those headlines, you can see that what we have are massive opportunities for new businesses to develop and for the creation of new ideas. There is so much happening in the local business community and many businesses are being awarded recognition for their points of differentiation, their innovation and their leadership in sustainability.

“I call Geelong the epicentre for commerce and the City of Dreams – plenty of people don’t agree with me, but that’s how I see it,” Ms Cronin said.

The Centre is now open and NAB will continue to seek feedback from customers and staff about the concept.

Technology on tap

Quiet work spaces

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BUSINESS NEWS | 19

COMMENT in Africa (particularly in manufacturing) starts to look really interesting from a global perspective.

The African Century?

CoreData has been developing a picture of how the world’s high net worth investors (HNWIs) are investing their money, in what looks like a long lasting bear market. What is clear is that the news emerging from Europe and Asia is very different to what we’re seeing here in Australia.

W

e are witnessing a seismic change in markets, not just away from equities in general, but away from whole countries as investment hubs – as the global market enters its next phase.

For a start, Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRICs) aren’t as interesting as they once were. The HNWIs we interviewed declared that the BRIC boom is over, expecting only ‘normal’ market returns from these countries. Instead, they were seeking new destinations for their investment capital.

Two markets were persistently mentioned as ripe for investment – Africa and America.

The appetite for American investment is pretty easy to understand – it’s a straight bet on the continued rebirth and growth of an economy that is being reframed as an efficient manufacturing center with a robust indigenous demand.

Africa, as an investment market, is of most interest to them – while from the Australian perspective, it is seen as high risk, unstable, economically and politically irrational and just not worth the risk.

However, it is worth stripping away some of the noise surrounding the African market to discover what is happening there and to find out what this means – particularly for the future of manufacturing.

The ‘noise’ in the African investment numbers is investment in mining – it is such a capital-intensive industry that all the investment numbers in the sector dwarf everything else – and at a glance it appears that the lead investors in Africa are the Americans, the Europeans and then the Chinese.

If you strip out the mining numbers and look simply at manufacturing investment, the sheer scale of Chinese investment

Getting a real understanding of the scale of this investment is tricky – African nations tend not to report all investment and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) records that by June 2011 there were 1,586 ‘live’ investments in the African market place.

However, these numbers fundamentally underrepresent what is actually going on – the MOC only records investments of greater than $US100 million. Investments between $US10 and $US100 million require only provincial government records, and investments of smaller than $US10 million need no government records at all.

The bigger investments being made tend to be in infrastructure (road, rail and telephony), which Africa is desperate for. So desperate that rumour has it that they are less interested in the source and the structure of the capital than the output of the investment – which tends to suit hot money leaving ex-communist countries.

The second source of investments, which is largely unrecorded at this stage, is in manufacturing businesses – which are leaving the coastal provinces of China – traditionally the home of lowcost manufacturing for Sub-Saharan Africa.

The reasons for this are clear: a lower cost work force, less labour force regulation and fewer pollution controls. China, it seems, is effectively exporting its heavily polluting industries into nations less subject to controls.

Africa, meanwhile, seems to be entering its industrial revolution – almost three centuries after England blacked out its skies with coal fires. It has effectively become the last continent to go through the great upheaval of modernisation.

Last month, the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, met with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for four days – the topic of discussion was methods for easing Chinese investment in Nigeria.

As someone who watches investment markets keenly, it feels like a ship has sailed and, as a nation, we may have missed it.

This has been another article from the insightful minds at www.burning-pants.com. Burning Pants is a product of CoreData.

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BUSINESS EVENTS

Let’s get down to business The Geelong Small Business Festival is underway this August. Learn some new skills, brush up on legal and regulatory changes, boost your business confidence and network, network, network. All events have been developed with SMEs in mind and are presented by many of the region’s leading businesses. From social media development to sorting out your cashflow, there are is something for every business at the Geelong Small Business Festival.For full festival details or to book in to a session, visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au/gsbf.

Social Media Beyond Facebook Monday August 12 Simple techniques to grow your influence, connect with your audience and measure success. How to develop a strategy to make your social media activities as effective as possible. Many businesses have a presence on social media but don’t know if what they are doing is effective, or how to measure their audience engagement. Is it really worth it? The good news is that yes, you can strategically use social platforms (including Facebook) to grow your business, but it may require you to think differently about your product and how you present yourself.

Presented by Surf Coast Shire and Choc Chip Digital. $10 entry fee includes light refreshments.

Where: Surf Coast Shire Offices, Torquay www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au Financial Literacy Friday August 16 Learn about the links between everyday decisions and financial statements, how financial statements are developed, gain more confidence with your BAS and increase financial literacy.

Talk more confidently with your accountant or financial adviser.

Aimed at those responsible for the bookkeeping role in their business, this practical interactive workshop begins with a simple overview of accounting terminology and discussion about efficient record keeping procedures. Learn How GST works and the preparation of BAS. How your financial statements are prepared. How to understand your financial statements and the benefits of cashflow and budgeting.

Presented by Crowe Horwath, free entry.

Where: Geelong City Hall www.crowehorwath.com.au Making Cashflow work better for your Business Tuesday August 20 An opportunity to understand the key drivers of cashflow in your business and how you can best maximise their impact. The session is designed to be informative and practical in utilising the fundamentals of cashflow management that can be applied to almost any business in any industry. Contact Michael Brandt at the National Australia Bank to reserve your place now, entry is free.

Where: NAB Business Centre Geelong Michael.Brandt@nab.com.au Simple Ways to Avoid Business Costs Thursday August 22 Breakfast with Victorian Small Business Commissioner Geoff Browne as he lifts the lid on the world of commercial disputes and how to avoid them. The VSBC deals with all types of commercial disputes and Geoff will discuss the role of the VSBC and the services offered by his office and, importantly, provide some tips on avoiding costly disputes. This is also an opportunity to raise with the Commissioner issues facing small businesses.

Presented by The Office of the Small Business Commissioner.

Entry fee $15.

Where: Royal Geelong Yacht Club www.vsbc.vic.gov.au

GEELONG

Small Business Festival August 1-31 Over 40 information and training sessions at no cost or minimal cost to assist your business. Sessions include Social Media, Marketing, Leadership, Networking, Business Development and Staffing Solutions.

BOOK NOW ONLINE www.geelongaustralia.com.au/gsbf

BUSINESS NEWS | 21

LEGAL

Avoid Ructions from Unauthorised Employee Deductions Many employers wrongly assume that they are entitled to make deductions from an employee’s wages on account of costs that the employee has incurred. The permitted deductions regime under the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) is surprisingly onerous and does not allow employers to simply rely on general workplace policies or contract terms to these recover costs from an employee’s wages..

T

he most common occurrence of employers making prohibited deductions takes place when an employee’s final entitlements are being processed after termination.

If the employer finds that the employee has damaged stock, has incurred fines in company vehicles or fails to return company tools, most employers feel entitled to withhold a sum of money from the employee’s final wages equivalent to the expense that the employee has caused. However, such deductions are not always permitted.

property will not provide the employer with an automatic right to deduct these amounts from the employee’s wages. This also applies to overpayments mistakenly made to employees.

While the above may appear to suggest that employees get off scot-free, employers may still be entitled to recover these costs, albeit as a civil debt. Although, recovering costs from an employee that has left his or her employment can be difficult.

Where the employee remains employed, the employer can discuss with the employee an arrangement for the debt to be repaid.

Making prohibited deductions from an employee’s wages can attract penalties under the Act. Employers ought to seek advice before making any deduction to ensure it is permissible and to discuss strategies for recovering amounts owed by employees.

The information contained in this article is general in nature and should not in any way be construed as legal advice. You should not act on any information contained within this article before first seeking specific legal advice.

The relevant provisions of the Act prescribe the following requirements for a deduction to be permissible: - The deduction be authorised in writing by the employee.

- The amount of the deduction be specified; and - The deduction be principally for the employee’s benefit.

There may also be provisions in an applicable modern award that permit certain amounts being withheld from an employee’s wages. Furthermore, an order by the Fair Work Commission or a court can compel employers to make certain deductions.

Deductions can also be authorised by State or Commonwealth laws.

Therefore, having regard to the above requirements, a simple provision in an employee’s written contract or a workplace policy, stating that he or she will be liable for fines or lost

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TAX

Car Fringe Benefit Changes The Federal Government has announced plans to make changes to the fringe benefits tax valuations of car fringe benefits. These changes will impact business that provide motor vehicles to employees or allow employees to salary package cars. The result of these changes is increased record keeping in the form a logbook and additional Fringe Benefits Tax payable on cars predominantly used for private purposes.

What is proposed?

The Government proposes to remove the ‘statutory formula’, which is a method for calculating the value of a car Fringe Benefit.

The proposed change relates to both salary sacrificed and employer provided car fringe benefits for: • New contracts entered into after the announcement with effect from 1 April 2014; and

kilometres travelled; and the reason for the trip; and • Business use percentage.

For each financial year, vehicle owners are also required to: • Document odometer readings at the start and end of the year; • Business use percentage based on the log book; and • Retain recepts or other documents showing expenses for the vehicle (for example, fuel and oil, registration, repairs and servicing, insurance, lease payments) Other Implications These changes will significantly impact on vehicles where there is minimal or no business use and the salary sacrifice arrangements may result in little to no tax savings for the employees. It will therefore be of no benefit for the employees to enter into these arrangements.

The Government suggests that tax saving on the private use of a vehicle as a result of the statutory formula is no longer viewed as appropriate or reasonable. The Government suggest that the operating cost method is a fairer method, as it is based on actual business use and tax is only payable on the portion of operating costs attributable to private use.

The FBT changes will not only impact the vehicle owner, but will also have significant impact on administration and compliance for employers and business owners. Employers will be required for new leases will be to record the operating costs of all effected vehicles and ensure employees keep a valid logbook in order to reduce any FBT liability. An increase in Fringe Benefits Tax also results in increases The Government suggests that in payroll tax and workers compensation insurance. tax saving on the private use of a

• Existing contracts materially varied after 16 July 2013 This means that all car fringe benefits calculated using the operating cost method (commonly referred to as Logbook method) from 1 April 2014.

Employees who purchase vehicles using salary sacrifice schemes (most commonly via novated leases) will be required to keep a detailed logbook breaking down their personal and business vehicle use.

vehicle as a result of the statutory formula is no longer viewed as appropriate or reasonable.

Arrangements in place prior to 16 July 2013 will not be effected by these changes, and the statutory formula method can continue to be used unless the lease is renewed or the arrangement is materially varied.

