Gallery: Local Businesses connect at Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catch-up
Front (L-R) Nambour Chamber’s Julie Smedley, Nicklin MP, Marty Hunt, Kerry Brown and IAmNambour’s Rhonda Billet with the 85+ attendees of the June 5 Coffee Catch Up.
The Nambour Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly Coffee Catch-up yesterday at Cultivate the Chaos, bringing together local business owners and community leaders for networking and updates on regional initiatives.
Chamber board member Jody Chatillon welcomed attendees to the venue, thanking Robyn Cook and her team at Cultivate the Chaos for hosting the event in their Howard Street space.
Local Business Highlights
Fiona Davis of Sunshine Coast Radiology shared her company's 20-year journey serving the region, highlighting their network of 13 sites including two dedicated clinics in Nambour. Fiona emphasised their "patients first" approach and bulk-billing services to ensure healthcare accessibility.
Andrew Hardy introduced Hardy & Sons Plumbing, a local business that has quickly grown to employ four full-time plumbers and two apprentices. Hardy emphasised their commitment to supporting other local businesses and providing comprehensive plumbing services to the Nambour community.
Community Safety Initiatives
State MP Marty Hunt addressed community safety concerns, updating members on plans for a permanent police beat shop front in Nambour's CBD, likely to be located on Lowe Street. Mr Hunt also discussed an upcoming CCTV initiative that will provide live feeds to police, enabling faster response times.
"We don't want to talk our town down," Mr Hunt said, "but we have to acknowledge that safety remains an issue." He encouraged businesses to complete his community survey, noting that safety was currently the top concern among respondents.
Buy Local Campaign
Sunshine Coast Council’s Tyler Harford promoted the upcoming Buy Local Day on Saturday, June 28, encouraging businesses to participate in the campaign aimed at supporting local, small, independent businesses. Nambour is extending this into a "Buy Local Weekender" that will include footpath trading opportunities, the Rummager’s Market, and entertainment throughout the CBD.
Sunshine Coast Show
Jenny Mackay reminded attendees that the Sunshine Coast Show is just days away, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday June 11. The show is expected to draw over 40,000 visitors this year, generating an estimated $4 million impact for the local economy. Free buses will circulate around Nambour during the event, providing transportation on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
New Initiatives
Robin Cook introduced her social enterprise, Cultivate the Chaos, which delivers youth-focused programs including the STUFFit Student Film Festival. The international festival is run by students aged 12-18 and provides them with valuable skills and qualifications in event management.
Video Series
The "I am Nambour" team unveiled a new video series promoting the Nambour CBD, and highlighted its recent campaign bringing a special focus on public transport access. Marketing manager Maree McGrath shared impressive results from their recent "50 cent fare" campaign, which reached nearly 60,000 unique screens in Brisbane at a cost of just 3 cents per click.
The event concluded with attendees networking over coffee and viewing I am Nambour’s newly released promotional videos.
