Herald 20201208

Highfields business last breakfast for 2020
Members of the Highfields
and District Business Connections
group celebrated the various
successes it has achieved
throughout the year and future
prospects.
The group held its final
monthly breakfast meeting for
2020 with Toowoomba Regional
Council Deputy Mayor Geoff
McDonald, Cr Melissa Taylor
and Cr Rebecca Vonhoff attending
and updating the group with
what the council has planned.
HDBC president Ray Hunt
said the group had experienced
steady growth in membership in
November.
“What we try to do here is
uncover any small businesses
that would like to be part of the
HDBC,” he said.
“We’re looking for any new
businesses in the area. It doesn’t
matter if they are operating out
of home or have a shopfront.
“Over the course of the past
two months, there have been 10
new members join and that will
increase in the new year.”
Kehoe Myers Consulting
Engineers director and former
HDBC committee member
Grant Pendlebury said the group
had a good run recruiting new
members over the past three
months during a membership
drive.
Cr McDonald brought up the
council’s focus on local spend
in regional centres that helps increase
the capacity of local businesses
and local economy.
“We have a target of 60 per
cent local spend to local businesses
which is critical in regards
to getting through the pandemic,”
Cr McDonald said.
“This has been something we
have been putting in place for
about six to seven years.
“In October, we saw some
64 per cent of our total council
spend locally, that equated to
$15 million into the economy
which is a good boost.
“For the year to date until the
end of October, the first quarter
of the year, we’re at 56 per cent
that equated to $55 million spent
locally.”
Cr McDonald said the council
had a deputation from the Small
Business Commissioner Maree
Adshead, with talks of the
council joining the Queensland
Government’s Small Business
Friendly Councils Initiative.
The initiative was established
to recognise and support local
councils in Queensland that are
actively supporting small businesses
in their area and helping
them to recover and build resilience
following disasters and
economic challenges.
Cheese of my childhood
Family dinners on a Sunday are a staple in ourhousehold.
And I don’t mean some haphazardly
thrown together dish either. It is truly a king’s feast.
Every Sunday, grandma comes down to join us as
well, happily indulging in some Greens Gravy mix,
a cut above the Gravox she used for about 60 years.
This poem reminds her of the times she herself had as a
child, from family dinners to the light entertainment she
would have. - Quinn Macdonald
DEPUTY MAYOR and COUNCILLORS UPDATE COUNCIL ACTIVITIES
“That is something that will
come to the council in January
next year as to whether the council
is a part of that,” he said.
“It would be great for the
HDBC to be involved with the
announcement because if the
council agrees to be part of the
initiative, the success of being
involved would be that our regional
centres also benefit from
this local spend.
“One of the measures of success
will be small businesses in
our remote townships actually
getting some benefit from this.”
Merivale Cakes and Crafts
owner Mary Reid explained the
Federal Government’s Go Local
First program which aims to
help local small businesses by
providing free exposure.
Ms Reid said the government’s
initiative came at a time
to help small businesses through
the effects the pandemic had on
the local economy.
Mr Hunt said the group had a
meeting with TRC Mayor Paul
Antonio and that he was happy
to have another meeting with
the group that would involve the
council’s planning department,
so the group could gain some
details about the Highfields town
centre and provide its input.
The next meeting will be held
in February 2021. - Sean White
I remember the cheese of my
childhood, and the bread we cut with
a knife,
When children helped out with the
housework, and men went to work, not
the wife.
The cheese never needed an ice
chest. The bread was so crusty and
hot,
Cr Rebecca Vonhoff, Cr Melissa Taylor, Deputy Mayor, and Cr Geoff McDonald
with HDBC president Ray Hunt
The children were seldom unhappy,
and the wife content with her lot.
I remember the milk from the billy
with yummy rich cream on the top
Our dinners came hot from the oven
and not from some fridge in a shop.
The kids were a lot more contented
They didn’t need money for kicks
But a game with their mates in the
paddock and sometimes the Saturday
flicks.
I remember the shop on the corner
Where a penny worth of lollies were
sold
Do you think I’m a bit to nostalgic
or is it I’m just getting old? - Author
unknown
Christmas in Crows Nest
Friday, December 11 – 6-9pm
In light of COVID this year, it was decided to cancel Crows Nest’s Christmas in the
Park, however Crows Nest Lions, Crows Nest Tourist and Progress and
Toowoomba Regional Council decided to run a COVID safe Christmas activity.
On 11th December between 6pm and 9pm, we will have a Christmas Gift Bag Drive
through between the Crows Nest Soft Drinks and Tyre Service buildings.
The first 100 vehicles will receive one Christmas Gift Bag, these bags are limited to 100
so we apologise if we run out before you arrive.
Toowoomba Regional Council has generously transferred the Crows Nest Day 2020
funds to this event.
Colouring Competition - Crows Nest News
Lights Competition
Terms and Conditions can be found on the
entry forms at Crows Nest News
Prizes for:
Residential – $150
Business – Perpetual Trophy
Community group – $150
Brightest – $150
Novelty – $150
Neighbours/hood – $200 BBQ package
Best decorated mailbox – $50 voucher
Peoples Choice
Entries close December 7
Judging 8-9-10 December
CROWS NEST
The Village in the High Country
Contact: 0428 331 570 for more details
*Tune into 88FM for festive music and messages from your community on Friday 11th Dec between 6 and 9pm
12 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - DECEMBER 8, 2020 To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au