The current statutory formula method calculates a car fringe benefit as 20% of the vehicle cost, regardless of the employee’s actual business use. The statutory formula method provides a significant tax saving for employees using their vehicle mainly for private travel, because it assumes a significant proportion of the travel will be for business purposes.

The impact to the motor vehicle industry is yet to be determined, but it has been reported that if this change becomes law, it will reduce car sales and hurt our local car manufactures, together with any business that operates commercial vehicle fleets.

[It should be noted that these are proposed changes to legislation and are not in place.]

Given the significant impact of these proposed changes, it is recommended that all new arrangements entered into or variations to current arrangements be reviewed prior to finalisation.

Under the operating cost method the car fringe benefit is the cost of running the car multiplied by the proportion of personal use. A logbook is required to be maintained to determine the proportion of personal use.

Additional Record Keeping These changes mean that the effected vehicle owners will be required to maintain a logbook. A logbook is valid for five years and must cover at least 12 continuous weeks to show: • Start and end date of the logbook period; • Odometer reading at the start and end of the logbook period; • Number of kilometres travelled for business related activities based on trips recorded in the log book; start and finish time of the trip; odometer reading at the start and end of the trip;

JANE Corneby Crowe Horwath (Aust) Pty Ltd is a member of Crowe Horwath International, a Swiss verein. Each member firm of Crowe Horwath is a separate and independent legal entity. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees.

Crowe Horwath (Aust) Pty Ltd ABN 84 006 466 351.

BUSINESS NEWS | 23

Tax & Accounting Setting up a business or managing your superannuation fund Individual, company & trust income tax returns Business Activity Statements (BAS)

www.apstax.com.au

Personal Loans Need an unsecured personal loan?

Donʼt pay credit card interest rates again.

Need cash for a car, holiday or school fees?

Apply online and have approval within 24 hours.

www.apsbs.com.au

Funeral Cover Instant cover up to $15,000 Guaranteed acceptance Only $2.60 per week Childrenʼs funeral cover only $39 per year for $7,000 of cover

www.apsbs.com.au

Wills & Estates

General Insurance Broking Home & Contents, Motor Vehicle, Boat or Caravan Landlord, Public Liability, Professional Indemnity & Business Packs

www.apsbs.com.au

Fixed Term Investments 6, 12 or 24 month fixed term investment Compound your interest Provide a regular income stream Interest Rate Card available upon application

www.apssavings.com.au

Mortgage Broking We find the best lender to suit your needs Let APS do all the paperwork Benefit from over 40 yearsʼ experience Re-finance options available

www.apsbs.com.au

Financial Planning

Wills & Powers of Attorney tration Estate Planning & Estate Adminis Do you have a will?

.a www.apswills.com

ly?

Have you reviewed your will recent

u

www.apsfinplan.c

om.au

Superannuation & In vestments Pre & Post Retiremen t Planning Life Insurance, Incom e Protection Disability & Trauma Insurance

1300 131 809 Level 1, 16-20 Howard Street, North Melbourne, Victoria 3051

Membership of APS Benefits automatically entitles you to a funeral benefit issued by APS Benefits. You should consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement & Financial Services Guide (available from APS Benefits or our web site on www.apsbs.com.au) before making a decision to become a member of APS Benefits or buy any products offered by APS Benefits. Financial services provided by Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd are provided under its AFSL No. 244115. APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative No. 305923 of Futuro Financial Services Pty Ltd (‘Futuro’). Financial services provided by APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd are provided under Futuro’s AFSL No. 238478. APS Savings Disclaimer: This is not a bank product, it is an unlisted APS Note. No independent assessment has been made about the risk to investors losing any of their principal investment. Applications for APS Notes can only be made on the Investment Application Form which accompanies the prospectus issued by APS Savings Ltd. Please read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to make an investment. APS Wills & Estates: Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.

Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd

Notice the difference a NOT-FOR-PROFIT financial service provider can make to the public sector, their families and friends.

The Australian Public Service Benevolent Society (APS Benefits) is a not for profit organisation

that provides a wide range of financial services to all government department employees and contractors, their families and friends. Having been in existence for over 100 years, the APS Benefits family has earned the trust of over 27,000 members and clients now offering the following financial and personal services listed below:

APS Tax & Accounting

Richard Ferraro at APS Tax, Accounting and Business Services is an experienced CPA taxation accountant. Whether it is setting up a business, managing your superannuation fund or just obtaining quality service, Richard can help you.

APS Financial Planning

Timothy Foster provides access to advice and information on the important financial decisions we all face, whether it be superannuation, investments, pre and post retirement planning, life insurance, gearing, disability and trauma insurance, managed funds or savings plans.

APS Mortgage Broking

Sam Athans treats every mortgage as if it were his own. He has access to 20 mortgage lenders and has over 40 years experience in banking. Let us do the leg work for you.

APS Insurance (General Insurance Broking)

Danielle Rowe heads up our insurance broking team and is a salaried employee of APS Benefits.

With over 15 years experience in the industry, Danielle has access to products that include home and contents, motor vehicle, boat/caravan, landlord, public liability, income protection, life, disability & trauma insurance. The next time you receive your insurance renewal notice or want insurance for the first time, call Danielle on 1300 131 809.

APS Personal Loans

The APS Benefits personal loans team can assist members to obtain an unsecured loan, or they can apply online at www.apsbs.com.au. Either way, loans can be approved within 24 hours.

APS Funeral Cover. Adult & Child Cover Available.

APS Benefits Membership Coordinator Jesse Clarke can assist members to gain immediate funeral cover up to $15,000 for adults and $7,000 for dependent children (aged 2 to 15 next birthday). Do you have cover in the greatest time of need? Call us on 1300 131 809.

APS Savings

APS Savings Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of APS Benefits and offers a Fixed Term Investment product. Ask Sam Athans about the interest rate on offer and you will be pleasantly suprised. The term can be 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. Call us on 1300 131 809.

APS Wills & Estates

Phil Lambourne from APS Wills & Estates has over 25 years experience as a lawyer. Phil can help you with wills, powers of attorney, probate and estate administration. Is your will up-to-date?

Have you reviewed your will recently? It affects more than just you!

Further to this, APS is owned by its members, so any profits are channelled back to members.

Help spread the word by introducing new members and APS will send you, your nominated charity or your staff social club $50 for each new member you nominate. For more information call us on 1300 131 809 or visit www.apsbs.com.au.

PROUDL Y NOT FOR PROFIT Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd Level 1, 16-20 Howard Street (PO Box 326) North Melbourne VIC 3051 Toll Free 1300 131 809 Phone (03) 9322 2000 Fax (03) 8327 8200 info@apsbs.com.au ABN 64 077 846 809

AFSL No. 244115

www.apsbs.com.au

LEGAL

New protections for victims of workplace bullying From 1 January 2014 Victorian workers who ‘reasonably believe’ they ‘may have been bullied at work’ will now be able to make an application to the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) for an order to stop the bullying.

The Federal Parliament passed the Fair Work Amendment Act 2013 on 27 June 2013. The amending Act has introduced a number of significant changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) and, most importantly, permits the Fair Work Commission to deal with applications about workplace bullying.

What is bullying The new Part 6-4B of the Act provides that a worker is bullied at work if another individual, or group of individuals, repeatedly behaves unreasonably towards the worker, and that behavior creates a risk to health and safety.

What isn’t bullying Excluded from the scope of conduct that could be considered bullying is ‘reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner’, thus allowing for management to make necessary decisions to respond to poor performance or if necessary take disciplinary action. The issue for employers will be ensuring that any management action is carried out in a reasonable manner and does not leave the worker feeling victimised or humiliated. Under the Act a worker can still claim that they have been bullied where they feel humiliated by disciplinary action and claim that such action was not reasonable.

Who can apply?

The scope of the new laws is sweeping. Part 6-4B is expressed to cover ‘workers’ rather than simply employees, which in broad terms incorporates individuals performing work in any capacity. The definition is wide enough to include employees, contractors, sub-contractors, outworkers, trainees and work experience students.

flexibility to inform itself as it considers appropriate where an application for an order to stop the bullying has been made.

This could include contacting the employer or other parties to the application, conducting a conference or holding a formal hearing. In the course of dealing with a matter, the Commission may also make a recommendation to the parties or express an opinion.

Upon its determination of the matter, the Commission will be able to make any order it considers appropriate to stop the bullying. The Commission cannot order reinstatement where there has been a dismissal; and it cannot order the payment of compensation or pecuniary penalties. However, where a stop bullying order has been made and the individual/s identified by the order do not comply with its terms, the applicant may seek a civil remedy against them (in another jurisdiction) as the amendments do not prevent the worker from commencing action in another forum arising from the same circumstances.

The amendments to the Act create yet another jurisdiction in which an employer may be forced to defend a bullying complaint – one that may also be the subject matter of proceedings in another forum. Although the Commission is expected to exercise its new powers in an expedient and costeffective way, the comparative ease of making an application and the subjective definition of the worker’s ‘reasonable belief’ that he or she is ‘bullied at work’ means that employers need to be watchful and ready to respond quickly and appropriately to a bullying complaint in the future.

However, for workplaces outside Victoria, the worker must work in a constitutionally covered business and therefore, it appears that a worker in an unincorporated business, such as a partnership, would not be permitted to apply, nor could a worker in a state public service department.

The Commission must begin dealing with an application within 14 days of the application being made and has the power and

26 | BUSINESS NEWS

W M w a t a

E “ t t d n 1 e a e

S t o a b l b b

T b T c

What can the Commission do?

The Commission will have extremely broad powers to make ‘any order it considers appropriate’ to prevent the worker from being bullied, upon satisfying itself that the alleged bully has occurred, and there is a risk that it will continue.

j i a t

ClAIRE CENTRA Lawyer

A o t t b B n l

SMALL BIZ

The tide of whingeing Can you imagine going in to a car dealer and them saying, ‘Look at that white car over there – it has been owned by our local hoon and he has only used it for drifting around the block and sliding it sideways into the police impounds.

He is only selling it for two reasons; the first is that he lost his licence, and the second – perhaps the most important reason – his mechanic told him to sell it quick before it blows…’

I

know it sounds silly but this is exactly what we are doing to ourselves.

Read the newspapers and watch the telly and anyone would think that Australia is sinking faster than Tony Abbot’s appeal. (Sorry if that analogy offends; if it does, just change the reference to any politician of your choosing and it works just as well.) Daily, we hear that this factory is closing and another in trouble, but we only get page ten references to the sections of the economy that are doing well.

We read that there has been an upswing in the purchases of Mercedes cars, and then turn to Ford and say, ‘what is going wrong?’ Why can’t we see the positive story? We look at Target and see that they are retrenching hundreds, but don’t look at the myriad of small businesses that are retailing on the net and are doing okay.

