Local businesses and Golf Day event sponsors Richardson & Wrench Merrylands and Telstra Carlingford joined Parramatta Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday 7 July to present cheques to two local charities.

The monies were raised at the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce’s major Charity fund raising event the Business Helping Hands Charity Golf Day.

It was a welcome break from the office as over 80 golfers and non golfers alike joined together to raise over $7000 for worthy charities.

The Chamber, although focused on the health and prosperity of the business community, has a long history of charitable support. For the past 13 years the Chamber has held the Golf Day to assist local charities in the Parramatta area.

This year the major recipients were TAD NSW and SEE Foundation who received $2550 and $2000 respectively at the Chamber’s monthly Business After Five held at the Meat and Wine Co last week.

Trevor Oldfield, Lorraine Baker with Boris Pyatt Richardson & Wrench Merrylands and Adam Moroney Telstra Carlingford present cheques to Melanie Gibbons of TAD NSW and Kay Quinn of See Foundation.

The remainder of the funds raised have been retained by the Chamber to distribute to other worthy local charities throughout the year as and when the need arises.
Successful days such as this do not just happen without a huge effort and a special note of thanks goes to Lorraine Baker and her husband Malcolm from Finesse Finance and our Executive Officer Paula Roden, along with their dedicated team of helpers. Their organisation, sleepless nights and timeless effort in bringing this event to reality is much appreciated.

Thank you also to our Auctioneer, Mr Tony Roumanos from Ray White Bankstown, who conducted a very humorous, entertaining and most importantly successful auction. 

Of course, a special thanks must go to our Event Sponsors – Richardson & Wrench Merrylands and Telstra Carlingford, the various hole sponsors and our generous donors.

This event not only raises valuable funds for local charities but offers a great opportunity for networking and some much deserved time out during what many see as a difficult time.

To Oatlands Golf Club and Amadeus catering, you did a great job and we will be back next year!

The feedback again this year was encouraging with many seeing this prestigious event as a must for the 2010 Calendar.

What being in the Chamber does for me

“Sales, great friends, a combined business and social life, and ‘mate’s rates’ for almost every service I need, professionally and personally” is how one Parramatta Chamber of Commerce member answered this question.

Now ‘mate’s rates’ may sometimes not be so much of a discount, but VIP service or treatment, maybe even priority when services are in short supply or high demand. Perhaps I could summarise Chamber membership by saying ‘great mates with great mate’s rates’.

By attending as many Chamber functions as they can, members not only build fruitful, long-term business relationships, they develop rewarding friendships as well. Noticeable at our monthly Business After 5 functions are the groups of regulars who gravitate around the room, joining other gatherings of old-timers, then moving-on, engaging newcomers into the discussions, making valuable new business contacts in the process.

Chamber guest Chris Walker of Dark Blue Fire enjoying the hospitality at Meat & Wine Co who hosted our July After Five. Chris’ comment on the event “It was awesome.” 

Come and see for yourself the real and on-going benefits associated with being a part of the Parramatta City Chamber of Commerce. Be our guest at one of our monthly Business After 5 functions, no charge, no commitment. Experience the comradeship and vitality of our vibrant business community. I guarantee you will be glad you did. Contact Oksana on 9683 6655 to accept our invitation.

BizNews Highlights

• NSW Business Chamber Western Sydney has called on the NSW Government to release quarterly figures on the reliability of electricity supply, following the release of FOI data that revealed nearly 10,000 power blackouts across NSW over the past year. “Reliable energy supply is essential to all businesses – from coffee shops and restaurants to manufacturing plants and accounting firms.  A loss of supply always has a business cost,” said John Pearson, NSW Business Chamber Western Sydney Regional Manager.

• The Australian Fair Pay Commission has maintained the standard Federal Minimum Wage at $14.31 per hour ($543.78 per week) and maintained the adult rates of pay in the Australian Pay and Classification Scales at their current levels.

• Parramatta deputy lord mayor Lorraine Wearne has cast doubts that the West Metro rail line between Sydney and Westmead will ever see the light of day. Cr Wearne said council welcomed the West Metro. But she said the project was still a ‘pipe dream’ because no funding had been allocated to build the 24km line, which would stop at Westmead, Parramatta and Camellia railway stations.

• Parramatta Council will consider a recommendation to adopt a draft enforcement and draft parking enforcement policy. The policies set out to achieve clear guidelines to ensure consistent application of the law and general standards of behaviour. The parking policy also sets out the methods of enforcement, guidelines and legislative requirements.

• Parramatta and Auburn City Councils have engaged the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) to develop a waste exchange program for the businesses of Camellia and Silverwater, in the Duck River Catchment, and are currently seeking businesses who are interested in being involved with the development and piloting of the program.  For more information contact Julian Fyfe – Project Manager, Institute for Sustainable Futures, julian.fyfe@uts.edu.au

Viewpoint:

Civic Place Represents our Future

The Chamber sees Civic Place as the cornerstone for Parramatta becoming a truly 21st century city.

Currently the space planned for Civic Place covers a three-hectare inner city block while being under utilised and unimpressive compared with how the heart of an important CBD should look.

It is currently not a prosperous centre of business nor is it an appealing gateway to Parramatta and whilst our gems from the past like the Town Hall must be retained, the entire precinct is worn out.

This $1.4 billion development will create over 8,000 jobs and thousands of increased residents. These jobs, new services and facilities are vital to the successful growth Sydney’s second largest CBD.

Civic Place will play an integral part in transforming us from Sydney’s 2nd City to Western Sydney’s Capital.

As a Chamber our primary objective is to ensure the future viability of enterprise and in doing so we need to recognise and support positive initiatives such as Civic Place to expand and promote our city for a long term viable future.

Parramatta is in great economic shape for our times with an enormously prosperous future on the radar. The centralisation of private and government enterprises towards Parramatta will continue giving us all opportunities of which we can take advantage.

***Upcoming Events

Awards Information Session
Wednesday 15 July
Parramatta Chamber of Commerce
Level 1, 8-10 Palmer St, Parramatta
5pm – 7pm

Business Excellence Lunch
Friday 31 July
Courtyard by Marriott
12.30pm
Cost $70.00 per head includes 2-course meal and drinks

Business after Five
Novotel Sydney Olympic Park
Tuesday 4 August
5.30pm
Cost: $20.00 members and guests
$40.00 non members

Contact Parramatta Chamber on 96836655 or info@parramattachamber.com.au or visit our website www.parramattachamber.com.au for more information or
or an invitation to attend.

Platinum Supporter:
Suncorp

Major Supporters:
Parramatta City Council
Snap Printing
GWP Magazine