Community Christmas Tree

Yarrawonga Mulwala can celebrate Christmas this year with a Community Christmas Tree.

After several years of thwarted attempts the Yarrawonga Mulwala Chamber of Commerce have been successful in supplying power to the Fir Tree on the Yarrawonga Foreshore so that the tree can be lit up for Christmas.

The tree will be decorated with ornaments made by Yarrawonga and Sacred Heart Primary Schools and lights have also been purchased.

Our Community Christmas Tree will come alive for the first time on Monday 1st December at 8:30pm. The celebration will begin at 8:00pm with entertainment provided by Yarrawonga Secondary College bands and the Yarrawonga Mulwala Ecumenical Choir.

The Yarrawonga Mulwala Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all those involved in the Community Christmas Tree including the Yarrawonga and Sacred Heart Primary Schools, The Yarrawonga Secondary College, the Yarrawonga Mulwala Ecumenical Choir, Jim Carroll of Yarra Tree Lopping for his assistance in hanging the decorations and Brett James Electrical. Thanks are also extended to the Alexander Park Club, Yarrawonga Mulwala Development, the Mulwala Ski Club and the Moira Shire Council for their financial contributions to the project.

YMCC have also been successful in obtaining permission from Powercor to attach banners to their power poles in Belmore Street thanks to an innovative new banner design by Baymedia.

Colourful Christmas banners designed by local designer BT Designs will be up in time for Christmas and after the festive season the second banner will be erected to brighten Belmore Street for the rest of the year.

A word from the President

Just wanted to thank everyone for attendance at the meeting on Tuesday 21st October. We pushed quickly through the agenda and managed to get everyone home at a reasonable hour. I'm certainly one for a quick meeting so if ever things need more discussion or think time, please let me know. The idea with the sub committees is that they put in the time required between meetings discussing issues and bring recommendations to be ratified at the monthly meetings.

Thanks also to everyone who put their name up for sub committees, we have a great cross section of business people on the Chamber and so should be able to come up with good ideas on promoting business in Yarrawonga Mulwala, and the Chamber to the business community. I envisage sub committees meeting once a month, however informal, be it a 10 - 15 minute get together or a joint communication via email. We all need to think of ideas and issues which need addressing and come up with a priority plan to put them in place. Please feel free to put your ideas and email to Pauline for circulation.

Pauline has done some great work on the street banners and we all look forward to the day when there is something other than power lines hanging from the poles. Great to be getting funding from Moira Shire to go towards our Banners and Christmas Tree.

Judy has spent some time trying to come up with a promotion to get the message out to potential tourists that Yarrawonga Mulwala has got plenty of water and is keen to accommodate all tourists. The "Shop Local" and "Petrol Promotion" would allow us to access the funding currently available from Moira Shire. The upcoming Christmas on Belmore planning will also be commencing soon.

It would also be good to have one social/networking evening before the end of the year and look forward to hearing from that sub committee soon.

We need to hold further discussions with Rotary regarding our role in the Business Excellence Awards. The Chambers name is connected with the awards night and it is important that all avenues are explored towards the ongoing success of these important awards recognising and congratulating business people for their contribution to our communities.

Congratulations to Penne and her sub committee for the fantastic job they have done in putting the 3 Hour Sale promotion together. We had over 60 businesses taking part and a budget of over $13000 which enabled advertising to reach out to a huge population. This should turn into $$$$$$$ in our tils!! That will put a smile on all our faces. Congratulations again!

The issues of car parking and retail space in Yarrawonga are issues that need to be pursued diligently with our new council in the new year.

Thanks for your time and contribution and lets all rejoice to the sounds of ringing tils.

Yours in Business

Dominic Fotia
President.