Economies have always moved. Schumpeter called this the “Churn”; he also said that the highest start-up rates are at the time of the highest churn. Economies don’t grow in stable times. Case in point, when I first put on the hat of a business developer in 1990 there were 640,000 small businesses and now there is more than 2,000,000. That equates to roughly 10% of the population being a small business owner. They also employ approximately half the total work force. This is pretty astounding when you think about it – we must be a nation of entrepreneurs.

Small business is typically ephemeral. We often mention that the best small businesses are flexible, in that they may start out as a wholesaler, then drift into retail, and finally end as a consulting business. This is because we know that small businesses follow the opportunities and that opportunities don’t last forever, but morph into some other space. By nature, small businesses wink into and then out of existence. However, the big thing is the huge growth rate of small businesses.

This characteristic says that there will always be some businesses that are struggling and others that are flourishing.

This is the largest glass that is half full in the history of our country.

A big proportion of Australia’s market is actually the domestic or internal economy. This is the money circulating from person to person. The fact that the money bounces from one person to another gives the appearance that the pot is huge, almost boundless. The more it circulates, the better the economy feels.

But the money stops being passed from one consumer to the next when their confidence declines. When the money gets locked in the bank or some other conservative storage, then the

circulation stops and the internal economy is curtailed.

What interrupts consumer confidence? A clue: go back to the used car story.

Every time we read the negative stories, every moment we watch TV and learn about another business closing, and almost every time we listen to a politician, a consumer’s confidence is diminished.

We are whingeing our way to economic woe.

If you spend a bit of time out of our fair country, you quickly realise that we are doing very, very well. Just an odd thing to keep in mind, there are about 1 million Aussies traveling overseas, quite a few of them on wealthy cruises and in fancy resorts.

There is a quiet resurgence in the luxury boat sales – particularly at the top end of the market.

And, of course, the luxury cars sales have been doing very well recently. Look at the sales of air-conditioning units, and large format TV’s and the picture is repeated.

It is time that we learned to ignore the negative newspapers and the woeful TV news. In the words of the great Frank, “Start spreading the news…”

CLINT JENNINGS Thinker on big ideas for small business

BUSINESS NEWS | 27

Q & A Why should employers seek out your services as a Training Provider or Recruitment Specialist?

What makes you Stand Out from the Rest?

AGB Human Resources (AGB HR) has been providing high quality training services to the Geelong and surrounding regions for the past 8 years. We offer a range of exciting industry current courses tailored to the individual and business alike.

Adam Alsop

AGB HR specialise in a number of AGB CEO industry areas including Transport and Logistics, Community Services, Hospitality, Business, Hydraulic and Civil Construction Design, and Foundation Skills. Our dedicated industry qualified trainers support students through their education journey, delivering course material suited to all learning styles. Our organisation is committed to providing students with the best education possible with student liaison and enrolment officers supporting and guiding our students through their courses.

The Transport and Logistics hub, registered with Vic Roads and WorkSafe, offers training and assessment in a number of licenses. Operating from Moolap, we provide students with oneon-one driver training in light, medium and heavy rigid vehicles, whilst forklift and Elevated Working Platform (EWP) are delivered with a maximum of six people per class. AGB’s Warehousing courses combine classroom based with practical training in our warehouse, enriching the student experience by gaining both knowledge and skills. Our recently acquired Nunawading site offers warehousing training including forklift, with skills and knowledge delivered using theoretical and practical methods.

28 | BUSINESS NEWS

Community Services, Business and Hospitality courses are offered from the Geelong city and Mitcham sites. Courses are offered during daytime hours and after hours to cater to the needs of all students. All AGB trainers are industry professionals and have a wealth of knowledge and experience within their fields of expertise.

A range of short courses including, but not limited to: Construction Induction (White Card); Responsible Service of Alcohol, Responsible Service of Gambling, Food Safety; and First Aid are offered at AGB HR training sites or flexible delivery options are available for businesses requiring these certificates.

AGB HR offers Foundation Skill such as English as Second Language and Vocational Preparation and works closely with Elementary Employment Services to support students from study to entry into the workforce.

We pride ourselves in providing high quality training courses with the flexibility to focus on the needs and desired outcomes of the client, whilst adhering to all regulatory guidelines.

AGB HR is a NVR Registered Training Organisation (RTO) 21832 providing nationally accredited training and assessment, reporting to; • Australian Skill Quality Authority (ASQA); • Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation – (VCGLR); • VicRoads; • WorkSafe.

Ph: 1300 123 AGB email: agbhr@agbgroup.com.au

Why should employers use Gforce?

We provide a Compelling and Exceptional Service

Rob Birch Chief Executive

Gforce Employment Solutions offers businesses and employers a professional One Stop Shop for employment and recruitment needs.

Gforce is renowned for helping businesses find great Apprentices and Trainees through its Group Training division, and providing ongoing support and mentoring. In recent years Gforce has developed a new school-based traineeship model called Strategies 4 Excellence which serves as a pathway for young people to test their preferred vocation as well as providing employers with potential new staff.

Gforce delivers the Job Services Australia program on behalf of the Federal Government in the Geelong region through its Staffing Solutions division. It also provides businesses with a highly professional and competitive fee for service private recruitment option through its People @ Work division including temporary and permanent recruitment, HR and specialist outplacement services.

Branches are located in Geelong, Corio, Ballarat, Shepparton and Wyndham.

We are Tried and Tested From our humble beginnings as a community based Group Training Organisation focused on apprentices and trainees in

Have you ever seen yourself performing an activity on camera? Could be interviewing, could be golf, could be training staff, could be netball, tennis or chairing a meeting.

Sarah Thomas MRCSA/Director

The first reaction generally is: is that really how I perform? It is not how I feel when performing the activity. Then if you move one stage further and benchmark yourself against others, you really see the differences. This is how many sporting coaches improve their client’s performance.

We see this reaction mostly with sporting activities. Interestingly people of all ages and disciplines readily accept the feedback and take the appropriate corrective action.

Similar feedback is available to improve business performance and is the foundation of benchmarking and KPI’s. But if we are the only ones evaluating our performance then old habits quickly return.

Sj Personnel is focused on finding the right candidate for your organisation. Before we proceed, we put our camera on why you want to recruit this role. We do this by obtaining information on the following four key areas: • A clear understanding of your objectives and definition of how your organisation makes money (where does it allocate its capital and what is the return on that capital) and how it achieves its goals.

• How does this role contribute to the goals?

• What are the culture and the business norms?

1983, Gforce has developed a reputation for its breadth of quality recruitment and employment services. This year the company celebrates its 30th birthday, a very significant milestone, and we would like to thank the many businesses, both large and small, who have patronised our services over this time.

Our mantra is to enrich people’s lives through the provision of innovative employment services. We never lose sight of this. Our dedicated professional consultants seek to understand the needs of both employers and job seekers to provide a perfect match wherever possible. We get to know our clients personally and seek to customise our services to meet their needs.

There is a lot you may not know about Gforce • We are a Not for Profit community based organisation with the sole intent of helping regional Victoria to grow and prosper • We provide professional recruitment services to over 1,000 businesses across the Geelong and Ballarat regions • We’ve assisted over 3500 young and mature age people complete an Apprenticeship or Traineeship, making us one of the largest employers of apprentices and trainees in regional Victoria and Western Melbourne • We have placed over 6,000 job seekers into sustainable employment via services offered by our People @ Work and Staffing Solutions divisions • We Support our community, each and every year contributing up to $200,000 to local charities and community events Call us today on 1800 436 723 and have one of our professional Recruitment Consultants deliver a solution for your recruitment or employment needs.

• Why would anyone wish to work for your company/organisation?

Once we have a clear understanding of these areas, only then do we move to the more traditional selection criteria based on the position description, and search for candidates that are the best fit.

It is important to focus on these areas first because people who are aligned to the organisations goals and support the culture are the ones who make significant differences. They are the people who enjoy their role, are motivated and feel confident making suggestions and providing their opinion, as it is respected.

In many cases our clients have been prepared to sacrifice technical skills or experience if the candidate is the right fit. They cover any technical or product knowledge short fall through inhouse support or fund the candidate’s professional development.

Sj Personnel are Recruitment Specialists and feel that every candidate is a reflection of us and our understanding of your company/organisation. To maintain a broader perspective we recognise that it is important to be aligned with other Geelong organisations that provide specialised HR support services and training. The businesses we spend time with include: • The Barwon Group, who support business leaders to create measurable value by ensuring organisation structure, systems and people, are aligned with the business’ strategic intent. They do this through cultural reviews, leadership development and coaching, people skills training, performance management and their unique focus on managing “Challenging Conversations”©.

• Grange HR Consulting who provide People Management, Organisational Development and Learning Programs.

Recruitment Services Geelong and Ballarat CALL US: Sarah 0487 591 660 | Adam 0439 000 292

www.sjpersonnel.com.au BUSINESS NEWS | 29

VECCI

Early ETS little benefit to business The announcement by the Prime Minister of his intention to replace the carbon tax with an emissions trading system (ETS) from 1 July 2014 will provide little benefit to business, assuming the change is ever implemented, according to VECCI. The proposed changes will require new legislation, which seems unlikely to be passed before the election..

I

f the changes were implemented, what would they mean cars. As company cars can form an important part of salary for business? They have the potential to take some arrangements, the cost of any changes that would diminish pressure off electricity prices, provided savings are their value as a benefit to employees would likely have to be passed through to business. This would be welcome, borne by employers. This is another cost that business could given that many businesses have been struggling with a do without. range of imposts, including rising wages, increased regulation It would also come as another untimely blow to the Australian and strong import competition. However, not even a partial automotive sector, which seems also price reduction changes the fact to have been largely overlooked in that business will continue to face a the government’s decision-making carbon price at a time when Australian process, because it relies on salaryBusiness is left to grapple businesses are at a competitive packaged cars for up to a third of new with another mixed bag disadvantage because of it, and car sales. many do not support a carbon tax or announcement that may or may emissions trading scheme.

So, business is left to grapple with not come into effect. another mixed bag announcement As moving earlier to an ETS means the that may or may not come into effect. federal government would lose almost In the meantime however, the carbon $4 billion in revenue over the next four tax remains, as does a lack of coherence in policy-making in years, it has to make up this shortfall to avoid further damage Canberra. It is time to clear the air and have an election so that to the federal budget bottom line. As such, the government has some certainty returns for business. also announced there would be a range of savings measures worth $3.9 billion.

