Fortnightly Commentary from Cam Conboy, President of GAB Network  (Opinion Page-The Advocate 29-Jul-22)

ANOTHER month has whizzed past and we are over half way through 2022 already. It’s enough to give anyone whiplash!

Christmas in July - Barkly's Bistro Bar - Ararat Emergency Relief Committee Christmas Toy Appeal

Firstly, thanks to everyone who came along to our Christmas in July event a couple of weeks ago at the Barkly Bistro Bar and Accommodation. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying great food and wine while raising some much needed funds for the Ararat Emergency Relief Committee Christmas Toy Appeal.

Monthly Zoom Call

Last week the GABN Committee held our monthly Zoom meeting and it was loaded with fantastic information. We received updates from Dr Tim Harrison, EGHS Chief Executive, Nick Bush and Grampians Tourism CEO, Marc Sleeman. Dr Tim provided a progress report on the recent Barkly St Breezeway Mural Project and city-wide beautification program. If you haven’t had the opportunity to take a look at the new mural, led by artist Mike Makatron, make sure you give yourself some time to wander past soon.

Job Vacancies and Employment & New Settlement Scheme

Job vacancies and employment continue to challenge local businesses looking to rebuild to full capacity after the issues of the last couple of years. Some readers may remember that late in 2020 Grampians Tourism and Ararat Rural City Council (in conjunction with three other local government authorities from across the Grampians) launched the Grampians Life website to attract people looking to embrace life in Regional Victoria after the first wave of COVID-19. It was encouraging to hear last week that the Grampians Jobs portal will receive some additional funds from the State Government to continue to assist businesses from across the region in highlighting vacant positions to jobseekers. Even better operators can continue to list their job vacancies for free. Visit grampianslife.com.au to find out how you can take advantage of this fantastic free resource. There are also a number of new residents moving to Ararat, through the New Settlement Scheme, who are keen to find employment and are ready to work in sectors such as retail and hospitality. If you would like to investigate the possibility of finding a new member of your team through this program please contact Ararat Rural City Council for more information.

As always, the GABN Committee is keen to hear from anyone interested in joining our dynamic group of local businesses. If you are considering becoming a member of GABN or would like to know more about our future events please contact any of our committee members or email admin@gabn.org.au.