The Village Business Expo took place on Tuesday 8 October, with a great atmosphere and great attitudes abounding at the Maldon Golf Club. Collaboration was the word of the day, with Rebecca Barnett of Maldon Bakery declaring: “if you don’t have money, you need to have friends.”
Hosted by Member for Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, the opening ceremony featured an address by Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP, Minister for Small Business who said that collaborations between state and federal governments, plus councils and educational institutions, provide great supports to small and micro businesses. “It’s important to have an understanding of some of these; for example, Business Victoria does mammoth work throughout Victoria.” The Minister pointed to the Business Bus as being a “wealth of tools on wheels.”
Expo organiser Luz Restrepo reinforced the idea of working together. “One of the most beautiful things that businesses have is voice,” she said. “Governments don’t know about our jobs, they don’t know everything that we do.” She asked attendees to write suggestions on a ‘Collaboration Board’ in the hope that new ideas for collaborative growth might emerge.
Businesses of all shapes held display stands, with opportunities for meeting, sharing and learning. The day featured workshops about cashflow, business legalities, technology and well-being for business owners. There were plenty of opportunities for networking, creating connections and reflection. A final panel discussion featuring representatives from state and local government pondered the recurring theme: How Government and Business Support Organisations Can Fuel Growth. Summarising the day, Luz said: “We need to work together, connections can be made, to help your business.”
Local newspaper a vital link
The Tarrangower Times held a stall at the Village Business Expo, warmly managed by Kerry Cain. The local newspaper is a small business, after all. However, the day was a great reminder that the availability of information and resources is a huge part of the success of small businesses in a small town and that perhaps the local paper is more than just local news.
The TT [Tarrangower Times] acts as a conduit; it offers information about available supports and it provides a platform for promotion and publicity. Without the newspaper, businesses might not know of the new opportunities available to them and locals might not know what businesses are up to. Local papers are becoming scarce and perhaps it’s worth remembering that rare things, like the gold that built this town, are valuable indeed. The Village Business Expo reinforced strongly that we should support local business and support the local paper.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 18 October 2024.
Related stories: Unlocking the potential of small towns: The Village Business Expo, Making Maldon a business hub