VECCI will continue to push for the next Government of Australia to adopt the ideas from our Small Business, Too Among these would be a long overdue cut in public service job Big To Ignore campaign, including cutting back on red tape, numbers. There would also be funding reductions or deferrals simplifying the tax system, making it easier to employ people, to a range of clean tech, carbon capture and storage, and and building better infrastructure. biodiversity programs, which raises questions about their effectiveness in the first place, and even the government’s JAMES GULLI overall commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The most significant savings measure, estimated to be worth $1.8 billion, relates to the proposal to change the fringe benefits tax on salary sacrificed and company-provided

VECCI Regional Manager www.toobigtoignore.org.au

BUSINESS NEWS | 31

e Awards Geelong Business Excellence Awards Geelong Business Excellence

Geelong Business Ex

Proud Win

Business of the Year: Dow Chemical Company Commercial Services- Home based, Micro to Small – 1 to 15 Employees/FTE: SJ Canny Commercial Services Medium to Large 16 or more Employees/FTE: Basford Brands

Health and Wellbeing: Glastonbury Community Services

Manufacturing and/or Export, Building Development: Dow Chemical Company

Hospitality and Tourism: Go Ride A Wave

Retail: Thomas Jewellers

Regional Business: Chris Walsh’s Amcal Pharmacy

Government and Social Enterprise: Journey Management Group

Trades and Services: Contructor

Family Business – Second Generation or more: Barwon Timber and Hardware

Emerging Business – Under 3 Years: Cheese Photobooths and Candy Buffets

Right Advice Right Decision • • • • • •

Business Office Trade Construction Public & Products Liability Farm

www.roderick.com.au AFS Licence No: 246613

32 | BUSINESS NEWS

• • • • • •

Motor Vehicle Transit Club Insurance Strata Professional Indemnity Management Liability

• • • • • •

Home Landlords Motor Cycle Caravan Boat Travel

Geelong 116 Yarra Street Geelong VIC 3220 p: 03 5226 5999

Werribee 2A Wedge Street Werribee VIC 3030 p: 03 9974 9000

ellence Awards Geelong Business Excellence Awards Geelong Business Excell

s Excellence Awards

oud Winners and Sponsors 2013

Human Resources: Queenscliff Visitor Information Centre Customer Service: Select Group Sustainable Business: Barwon Health Food Services Health Promoting Workplace: Barwon Water

Home Based and Micro Business – 1 to 3 Employees/FTE: Sara Taylor Photography

Large Business or Division/ Department of a Business – 36 or more Employees/FTE: Boundary Bend Olives

Small Business or Division/ Department of a business – 4 to 15 Employees/FTE: Release Property Management

Best First Year Entry: The Blanket Box

Medium Business or Division/ Department of a Business – 16 to 35 Employees/FTE: Roderick Insurance Brokers

Judges Awards – North of the Barwon River: Happy Feet Early Learning Centre Judges Awards – South of the Barwon River: Leopold Swim School

SJ Canny Accountants proud winners of the Geelong Business Excellence Awards “Commercial Services - Small Business Award” SJ Canny Accountants were announced recently as the winners of the Geelong Business Excellence Awards Commercial Services – Small Business Award. SJ Canny has provided services to the Geelong community for over 50 years and prides itself on being pro-active and always putting the client first.

Call SJ Canny today on 03 5278 9500 www.sjcanny.com.au 10 Station St Norlane 3214 S.J.Canny Pty Ltd 61 066 220 326

Our business is unique in that it doesn’t try to be everything to everybody.

It concentrates on three important sectors: 1. Small Business. We are a small business and we understand small business. We are able to help streamline your business and your time, leaving you free to run your business.

2. Self-Managed Super Funds. We have a dedicated team who can help individuals and small business owners’ set-up, manage and tax plan for their self-managed super fund.

3. Individuals. SJ Canny has always, and continues to, support individuals throughout their career.

As recent winners of the Proactive Accountants Network “Rising Star Award” SJ Canny is proving that enthusiasm and energy don’t dim after more than 50 years in business!

BUSINESS NEWS | 33

TRAVEL

BEYOND‌EVEREST - Old-Style Trecking in Nepal An inveterate traveller and former Global Publisher for Lonely Planet, Richard Everist has seen the check-ins and departure lounges of more airports than he cares to remember. But he also has an extraordinary collection of travel stories to share, and we are chuffed that he will be sharing them with you in each edition of the Business News.

34 | BUSINESS NEWS

TRAVEL

A

red glow has woken me as light from the dawn sun, rising over the mountains, hits the side of my red tent. Still drowsy, I wait for the morning routine to start. There’s a rustle outside the tent and Phurba says: ‘Morning, Sir! Tea or coffee?’

I can’t manage a hot drink in a sleeping bag, so somehow I extract myself and, after a series of challenging contortions, emerge from my tent – decently clothed, boots on the correct feet (although the latter does take two attempts).

I feel like I could flap my arms and fly. Standing at the edge of a terrace with the nearest village a 1000-metre drop below, your mind certainly flies, even if your gravity-challenged body cannot.

My viewpoint, in Mustang, Nepal, overlooks the deepest valley in the world. That is not hyperbole. At the bottom of the valley your altitude is 2,600 metres. On the east side of the valley is Annapurna, on the west side, Dhaulagiri. Both are over 8000 metres high – which gives 5400 metres of verticality - more than five kilometres… up.

Phurba appears again: ‘Hot washing water, Sir?’ He presents me with a bowl of warm water.

The kitchen crew have been up since before dawn. Laxmi has – somehow - made delicious cinnamon scrolls on a kerosene cooker. Ram has made porridge and omelettes. Ratna, Rabi, and Bishal are about to set off up the trail, getting a head start in front of our slow-moving main party. They have to get to our designated lunch spot – and cook lunch – before we arrive.

Nishan and Mamu will stay behind to do our breakfast dishes.

The other western members of the trekking group arrive at the dining tent. I watch them nervously, because tired trekkers are invariably grumpy trekkers. And if they didn’t have earplugs they will certainly be tired trekkers. The dogs in Ghiling village below us howled like banshees all night. Either there was a snow leopard on the prowl, or Ghiling dogs just enjoy howling like banshees. One dog in particular had mastered the art of circular breathing. It did not pause all night.

The three young boys from Jumla who are hitching a ride with us to Lo Manthang, where they will become monks, are already chasing each other round in circles – as they will do all day – making the distance they trek around five times longer than strictly necessary. Not that they care.

Tashi, Lopsang, and Gongbu are busy saddling up 10 beautifully trained Tibetan ponies. We ride them along the ankle-twisting stones of the Kali Gandaki Gorge, and over all the passes – but we walk down hill. The tinkle of their bells and the horsemen’s whistles are a constant soundtrack in the vast quietness of the mountains.

The pony’s saddles are an elaborate combination of wooden frame, cushion and Tibetan carpet. They look comfortable and beautiful – but looks deceive. When riding, the trick is to find a meditative space where you separate mind and body – and specifically separate your brain from the signals coming from your bum.

While we eat breakfast, half the sherpas – Dawa, Rupan and Small Ram – pull down the tents and get everything ready to be loaded on to the dozen mules we use to carry equipment and food. We are completely self sufficient in food and fuel (kerosene) because we are travelling to the Tibetan Plateau,

a high-altitude desert where there is no guaranteed food surplus.

Big Ram should be helping with the tents, but he has a knack with animals so he is off with the mule men, Sunil and Samdu, trying to find the mules. Tibetans don’t like to use hobbles and the mules have mule-ishly wandered off during the night.

Norbu, the Sirdar (trek manager) is irrepressibly cheerful, energetic and charismatic. But the missing mules are stressing him – the morning is not going to plan - and he is uncharacteristically short with the rest of the sherpas who are lounging in the sun playing a Tibetan version of Knuckles.

Normally the other sherpas - Rupan, Pushpa, Dhan and Mirkandra - would now be helping load the mules. They and the mules will keep walking while we eat our leisurely lunch, because they also have to get ahead of the main group, so they can get to the next campsite and have all the tents set up before we arrive.

Big Ram, Dawa, Rupan and Small Ram, will walk with us and keep company with those that are walking ahead or dawdling behind. You’re never alone. Today Dawa walks with me (I’m a dawdler). He reassures me the clouds do not mean rain (he is right), he explains which crops are ripening in the fields, he jokes with some monks we meet on the trail, he tells me about his new baby daughter, and we talk about Australia and whether there is work…

This, with minor variations, is how a proper, old-style, organised, full-service camping trek in Nepal works. It is exactly the way the great Himalayan explorers and climbers of the 19th and 20th centuries travelled.

In some ways, an organised camping trek is a colonial relic – and some Australians are distinctly uncomfortable about the idea of being looked after by a team of people. On this trip, nine Europeans were looked after by 21 Nepalis; an equation that can only work because Nepali wages are so very low.

But, to use a classic Nepali phrase, ‘Ke garne?’ or ‘What to do?’. We could, of course, stand on our egalitarian principles and choose not to travel with a crew. But that would mean 21 people would miss out on being well paid (by Nepali standards) for providing professional trekking services – a job that, in Nepal, is still considered high status and desirable.

In reality, any cheap holiday in Asia is only cheap because of the low cost of local labour.

Unlike Lygon St. waiters, the trekking crew is definitely not servile. They are extremely competent people, proud of their work, and, most importantly, they’re great fun to be with.

Spending time with the crew, and getting to know them, is one of the highlights of any organised trek.

Sadly, traditional, organised, full-service camping treks are actually quietly disappearing from Nepal.

Two main trekking routes dominate the consciousness of westerners when they think of Nepal – the Everest Base Camp trek, and the Annapurna Circuit trek – and a full-service trek no longer makes sense on either. Even with cheap Nepali wages, the cost of a full-service trek quickly adds up. Most visitors conclude they don’t need a traditional set-up, and if they’re heading to Everest or Annapurna they’re right.

BUSINESS NEWS | 35

BEYOND…EVEREST

TRAVEL

Frighteningly dangerous roads now flank the Annapurna Massif – so trucks take the place of mules and porters, jeeps and buses take the place of ponies; no one needs a guide (follow the road!), and you certainly don’t need a tent, or even a sleeping bag, because every village is full of ‘hotels’.

There’s cold beer, Coke and apple pies wherever you stop.

Roads have made less of an impact on the Everest trek, which runs across the grain of the land – up and down, up and down - but there is a constant flood of trekkers on the trail and the sheer force of numbers mean that every village is full of hotels and restaurants, which you really have no choice but to use.

Needless to say, even the famed hospitality of the Sherpa people has become ‘business’.

There are, of course, dozens of possible treks to more remote, less visited parts of Nepal, where traditional organised treks are still viable and, indeed, essential. ‘Remote and less visited’ equates to ‘more interesting and unspoilt’, but very few westerners look beyond Annapurna and Everest.

