I would like to say a big thank you to all of our members, speakers, the president of the RRCC-Rick Besso and Nics 107 for a successful and informative evening all round. 

The meeting was held at the new restaurant in Hopetoun called NICS 107 and the food was delicious. We had nearly 40 members attend the meeting/dinner from Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe and some of our members came all the way from Esperance for the night. 

Lesley Parker from Goldfields Esperance Consultative Committee gave us feedback on the very successful Women In Business Workshop that was held in Hopetoun on the 19th February. It was very interesting to note that 99% of the women that attended on the day want to actively support the network. 

Jill Hutchison from Hopetoun filled in at the last minute and did a presentation on Marketing which was highly successful and very entertaining. We discovered Jill and her expertise at the Women In Business Workshop which was a blessing. Jill really opened our eyes to how knowing your market and target group and applying that information can create a very successful business. We are in times of change and as Jill said if you want to tap into certain markets and target groups then you need to research them and apply certain methods that work. 

Elisa Young gave a presentation on the new RRCC website which is now live on the internet. We both have work still to do on it including uploading members’ business profiles. It has a business directory, events section, job seekers, calendar and links. Members will eventually have their own logons and will be able to add information on their own page. The web address is www.rrcc.asn.au The website is available to all of the RRCC members so please email me your profiles and photos. 

Dr Des Lehmann from the Western Power gave a talk on what is happening in Ravensthorpe with the power head work costs and gave a presentation on alternative energy. Even though Des cannot change anything in the short term or if at all as Western Power is bound by Government policy, he certainly provided answers, gave support and informed us of other methods. 

I informed members of my last visit to Kalgoorlie where I attended the Kalgoorlie CCI AGM and how we are now affiliated with the Regional Chamber of Commerce WA. I will be attending a two day conference with the RCCIWA in Perth in May and we are trying to organise to address about 9 politicians of our choice at Parliament House with our questions/issues. 

The RRCC now has an office and should be opening in the main street of Hopetoun in the next week. It is the office in the same building as Taste of the Toun. Please feel free to pop in or give me a call to meet with me on 0409 370 625.