Member news
On Wednesday 2 September Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber held their Annual General Meeting at Club Catalina. It was great to see a strong turn out from members.
We heard from Alison Miers, outgoing President of the Chamber, who very eloquently summed up the achievements and highlights of the year. Alison and the committee did a terrific job to promote and support local businesses during this very challenging time. One of the standout initiatives was Love the Bay. The campaign quickly gathered momentum and was fulfilling its aim of generating community pride in our local area when the fires hit our community so hard. After the bushfires, floods and COVID, it has now become a symbol of our resilience and community spirit.
Thank you to Alison and the past committee including Charles Stuart (Vice President), David Seymour (Secretary), Cameron Thompson (Treasurer) and Judy Apps (Membership Support).
Special mention must go to Marieke Janssen and John Holland for their support of the Chamber initiatives over the past year. Marieke’s energy and commitment helped drive Love the Bay and delivered several grants to be used on projects for our community. John Holland also contributed financially to support Chamber projects.
Introducing the new committee
Mathew Hatcher – President
Mathew is the Founder of Guerrilla Roasters and South Coast Donations Logistics. He moved to Batemans Bay 18 years ago and is proud to call it home. In the wake of the devastating bushfires and the COVID crisis he is pleased to be helping to drive the Bay forward.
Charles Stuart – Vice President (continuing)
Charles has a 25-year history with Variety – The Children’s Charity. Charles is the driving force behind raising funds for the accessible playground at Corrigans Beach. He is a retired owner of two successful private sector businesses and has had more than 30 years’ experience in the financial industry. In 2012 he, in conjunction with Batemans Bay High School, raised $150,000 for a school bus fitted with wheelchair lift and anchor points. More recently Charles raised $20,000 for a ‘Liberty Swing’, for children who use a wheelchair, which is installed at Corrigans Reserve Batemans Bay.
David Maclachlan – TreasurerDavid is a past owner of IGA and Local Liquor stores, motels, events and management consulting businesses. He is a current hotel and luxury lodge owner. David is no stranger to the Chamber, with past tenure as Chamber President and co-founder of Sculpture for Clyde. Now as a committee member he brings a strong interest in business development and tourism within the Shire.
Rebecca Mahon – Secretary
Rebecca and her husband Troy own Your Place Creations, a local building and home improvement company specialising in all types of indoor and outdoor blinds, shutters, curtains, awnings, retractable roofs and Accolade Screens. The couple and their two small children moved to Batemans Bay from Canberra in May 2020. Rebecca joined the Business and Tourism Chamber to meet fellow small business owners and to work together to help the community after such a challenging year.
Originally from Ireland, Rebecca has lived in Australia for over 11 years and has wanted to move to the South Coast for several years. She is very happy with the move and says she and her family have been welcomed with open arms into the community.
Alison Miers – Committee member
Alison moved to Batemans Bay 38 years ago, operating a jewellery studio in Mogo for 25 of those years. Since selling her studio, Alison has acquired business experience across a range of industries, with ventures involving caravans, hospitality, and accommodation.
Community is important to Alison. She has served on several sporting committees and was involved in the successful fight against the Charcoal Factory in Mogo. With a background in interior design, Alison has an eye for detail which comes in handy in her involvement with the successful Sculpture for Clyde event. After a hectic year as Chamber President, we are fortunate to have Alison’s continued support on the committee.
Amber Shutz – Committee member
Amber is a registered Architect having completed her Master of Architecture degree at the University of Newcastle in 2012. She has 10 years of experience in the design and construction industry across a broad range of sectors. In 2018 she relocated to Batemans Bay from Nowra to manage the Edmiston Jones office here alongside Stuart Scobie. Her role with Edmiston Jones allows her to work on a wide range of projects, however she has particular expertise in residential accommodation for seniors.
Amber understands the value that innovative, sustainable and considered design solutions can bring to the Batemans Bay community and actively seeks opportunities to contribute to her experience. She is committed to the strategic planning and development of the region.
Cate McMath – Committee member
Cate is Chief Executive Officer of Muddy Puddles, a not-for-profit organisation in Batemans Bay providing therapy and supports to children and young people with disability. Cate has guided the evolution of Muddy Puddles since its inception, using her experience in team development, strategic planning, and business systems. Prior to her foray into the not-for-profit sector, Cate held senior HR and project management roles in the corporate setting. As a mother of a child with disability, Cate has a passion for creating more inclusive communities where all people can thrive and belong.
The new Committee look forward to working with members to deliver positive outcomes for our business and tourism community.
We will see you at the next Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber meeting at 6.00pm on Wednesday 21 October 2020 at Club Catalina.