Two memories from my last trip – both inextricably linked with our trekking crew - come to mind.

One is the ordination ceremony, where the three small boys from Jumla became monks in the 15th century splendour of the Chede Monastery in Lo Manthang. After the new monks were given their new names, my two children followed them to receive a blessing and a kata (ceremonial scarf) from

36 | BUSINESS NEWS

the Lama. There is absolutely no chance we would have been welcomed into this ceremony had it not been for the involvement of Norbu, a devout Buddhist, our Sirdar, and our friend.

The second memory, on our last night, is our farewell party with the crew. I won’t forget the smiles. I won’t forget the dancing. And I won’t forget the laughs.

Around the Sun www.aroundthesun.com

Richard Everist Richard Everist started work in the early days of Lonely Planet, and spent his last five years with the company as Global Publisher. He has co-authored guidebooks to Nepal, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Malta and Britain. He was the CEO of Peregrine Adventures, before moving to Geelong. These days, he runs Around the Sun travel with his wife, Lucrezia Migliore, organising trips to the couple’s favourite corners of the world.

MASTERS GAMES

Man of the Masters: Kean Selway The Australian Masters Games in Geelong are looming ever closer with eight days of sporting and social activity to be held from 5 – 12 October. In the lead up, Courtney Buchanan spoke with Chair of the Games Advisory Board and member of Deakin University’s Senior Executive, Kean Selway, about his involvement.

If you haven’t already heard, the Masters Games are coming to Geelong and it’s going to be a huge event on the sporting and social calendar. The Games will attract at least 8,000 participants from around Geelong, interstate and overseas – not to mention the family and friends participants will bring with them. There will be 2,000 volunteers and at least 54 sporting events, as well as a packed social calendar. The economic gain to the Geelong region that’s being predicted at this point is in excess of $15 million.

The only prerequisite to take part in the Games is that you must be 30 years or over – bar for a couple of sports where the minimum age may vary.

Member of the Senior Executive at Deakin University, Kean Selway, is Chair of the Games Advisory Board, volunteering his time and expertise to offer advice on the management of the Games. Kean is quick to mention, “We don’t run the games, but we give advice to the organisation that runs the games.”

The Games Advisory Board consists of locally-based business and community leaders that can give advice as to the planning and management of the Masters Games.

Kean currently holds the position of Vice-President (Enterprise and Engagement) at Deakin University, and has been a member of Deakin’s Senior Executive since 2002. Kean has strategic and leadership responsibility for the development of Deakin’s internal and external communities. One of his responsibilities is Social Inclusion, which is also a major drawcard of the Games.

A common misconception of the Masters Games is that it’s an event for elite athletes – but Kean says this is not the case.

“Lots of people think it’s just for elite athletes, whereas the majority of participants are not elite athletes, they’re social sports people. So the reason for doing sport is quite often more socially based,” Kean says.

One of the major sponsors of the Masters Games is the Heart Foundation, and part of the message of the Games is about the importance of remaining active throughout life. “…As you get older and older in life it’s extremely important to keep healthy and active and this is a great way to do it in such a social setting,” Kean says.

Leading by example, Kean will be heavily involved throughout the whole week across all of the events in some capacity. Kean is a member of the Deakin volleyball team that has entered the Games, and also plans to participate in some athletics events.

It’s a great opportunity for other local businesses to get involved, get out of the office, de-stress, and get active.

“There isn’t anything to stop a corporation to put together a team to compete in any number of events,” Kean says.

Chair of the Masters Games Advisory Board and member of Deakin University’s Senior Executive, Kean Selway.

With three children of his own, Kean believes it is extremely important for the over-30 age group to model healthy and active lifestyles for the younger generation to follow.

“It’s absolutely critical as we move into a social media age, as the activity of young people is becoming more and more challenging,” Kean says.

The younger generation can still be connected to the Internet and have fun on social media but, says Kean, “there’s a whole world out there.”

The Selway family are out at various sporting events every weekend, Kean exclaims, “there’s no doubt about that!”

Kean has a 19 year-old daughter with four horses who he describes as, ‘incredibly active’. Next is his 16 year-old son, who Kean says is a high performer in Surf Lifesaving at their local Ocean Grove Surf Club, and competes at all the state and national events. The youngest son is 12 years-old and loves to stay active playing football.

As a business and community leader, what does Kean believe Geelong has to offer as host of the Masters Games?

“There’s a very strong sense of community in Geelong, which lots of people comment on, so I think people feel good about doing things in Geelong and doing it as part of a group.”

He added that Geelong also has beautiful natural assets, including a north facing bay and a range of high quality facilities close together, making it easy to get around.

Kean sums it up: “It’s a beautiful place to be and it’s a great place to visit.”

For more information about the Australian Masters Games in Geelong, visit www.australianmastersgames.com

Courtney Buchanan

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THE TECH GUY

The Tech Guy:

The Best 12 Gadgets of the past 12 years Gadgets that changed our world For the past twelve years our Tech Guy, Jon Mamonski, has brought the latest and most fascinating gadgets from around the globe. Now he reveals the twelve gadgets that have changed the way we work and play forever.

12. The iPod (2001)

6. Macbook Air (2008)

Not the first digital music player, but certainly a game changer with brilliant navigation and style. The limit of 5GB or 1,000 songs seems laughable now, but then, it was an amazing breakthrough.

Laptop toters and their shoulders the world over breathed a sigh of relief when the Macbook Air was released, weighing in at just over a kilo and a battery life to last most of the day.

11. Nokia 6310i Mobile Phone (2002)

5. Dyson Vacuum Cleaner (2008)

Still in use around the world, the Nokia 6310i was the corporate mobile phone of choice (and mine) for many years. It introduced Bluetooth and infra-red data transfer, Java technology and SMS and was quite compact for its day. You can still buy them on eBay.

Whilst strictly not a gadget (ask any house cleaner) Dyson’s revolutionary bag-less technology changed vacuum cleaners forever, making carpet cleaning almost fun.

10. Canon EOS 300D DSLR Camera (2003)

Derided by the critics, the tablet revolution started right here with the iPad and, like its cousin the iPhone, it still rules the roost for now.

The first decent digital camera under $1,000.

With a 6.3 megapixel sensor and decent lenses, finally a camera to topple the 40 year rule of 35mm film.

9. Sony Playstation 3 (2005) Not only did Sony push social gaming to the masses, but was smart enough to introduce Blu-Ray high definition and trump its other hi-def competitors (poetic justice for having lost the beta-cam vs. VHS battle twenty years earlier).

8. The iPhone (2007) Typically of Apple, they didn’t invent the smartphone, just completely reinvented it with superb design and simple but powerful navigation. It became the number one phone in the world and still is, five models later.

7. Kogan LCD TV (Kevin 37) Until now, online TV sales were non-existant.

Melbourne’s Ruslan Kogan changed all that with the first decent flat screen LCD TV for under $1,000, leaving the retail giants in his wake as he still does today. It was called the ‘Kevin 37’ because of its screen size and it could be purchased with the $1,000 the then (and now) Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, gave us all.

38 | BUSINESS NEWS

4. The iPad (2010)

3. Red Scarlet-X 4k Movie Camera (2011) Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of this revolutionary black box video camera, but every movie director knows what it is. Red introduced us to ultra hi-def image capture, and directors like Peter Jackson were quick off the mark to use Red cameras for big budget movies like The Hobbit.

2. Raspberry Pi Computer (2012) Just last year, this tiny computer began to send ‘a tremor through the force’ with a new thing called ‘system on a chip’ (SoC) and for a mere $95 you have a functioning computer ready for anything.

1. ASUS Padfone Infinity (2013) From one of the great innovators of new computing technology comes the gadget that has us saying, ‘why didn’t they think of that before?’ Today’s smart phones have enough power to function as a computer so why not attach a tablet screen for a single ‘does all’ device? Why indeed. The ASUS Padfone Infinity is the third generation and is a smart phone and tablet marriage made in heaven.

THE TECH GUY

SAFETY FIRST

Sony Smart Watch The fledgling smart watch category that Sony helped pioneer has seen the announcement of the SmartWatch 2.

The Android-powered wristwatch allows you to answer calls, (Dick Tracy: “I’m on my way”), read email and texts, snap photos, etc. from a 220 x 176 touch display, all housed into an aluminium body design that’s crafted

to be dust and waterresistant with an optional stainless steel wristband that can be swapped for any other 24mm strap.

Sony claims the SmartWatch 2’s rated for a maximum of four days with moderate use.

International release date looks like September and it will need to be with Apple hot on their heels with an iWatch of its own.

your windshield, serving up guidance within your regular line of sight. The simple interface displays your current speed and the speed limit, turn arrows, the distance until your next turn and an ETA. The Garmin HUD is compatible with Bluetoothequipped smartphones running Garmin StreetPilot and Navigon apps. It’s expected in stores this summer for around $189.

Samsung Curve

Throwable camera

Sometimes you just want to launch a video camera at the one that’s getting away, but you know what happens to electronics when you throw them yep, they break. Inventor Steve Hollinger has a fix

Taking your eyes off the road can be very dangerous, even if it’s only for a moment. If you’re fortunate enough to have one, a head-up display will let you get to your destination efficiently and safely, and Garmin’s got a new aftermarket solution to keep you cruising on the cheap.

The company’s new HUD projects bright directions onto a transparent film mounted on

for that with the Squito, which is a “ball with camera and trajectory control for reconnaissance or recreation.” You can literally throw a party. Check out Squito on YouTube.

We barely drew breath from the LG curved screen TV announcement when Samsung revealed a 55-inch curved OLED HDTV. Priced at around $15,000, Samsung claims its “Timeless Arena” design eliminates potential

for defective OLED pixels and keeping all parts of the screen an equal distance from the viewer makes for a better viewing experience. No availability dates just yet, but might be nice for Christmas…

Thinnest smarT phone screen I gotsta have one of these If you’ve got a lazy $75,000, you can cruise the fairway (not to mention the rough and water obstacles) in a BW1 of your very own.

It comes complete with a 65-hp twin-cylinder Hirth

engine and a streamlined, sound minimizing fan that promises enough power to reach 45 mph and ferry two golfers plus caddies between holes.

Yessssssss!

As smartphones continue to get thinner and thinner, LG Display is continually doing its part to shave off a few millimeters. Its latest introduction is this “world’s slimmest full HD panel for smartphones”, measuring at 5.2-inches diagonally, it’s just 2.2mm thick and has a 2.3mm bezel. To get there, LG’s display arm has pioneered new technology

including “Advanced OneGlass-Solution” that puts dual flexible circuits between the panel and touch film, with 30 per cent fewer lines on the panel. It also points out that every one of its pixels consists of RGB subpixels - more shots fired at pentile screens - and that it’s capable of 535 nits of brightness, more than all current 1080p mobile LCDs.

