THE Greater Ararat Business Network has recently held its Annual General Meeting with guest speaker our local MP, Martha Haylett presiding over a change in committee and highlighting her plans for helping business in the Ripon electorate.

GABN AGM 30-MAR-23

It was great to see a large attendance supporting the network- and hopefully a sign of exciting times ahead. The 2023 committee are myself Cam Conboy (President), Kelsey Hosking (Vice President), Geanie Bell (Secretary) , Peter McGrath (Treasurer), Matt Linsley, Toby Steele, Dominic Gallo, Craig Wilson and Ashleigh Marx. GABN is busily planning for the next 12 months, with an action packed calendar to network, share and learn. If you have ideas for events or concepts that will help grow our business sector, please contact one of the committee and let us know.

Our main street retailers are reporting mixed trading- as signs of inflation and cost of living start to hit. It is certainly a tougher environment for small businesses to operate and now as supply channels catch up and we move around, please consider your local trader before you click that order online.

ANZAC DAY 25-APR-23

With Anzac Day next week , we will pay our respects to those who have served our country. There will be many services across the region, including a dawn service at Ararat at 6am, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the RSL. We encourage those in the business community to get out and support Anzac Day. It is a large and important day of national reflection and very moving for those who attend. Lest we forget.

Unfortunately, two of our local businesses have been the subject of robberies in recent weeks. Harvey Norman was the subject of a smash and grab over the Easter weekend netting thieves an amount of electrical and computer equipment. Also, Garden Lakes Café was broken into earlier this week and while nothing appears stolen, a lot of damage was done including a smashed window and computer. With a couple of business being the subject to break ins and thefts lately- it is poignant that the Ararat Police are reaching out to the business and community to form a local safety committee, to encourage greater feedback and identifying issues. Local police do regular patrols throughout the night but they cannot be everywhere at once. If you see something, ring triple-0, If you have any issues or concerns that you would like to the business network to raise with Police on your behalf, then please drop a line via our website.