Chris Dobney
A new-look committee has signed on at the Bangalow Chamber of Commerce following the recent exodus of president Carolyn Adams, vice-president Jeff Lovett, treasurer Greg Clark and committee member John Gray.
The new committee members are: Jo Milar, acting president; Mary O’Connor, acting vice president; Ishwinder Thind, treasurer; and executive committee members Ruth Ryan and Mark Perkins.
In a letter to members on behalf of the group, Ms Milar said, ‘We have an extremely motivated and cohesive team who are passionate about ensuring the Bangalow Chamber plays a vital and wide-ranging role in supporting and advocating for our business community.’
‘We are all equally disappointed with the sudden changes of the executive, and hold respect for all the years of hard work of the previous executive,’ the letter continued.
‘We were left saddened by not only the loss to the chamber, but the way it was communicated and the accusations raised.
‘We would like to first assure you the remaining executive feel we have continually acted in an honest and very fair manner and feel quite perplexed by the variety of rumours circulating.
‘You will be pleased to know we believe that the way forward will be to work in an open and inclusive manner with all members and stakeholders. We are already busy developing plans and ideas and look forward to ensuring we have an effective, inclusive and supportive chamber.
‘We will be clearly communicating and involving all our members as this evolves and welcome thoughts and also any urgent items that may need our attention,’ the letter read.
More progressive
According to a source, many chamber members were concerned with the direction the committee had been taking on a number of issues.
The contentious planned 20-acre food hub on the edge of town was the boiling point, which saw an Extraordinary General Meeting called last month and a vote taken where proxies were contested.
But the source, who is a prominent and longstanding Bangalow business person, said this was just the latest of a range of issues riling some members.
‘We were recently wined and dined at a special chamber function at the Ballina RSL, only to be confronted when we got there by a bunch of National Party speakers calling on us to support ending penalty rates,’ the source said.
‘That’s not the sort of chamber we need in Bangalow,’ the source added.
‘Bangalow is a progressive town and our Chamber of Commerce needs to reflect that.’
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