BUSINESS NEWS | 39

ARTS

ARTS

Bangarra’s breathtaking Kinship begins tour in Geelong

Kenneth Jack: Classic And Rare Works

15 - 17 August

the Jack Family Collection

Internationally acclaimed Bangarra Dance Theatre has created a breathtaking theatrical experience in Kinship, opening in Geelong on August 15 as part of GPAC’s 2013 Deakin University Theatre Season.

09 – 24 August

The Geelong performances mark the beginning of a Victorian and Tasmanian tour of the production by award-winning choreographer Stephen Page.

Kinship brings together two of Bangarra’s most loved dance works. The first section will feature Brolga, originally presented as part of the iconic Bangarra production Corroboree. The second work will be ID, originally performed in the acclaimed production, Belong. Brolga is a creation story inspired by the totemic systems in Australian Aboriginal culture, where every person is assigned a creature totem related to their clan. Set in North East Arnhem Land, a young girl ventures out before sunset and finds herself on a brolga feeding ground. As she is challenged by her totemic temptation, she takes us on a journey of exploring relationships between humans and creatures, reflecting on the intrinsic spirituality of the natural world.

ID investigates what it means to be Aboriginal in the 21st century, asking important questions of identity. In a series of dramatic and humorous observations, Stephen Page contemplates human nature in modern society, where skin colour can drive perceptions rather than embracing differences. This bold dance theatre work celebrates the resilience of Australian Aboriginal culture in both its traditional and contemporary forms.

Bangarra creates a truly Australian theatrical experience that connects the spirit of traditional culture with our contemporary lives, creating inspiring dance theatre productions of integrity and excellence that resonate with people throughout Australia and the world.

Tickets available from Box Office on 5225 1200 The Playhouse Theatre, GPAC www.gpac.org.au

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Paintings, drawings and prints from

Metropolis Gallery, Geelong in association with the Jack family is excited to make available a large collection of significant works by Kenneth Jack (1924 - 2006) from the 1940s – 90s, including many works that are being exhibited for the first time or that have not been seen for many years.

Classic and Rare Works features important historic oil paintings from the 1950s, including a classic image of the old road leading into Aireys Inlet, as well as watercolours of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia and the opal fields of White Cliffs in NSW. There are thirty very fine outdoor sketches of towns and locations across the western district: Mt Noorat, Mt Eccles and other crater lakes, Talbot, Inglewood, Clunes, Cressy, Creswick, Gnarpurt, the Glenelg River at Nelson, Warrock Homestead and even Hanging Rock.

This show reflects the legendary status of Kenneth Jack’s graphics, with linocuts of gold towns and billabongs, lithographs of volcanoes, Portland and Ballarat and etchings of Geelong College and Geelong Grammar. The Road to Bridgewater Bay from the 1940s is represented in three related works in oil, watercolour as well as etching.

Kenneth Jack’s passion for Australia was as large as the country itself.

He was fascinated by the history of Australia, particularly the outback explorers and the gold towns. He travelled to practically every corner of the country, seeking subjects that inspired a creative visual response, and then he returned to the urban art scene with trademark interpretations of the stark beauty and moods of the outback.

Although Kenneth Jack had family links to Geelong that went back generations, he never had a major exhibition there. Metropolis Gallery is proud to bring this exhibition Kenneth Jack: Classic And Rare Works - paintings, drawings and prints from the Jack Family Collection to the centre of a region of which he was very fond.

s

a

ARTS In a career spanning six decades, Kenneth Jack (AM MBE RWS AWI) exhibited widely in Australia and internationally and he is represented extensively in public and private collections throughout Australia and overseas.

Metropolis Gallery, Geelong www.metropolisgallery.com.au

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) 15 August In a world where we constantly lament that we are ‘time-poor’, who has the time, or indeed the stamina, to endure the daunting length of the immortal Bard’s canon? Join us as we present a bold, speedy, irreverent romp through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays that aims to out-Python Monty!

Three brave actors brazenly blend the best of the brilliant Bard with the scrapings from the bottom of the absurdity barrel in this farcical feast of inspired lunacy. A roller coaster ride involving improvisation, pop culture and audience participation, as well as the fastest, funniest ‘Hamlet’ you’re ever likely to see.

Tickets available from Box Office 8734 6000 Wyndham Cultural Centre, Werribee www.wyncc.com.au

All breathing in heaven — Gracia Haby, Louise Jennison, Stephen Wickham Geelong region artists program From 17 August Bringing together collage, drawing and photography, this exhibition reveals the artists’ shared interest in the intersection between the animal and human worlds.

Combining humour with acute observations of both

wild and domestic animals, the works present imaginary worlds, highlight the plight of endangered species, or pay homage to relationships with domesticated animals.

The use of early 20th century postcards of Geelong, drawings of the region’s Hooded Plover birds and imagery of the Barwon wetlands adds a distinctly regional focus.

a psychological minefield as the actor obsessively pursues his desire to unearth the key to the poet’s haunted past, hidden within his most famous but unfinished poem, Mt Ragged.

Geelong Gallery

Starring Max Gillies as Daniel Gartrell and Samuel Johnson as Craig Castevich.

www.geelonggallery.org.au

Bethany Arthouse Film Festival – On Air 20 August Melina, 40, is the most famous voice in French radio. On her evening show, she solves her listeners’ emotional and sexual problems using cheek and humour.

But, in her everyday life, she is obnoxious, cannot stand being touched, and lives an old maid existence in the chic districts of Paris.

When looking for a mother she never knew, she finds out she lives with her large family in the suburbs. Deciding to finally meet her, she gets in touch with the members of her mother’s family without disclosing who she really is...

Directed by Pierre Pinaud and starring Karin Viard, Nicolas Duvauchelle Nadia Barentin.

The Playhouse Theatre, GPAC www.gpac.org.au

The Haunting Of Daniel Gartrell 20 August In the outer suburbs of an Australian city, our greatest bush poet Daniel Gartrell sits and rots.

In a house covered with cockatoos and dark secrets, the only person to enter his self-imposed exile is his damaged daughter Sarah.

Until the arrival, late one night of Craig Castevich, an aspiring young actor.

Craig has been cast to play Daniel in a biographical film.

Daniel dances him through

Darkly humorous and intensely gripping, The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell follows a man’s descent into the dark corners of this country’s soul.

audiences around Australia playing tributes to Hot August Night at Sydney’s State Theatre, Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Burswood Casino, Adelaide Festival Theatre and, in 2010, to 4500 people at the Twilight at Taronga series with electrifying performances.

The Playhouse Theatre, GPAC www.gpac.org.au

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat www.hermaj.com

Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night - The Concert 23 August A recreation of one of the greatest live albums of all time…

Celebrating the anniversary of the legendary recording “Hot August Night”, Peter Byrne brings Neil Diamond to you, together with a worldclass 30-piece symphony orchestra.

It is over 40 years since Neil Diamond stepped on stage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with a symphony orchestra and recorded what is still known today as one of the greatest epic live albums of all time. Now that album will be re-created in its original format in a national tour by Peter Byrne and the Sydney International Orchestra, The Australian Pops Orchestra, The Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.

The show will tour through New South Wales, Canberra, Victoria, and Queensland.

Featuring classic songs Crunchy Granola Suite, Cherry Cherry and Sweet Caroline, see the same spontaneous display of energy and sensuality of Neil Diamond with the superb talents of Peter Byrne. Peter’s capacity to recreate Neil Diamond to a standard that Neil himself has endorsed on many occasions is truly astonishing.

Each year Peter has thrilled

Kenneth Jack: Classic and Rare Works Exhibition

BUSINESS NEWS | 41

COMMUNITY

From kitchen battles to battling the cold The 2013 ‘Y” Chef Cooking Challenge

Award winning Geelong chefs joined local students undertaking VET in Schools Hospitality classes for the launch of the 2013 ‘Y’ Chef Cooking Challenge in June.

T

he ‘Y’ Chef program is designed to provide VET in Schools Hospitality students with an insight into a career in the hospitality industry. Prominent local chefs volunteer their time, experience and expertise in enlightening students about the industry and assisting them to prepare dishes during the cooking challenge. The launch gives each class of students the opportunity to meet their school’s allocated Chef and learn about the competition ahead.

Mentoring Chef’s Leonie Mills (Jack and Jill Restaurant), Daniel Brehaut (Black Bull Tapas Bar and Restaurant), Jan Solovic (Empire Grill) and Cory Hyde (Telegraph Hotel) worked with their allocated class of hospitality students for six weeks.

Students from within each school then competed in pairs to prepare a specified three-course meal. The students were assessed, with the best 16 students going forward to the final.

at his restaurant, Gladioli which is provided by the GRVEC, Geelong Regional Vocational Education Council.

Everyone Deserves to be Rugged Up This Winter

Another significant community contribution is the Rugged Up program, which BacLinks has been proud to facilitate this year.

R

ugged Up provides clean blankets to families and individuals who are facing homelessness on a daily basis. All blankets donated will be distributed to the agencies supporting the estimated 2000 homeless people in the Geelong region, with a number of those sleeping rough or couch surfing as a way of seeking shelter.

Students from St. Ignatius College, Bellarine Secondary College, The Gordon, Kardinia International College, Geelong High School, Belmont High School, Northern Bay Secondary College, St. Joseph’s College, Clonard College and Sacred Heart College will contest for the coveted prize and the invaluable learning experience about life as a top chef.

Businesses across Geelong and the Bellarine have been encouraged to place collection bins in their workplace and inspire members of the community to donate blankets. The Lions Club of Corio/Norlane has volunteered their time to coordinate the distribution and collection of the Rugged Up bins.

Student finalists will compete against each other at the final challenge, to be held on Friday 23 August at Northern Bay College, where they will prepare a specified menu for judging.

The meals are adjudicated by an independent judging panel made up of renowned food writers and other industry experts.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause the following businesses have collection bins within their workplace until the August 10: Bendigo Bank / Ford / GMHBA / The Voice (Ocean Grove) / Victoria Police / Coulter Roache / Geelong Supercats – The Arena.

“Encouraging and nurturing the talent of local students at this time, gives them an insight into the culinary industry,” said Award Winning chef, Daniel Brehaut. “The ‘Y’ Chef cooking Challenge gives students a taste of the joy of a successful career in the hospitality industry”

The blanket drive will conclude with the presentation of all donated blankets by The Lions Club of Corio/Norlane to the Salvation Army at the Supercats home game on the August 10.

