The Business Connection

All the latest business news from the North East

Hello Members, 

This week we really are starting to get back to normal, even if it is a new form of normal. 

After around two and a half years, from midnight Wednesday Victoria’s Pandemic Declaration ended and last night the remainder of Australia joined us in being free of this legislation. 

We have all lived through the same difficult time, harder for some than others, but we are resilient and can now work on fully recovering. 

Our Member’s Lunch Meeting this week at the Birallee Tavern was the most normal event I believe we have run since early 2020. We only had one last minute cancellation due to illness, rather than the many that we had been experiencing in past events.  The vibe in the room was positive, lots of chatter and many not in a hurry to leave.   

This meeting as you will have seen was an opportunity to meet with and get to know Council’s CEO, Matt Hyde and we thank him for making himself so freely available to us and sharing some insights into both himself personally and his views on Wodonga. 

This morning we have our Grants Writing workshop happening and I’m sure those of us attending will learn much from Pat Grosse as she demystifies myths and explains facts to us. It is good to see sporting organisations making the most of this opportunity too.

Next week we have our Celebration of Business event happening where we will also be announcing our revamped Albury Wodonga Business Awards.  You don’t want to miss this as we celebrate everything that is great about our business community. You will hear from past Award winners, learn about the new entry and judging processes as well as network with other wonderful local business people.  

https://businesswodonga.com.au/events/celebration-of-business/ 

For months we have been promoting the importance of having a strong awareness of cybersecurity and the need for solid protection. I was saddened to learn this week that one of our members lost a substantial amount of data and substantial interruption to their business, most likely via Malware, despite having what they and their IT provider believe to be high level protections. Those that seek to farm or harm your confidential information are getting smarter and smarter. So please do everything that you possibly can to protect your businesses and your customers online. 

To end, not on a negative note, COVID19 is still with us, at least we now have the ability to make our own decisions and apply common sense. One thing we have learned, is that if you aren’t feeling well and there is a possibility you may infect someone else with any illness, you are better off staying at home, so you don’t cause others to become ill, in your workplace, school or at social occasions. Soldiering on is gone. Keeping others safe and your workplace open is in. 

-Graham 

Events