People are also encouraged to bring and donate their blankets on the day.

The competition, sponsored by The Gordon and Adroit Insurance, is co-ordinated by Karingal’s initiative, BacLinks.

BacLinks specialise in linking relationships between the business and community sectors for mutual benefit.

These two examples highlight the mutual benefits that can be realised from business-community partnerships facilitated by BacLinks.

“The event is all about the students and developing their passion for the industry by guiding them to a successful pathway. The support of The Gordon and Adroit, as well as the time donated by these prominent chefs is invaluable and the reason for the event’s success,” said BacLinks Manager, Sheree Holdsworth.

The winners will take away the perpetual trophy and prizes donated by Myer. They will also have the honour of spending the day in the shadow of award winning chef, Matt Dempsey,

42 | BUSINESS NEWS

Find out more about how your business can contribute to community in a meaningful way by contacting the BacLinks team on 5249 8989 or visit www.baclinks.org.au.

COMMUNITY

Collaborative efforts help the community

Help protect our kids this White Balloon Day

Collaborative organisation Northern Futures has praised the work of Geelong’s leading philanthropic organisation Give Where You Live (GWYL) after receiving muchneeded support from them.

Help make Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child by supporting White Balloon Day on September 6.

Northern Futures acts as a voice for the northern suburbs of Geelong, working to create employment and training opportunities for the 60 per cent of people in the northern community most at risk of becoming or remaining unemployed.

Northern Futures appeared on the Four Corners program, On the Brink, which focused on the challenges single parents face living on the Government’s Newstart welfare arrangements.

After the episode aired, Northern Futures was inundated with offers of support from the community hoping to donate to the individuals featured in the episode.

Northern Futures Program Manager, Helen Long, said they were delighted by the offers of support, but initially struggled because their website and systems weren’t up for the inundation of donations. “… After a quick explanation of our issue with processing donations, GWYL CEO Bill Mithen, and his team, set to work and built a Northern Futures donations page on their own website, to assist us in accommodating the response we were receiving,” she said.

White Balloon Day is an initiative of Bravehearts, an organisation working to prevent and protect children from sexual assault.

Hundreds of schools, councils, businesses and organisations around Australia are gearing up to show their support for victims of child sexual assault and generate awareness about the issue.

One in five Australian children will be sexually assaulted before they turn 18 – or 59,000 annually, government research shows.

Equally as alarming is the fact that in 85 per cent of cases, the offender is known to the child and is a relative or trusted friend.

The Australia-wide event is also the principle fundraising initiative for Bravehearts as it seeks to educate, empower and protect the most vulnerable members of the community – our kids.

White Balloon Day is a key fixture during National Child Protection Week with all funds raised going towards education, prevention and counselling programs.

Wear white and make a donation on September 6 to show your support, www.whiteballoonday.com.au

Despite requiring all sorts of help from the community, Helen said Northern Futures simply are not resourced to provide the ‘full gamut of services’, which includes the donation process. This is why collaborative efforts are so important in our community.

Northern Futures Chairman, Peter Dorling, said the ease of partnership and collaboration between the two organisations was highly commendable.

“We know the importance of partnership in theory, but it’s when it’s put into practice that it has the most impact. Particularly because Northern Futures is facing further increases in service need with the level of unemployment rising,” he said.

You can donate to the Northern Futures Appeal on the Give Where You Live website now, www.givewhereyoulive.com.au

BUSINESS NEWS | 43

COMMUNITY Defib Your Club for Life is an organisation that provides defibrillators specifically for community groups, and Mr Sproull said the Councillor Grant enabled the Men’s Shed to purchase a defibrillator for their club.

“There is an emphasis on men’s health within the shed movement, with a focus on discussing and countering problems such as diabetes, prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.”

While they welcome all new members, Barry Sproull said the Men’s Shed, “has a particular target group in retired or retrenched men who want to become re-engaged with the community.”

Councillor Community Grants program making a difference to men’s health The 2013 – 2014 Councillor Community Grants program has just opened and applications from not-for-profit groups can now be made online.

From July 2012 to June this year, 135 community organisations received funding. Each Council ward has an allocation of $20,000 and most grants are for amounts of $500 - $3,000.

The Geelong Community Men’s Shed was recently successful in their application for funding to get a defibrillator. The Men’s Shed is on the site of the Northern Community Hub and provides activities such as woodwork, metalwork and community projects for men from all walks of life.

Corio Ward Councillor, Kylie Fisher, said she was delighted the funding was approved.

“Our Councillor Community Grant program aims to create broad benefit to the community relating to wellbeing,” said Cr Fisher. “Defibrillators can save lives when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest… and the one to be installed at the Geelong Community Men’s Shed will be an important community asset.”

Barry Sproull from the Men’s Shed said the funding was much appreciated, as is the continued support from Cr Fisher across a range of their activities.

Drop into the Geelong Community Men’s Shed between 9am to 4pm Wednesdays. Men’s Shed enquiries phone Barry Sproull 0457 643 332.

The Reuseful Project: helping break the cycle of poverty The Reuseful Project is a not-for-profit organisation that takes old computers, refurbishes them, and donates them to people living in poverty.

Founded in 2011 by brothers Luke and Matt Byrne, the Project is currently managed and stewarded by their IT Organisation, Com Connect. Throughout their years of operating an IT Service provider, the brothers witnessed far too many perfectly good computers and laptops thrown out each day. They knew their shelf life could be extended.

At least 17 million computers and televisions are discarded in Australia each year. And there are 2.2 million Australians living in poverty. Access to computing can help break the cycle of poverty for an entire family.

The Reuseful Project gives computers away 100 per cent free, with no catches and the Reuseful Project has never accepted a single dollar.

The brothers would love to hear from any IT companies or professionals who would like to expand the good deed by contributing their time, energy and skills here in regional Victoria. For more information on the Reuseful Project visit www. reusefulproject.org

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AFTER HOURS

Same people, same service, new name Geelong business community leaders, valued clients and stalwarts of the firm gathered on the last day of July to celebrate the rebranding of WHK (formerly Day Neilson) to Crowe Horwath, as of the 1st of August.

WHK have been operating under two brands for some time; their capital city firms were branded Crowe Horwath, whilst the regional firms continued to operate under WHK. WHK have now decided to operate one brand.

The change is not about being bigger. It’s about connecting the firm and clients to the right

resources when they need them, and to ensure, in an ever-changing world, that the right information is available to clients.

Crowe Horwath International, ranked among the top 10 global accounting networks, consists of more than 150 independent accounting and advisory services firms in over 100 countries. Crowe Horwath member firms are known for their local knowledge, expertise and experience balanced by an international reputation for the highest quality of service.

Craig Biddiscombe, Damian McVilly, Elise McVilly

David Jarman, Kathryn Egan, Andrew Lawson

Craig Biddiscombe, Damian McVilly, Elise McVilly

Barry Kittalty, Geoff Neilson

Gizelle Manoli, Alvaro Del Gallo, Maria Del Gallo

46 | BUSINESS NEWS

AFTER HOURS

Photos by Elisha Lindsay - EL Photography

Commercial Photography Staff portraits Product shots Marketing shots Events & Functions Paul Robson, Mayor Keith Fagg, Craig Biddiscombe

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BUSINESS NEWS | 47

AFTER HOURS

Building a Better Geelong Give Where You Live proudly announced the allocation of $1.78 million in grants to the Geelong community in July to assist in alleviating those most disadvantaged in our region.

A Grants Morning Tea was held at The Royal Geelong Yacht Club with over 140 guests.

Give Where You Live CEO Bill Mithen announced: “Give Where You Live is thrilled to announce the allocation of $1.78 million in Grants this year. We work really hard fundraising all year and it is great to be able to provide these Grants to 50 community organisations.

“Give Where You Live sits in a very unique place in the Geelong community and we are proud to be the conduit between donors of all levels and the wonderful community sector organisations of Geelong. These organisations are undertaking some amazing work in our community and really striving to make a difference, to make Geelong a better place.

Being in a position to grant $1.78 million is testament to the generosity of the people and businesses of Geelong, We owe a great debt of thanks to all of our supporters, Corporate Partners, Workplace Givers and event participants all of whom have helped make this distribution possible” For more information on Give Where You Live, visit www. givewhereyoulive.com.au Give Where You Live 2013 Grant Recipients: Anam Cara House Geelong Back to Back Theatre Barwon Disability Resource Council Barwon Youth Bethany Community Support

48 | BUSINESS NEWS

Better Hearing Australia Geelong Inc. Bluearth Foundation Bluebird Foundation Inc. Bravehearts, Inc. CatholicCare Corio Bay Innovators Inc. Delta Therapy Dogs (Geelong) Diversitat Do Care Geelong Drysdale Family Support Encompass Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria Foundation 61 Gateways Support Services Geelong Food Relief Centre, Inc. Glastonbury Community Services Hands on Learning Australia Hope Bereavements Services Kardinia Community Services Kids Plus Foundation Lara Trinity Anglican Church food bank Leisure Networks Life Education Geelong Inc. LifeLine Geelong Barwon Region Inc. Mackillop Family Services Multicultural Aged Care Services Geelong Riding for the Disabled SecondBite Stroke Association of Victoria TADVIC The Outpost The Sanctuary Counselling Centre Inc. The Smith Family Time For Youth UnitingCare Geelong Vision Australia Wesley Centre for Life Enrichment, Geelong Wombat’s Wish YMCA YWCA Zena

Andy Sholl, Sue Mithen

William Guinane, Jason Wilde, Angela Jones

Cheryl Lambert, Dorothy Trezise, Marie Kuchenmeister

Robert Belle, Bron Lawson

AFTER HOURS

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WHAT’S ON Tour of 2010.

The feature track of Fanning’s new album is called ‘Departures (Blue Toowong Skies)’ which Bernard talk about: “My Dad died at the beginning of 2011, which coincided with the biggest floods Brisbane had seen. This was something that loomed pretty large for me over the whole writing period of ‘Departures’ and I suppose a song like this was bound to come out. The lyric is talking about the place in Brisbane where I grew up. Toowong; a near city suburb that my Dad also spent his childhood in and ended up being

01 – 31 AUGUST Geelong Small Business Festival The month of August will provide you with an opportunity to learn a few new skills and brush up on your technical expertise thanks to the Geelong Small Business Festival. The Festival celebrates this contribution and is part of the broader highly successful Victoria’s Small Business Festival.

Over 40 information sessions, events and networking opportunities are on offer throughout the month of August at no cost or minimal cost.

You can pick and choose any number of events that will assist you with your business.

Event topics include social media and marketing, recruiting and retaining staff, leadership, buying and selling a business and how to develop and grow your business. The festival also offers plenty of opportunities for you to network with others.

Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for events to be added to the calendar.

Geelong, Queenscliff, Surf Coast www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ gsbf

4 August Geelong Chamber of Commerce August After 5 – Hosted by NAB The NAB is hosting the August After 5 and entry to this event is complimentary for Geelong Chamber of Commerce

50 | BUSINESS NEWS

members. Attending the After 5 networking events is one of the many benefits of Chamber membership. This is the Chamber’s most popular event and books out very quickly.

Please ensure that you RSVP via the Chamber’s website to confirm your booking.

NAB Geelong Office www.geelongchamber.com. au/events

07 AUGUST Geelong Mingle 2013 It’s Mingle time!

Come join Carers Victoria for a wonderful day out. Relax, unwind, learn something new and get to know other carers in your local community – by the end hopefully you’ll leave with some new friends. Mingles are a great opportunity for you to find out about the local services in your area, whilst enjoying lunch and entertainment.

We know caring can be tough, so if you know another carer who needs some time out, invite them to RSVP too! Mingles are free events for family carers – register your attendance today as places are limited.

Capri Receptions, North Geelong www.carersvictoria.org.au

10 AUGUST Bernard Fanning ‘Departure’ Tour Bernard Fanning is coming to Geelong with the Departure Tour. The tour marks Bernard’s highly anticipated return to stage since Powderfinger’s Farewell

buried in, along with my older brother, who I now happen to be older than.”

Deakin’s Costa Hall, Geelong Waterfront www.gpac.org.au

10 AUGUST Baby and Kids Market The Baby and Kids Market provide excellent quality preloved goods by great brands at bargain prices. It’s the perfect place to stock up on furniture, prams, toys, clothes, books, and just about anything imaginable for babies and children.

Mums sell their gently used baby and kid’s goods at very reasonable prices and it’s a fun way to grab some amazing bargains while recycling at the same time. Running since 2003, Baby and Kids Market is the original and largest market of its kind.

Come and join in the fun!

Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Belmont www.babykidsmarket.com.au

10 AUGUST Frank - A Life in Song Special Encore Presentation…

Start spreading the news!

Tom Burlinson’s internationally acclaimed ‘Frank – A Life in Song’, returns by popular demand to the Geelong Performing Arts Centre.

The voice of ‘young Frank’ in the Golden Globe award-winning mini-series ‘Sinatra’, master storyteller and vocalist, Tom Burlinson, stars in this swinging,

joyous celebration of the music and career of the late, great Ol’ Blue Eyes. Tom Burlinson’s ‘Frank’ premiered in Australia in 1998 to rave reviews. After a national tour taking in major metropolitan venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, Tom performed his Sinatra show in Canada and Las Vegas. On his return to Australia, Tom’s Sinatra show was again in demand.

In this two hour show, Tom croons his way through around 30 of the most popular classics of the past 60 years, by composers such as Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, and Cahn and Van Heusen. The song list includes Come Fly With Me, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, The Lady is a Tramp, Fly Me to the Moon, Mack the Knife, My Way, That’s Life and New York New York, to name just a few.

Book now for an evening of timeless music with ‘Frank – A Life in Song’ starring Tom Burlinson, accompanied on stage by an eight piece band featuring some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians.

The Playhouse Theatre, GPAC www.gpac.org.au

10 AUGUST Hoppers Crossing Soccer Club Inaugural Past Players Day Come and help us rediscover and celebrate 42 years of football history in Wyndham.

The club is launching its first ever Past Players Day and invites all past and present players, coaches, officials and supporters to come and rejoice on this one day of the calendar.

Grange Reserve, Hoppers Crossing www.hopperscrossingsc.com.au

10 – 11 AUGUST Vocal Workshop for A Cappella singers Take your voice to the MAXX! This is an amazing opportunity to attend a two-day workshop/ master class in vocal technique, harmony and performance technique.

MAXX Factor is an internationally acclaimed women’s barbershop

WHAT’S ON quartet. To the women of Geelong Harmony Chorus, they are the world champion Queens of Harmony – nobody does harmony better than Maxx Factor!

For just $100 for non-members ($25 for students 25 and under), this is one singing lesson you won’t want to miss!

Moonee Valley Function Centre, Moonee Ponds www.geelongharmony.com.au

13 AUGUST Tune in Tomorrow Before television the mass medium of entertainment was the radio. Tune in Tomorrow recalls the highlights of entertainment in the era before the Melbourne Olympics and Rock n Roll.

The show includes extracts from the beloved serials Dad and Dave, When a girl Marries, the perennial Superman, Blue Hills, the unique Piddingtons mind reading act and Australia’s Amateur Hour.

They are brought together with the songs and commercials of the period.

Leading a multi-talented cast is the wonderfully entertaining Anne Phelan currently featured in Winners and Losers on the Seven Network, versatile Francis Greenslade of Mad as Hell on ABC-TV and also Winners and Losers and brilliant young music theatre performer, Ballarat’s own, Joel Parnis.

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat www.hermaj.com

15 – 16 AUGUST Start the Switch Conference The Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) and the City of Greater Geelong are excited to invite you and your students to take part in a three month program called Start the Switch. A program designed to take students on a journey of discovery, understanding, inspiration and action.

To kick start this journey, we are holding a two-day summit on August 15 and 16, where more than 100 students from the Geelong region will have the opportunity to hear from inspiring keynote speakers,

immerse themselves in sustainability concepts and launch their own sustainability projects in their school and community. AYCC mentors will then support these student groups with fortnightly checkins to help make their project a success.

Your booking allows us to provide your school with promotional support. Schools will be included on a first-come, first-served basis.

Newtown Event Centre, Newtown Contact Kelly MacKenzie, kelly.mackenzie@aycc.org.au

and less fortunate through the cooperation and support of the Ballarat community. SoupBus aims to create dignified and respectful interaction with those in our community who are in need of the greatest assistance. Each evening, one of our supporting restaurants cooks up a fresh batch of soup for SoupBus to distribute free of charge from our central location.

16 AUGUST

Evening includes sit down meal, drinks, documentary and entertainment by local group ‘Black Cat’ as well as charity auctions and raffles.

TenderWrite Workshop Learn to write winning tenders for your business at this free Tenderwrite Workshop. Practical, hands on workshop designed to help Ballarat businesses achieve greater success in their tender submissions. Limited to 12 participants, so reserve your place today.

Trench Room Town Hall, Ballarat www.businessballarat.com

17 AUGUST Denim Daze 2013 Fashion Show and Silent Auction Denim Daze 2013 is the title of this year’s Annual Fashion Show and Silent Auction presented by Community Veracity.

Canapés upon arrival followed by a delicious three course meal, beer wine and soft drinks.

Be amazed at the creativity and imagination of Geelong’s youth as they bring to life new outfits constructed using items from our Community Store in the Denim Daze Fashion Show. Bid on items donated by local Geelong Businesses in the Silent Auction.

Community Veracity is a local Geelong not-for-profit organisation assisting individuals and the community through education, employment and other social ventures.

The Mercure, Geelong www.communityveracity.com.au

17 AUGUST Winter Wonderland SoupBus Ball 2013 The weather changes - but the need never does.

The SoupBus provides an after dark meal service of soup and bread to Ballarat’s homeless

The Winter Wonderland SoupBus Ball raises much needed funds so that we can provide the after dark meal and support service that is the SoupBus.

Tickets: $100 per person, tables of eight or 10 are available, book online.

Brae Raceway, Ballarat www.trybooking.com/CXRP

17 AUG – 08 SEPT Ballarat International Foto Biennale The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is a multi-tiered, month long festival of photography staged across multiple venues throughout the City of Ballarat and surrounds.

The Biennale aims to bring the strongest and most invigorating line up of Australian and international photography in our marquee program. Participation in the prestigious Core program is by invitation only.

The core exhibition program is staged at our major prestige venues located primarily within the City of Ballarat Arts and Heritage precinct. These venues include the Ballarat Mining Exchange, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Post Office Gallery, the Ballarat Trades Hall, Gallery B1, the Ballarat Town Hall, St Patricks Community Hall. Core venues are open every day of the festival and all are free entry.

The Foto Biennale includes a Fringe Exhibition, which operates out of various cafes, restaurants, commercial galleries and retail spaces.

The Biennale also features a

series of workshops, seminars, lectures, and artist floor talks and projections evenings.

Ballarat www.ballaratfoto.org

18 AUGUST Vietnam Veterans Memorial Service Veterans March along Swinburne Street, North Geelong to the corner of Melbourne Road at the Vietnam Memorial.

Vietnam Veterans and Osborne House www.geelongaustralia.com.au

01 – 14 SEPTEMBER Heartlands Refugee Art Prize Exhibition The Heartlands Exhibition will be held at The Homestead, Werribee Park from 01 – 14 September. It will showcase 40 entries by refugee artists who have arrived in Australia since 1970. It will include paintings, drawings, photography and mixed media works reflecting this year’s theme ‘I wish to see…’

The exhibition is presented

by AMES and Multicultural Arts Victoria in partnership with Parks Victoria, VicHealth and the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

The Homestead, Werribee Park www.multiculturalarts.com.au/ heartlands

5 September Harwood Andrews Law Breakfast This has become a regular event in the Geelong Chamber’s calendar. A team of specialists from Harwood Andrews Lawyers provide valuable information, updates on compliance issues and changes to legislation that all businesses should be aware of.

This is a great opportunity to have access to such valuable legal information as well as practical and proactive strategies for your business.

Please ensure that you RSVP via the Chamber’s website to confirm your booking.

Four Points by Sheraton Geelong www.geelongchamber.com.au/ events BUSINESS NEWS | 51

Geelong, welcome to your office away from the office.

It’s no longer business as usual.

As part of NAB’s on-going commitment to our customers and the Geelong business community, the new NAB Geelong Business Centre is now open. Whether you need to conduct a meeting with your clients, work remotely or relax before a presentation, we’ve assembled the perfect place to do each, without interruptions.

Here are just some of the features available to you at your office away from your office: • A choice of meeting rooms accommodating everything from discreet one-on-ones with your clients to major meetings and large presentations • Casual drop-in work spaces • Access to order catering from Geelong’s finest caterers • Free Wi-Fi, fresh Fairtrade coffee and live ABC 24 • Dedicated car parking and bike racks • NAB Business Bankers on hand to offer you financial information and advice if needed.

Situated in the heart of Geelong at 43-45 Brougham Street, we’re open 8am to 6pm. To book your next meeting speak to your NAB Business Banker or call 5249 3272.

We see Australian business. ©2013 National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686.

A103300-0713 /TBNAB2102_GBNM