September 2014 A WORD FROM THE CEO… Volume 33 Welcome to our first newsletter for the 2014/15 financial year. Regional Development Staff have been busily putting together the Board’s 2013/14 Annual Report, which not Australia Limestone only acts as a mechanism to record our activities and achievements for the previous Coast Inc (RDALC) financial year, but also ensures we remain on track in striving to achieve the goals and objectives of the current Regional Roadmap. Electronic and hard copies of the Annual Report will be available in mid October and I encourage anyone interested in receiving Inside this issue: a copy to register with front office staff. A word from the CEO I am pleased to welcome aboard Jayne Miller, who has been employed on a 19 hour a week basis to oversee implementation of the Cold Storage for Potatoes project. Jayne Tasting Australia has hit the ground running and will be an asset to the RDA. (See article later in this bulletin for more information on Jayne and her current role). It is however, with Chinese Grain sadness that we farewell Michaela Bell from the role of Business Development Officer. Importers Tour of the Michaela resigned to take up a part time role within the South East Local Government Limestone Coast Association, so we will continue to work cooperatively with Michaela into the future. We also bid farewell to Julie Walker, Administration Officer within the Career Development School Industry Centre, who will be leaving the RDA in early October. The RDA thanks both Michaela Partnerships Winners and Julie for their service to the organisation. Announced The work of the Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Group provides significant Casual Dollars opportunities for the Limestone Coast region and we will continue to participate in the group over the next 12 month period. The 2014/15 Work Plan is due for public release shortly. Board Member Profile – Dr Ruth Schubert Earlier this year the RDA was successful in obtaining some $50,000 from the Minister Board Member Profile for Sustainability, Environment & Conservation to develop a Limestone Coast Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The South East Natural Resources Management Board and – Gwenda Lawlor the South East Local Government Association and the Department of Environment, Staff of RDALC Water and Natural Resources are key partners in the delivery of this project. Stage 1 will see the development of a locally relevant Climate Change Vulnerability Risk Cluster Project Assessment that considers the implications of climate change on the economic, social Officer Appointment and environmental aspects of the region. Workshop & Training Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the local business community Needs and the Board continues to partner with various Government and private organisations to provide training and information sessions on topics of regional relevance. Over the last few months the Board has partnered with Gallagher Bassett to deliver a Work Disclaimer: Health and Safety - Return to Work Services workshop; hosted a Customer Led This newsletter is produced Innovation Workshop; and facilitated a Business Collaboration Workshop. A program quarterly, as a guide to services of further workshops for the year is now being finalised and we welcome input from the provided by the RDALC and to highlight other regional local business community in relation to any topics or areas of interest that we could initiatives. The material is consider including into the schedule. correct to the best of our knowledge as at June 2014. We Mike Ryan allow reproduction of material in this newsletter provided acknowledgement of the Limestone Coast Update is given TASTING AUSTRALIA The Limestone Coast was well represented at Tasting Australia Town Square during May. The event housed over 125 opportunities to Eat.Drink.Share.Participate. during the newly formatted event in Adelaide which included more than 75 events on the menu. The Town Square was a place to meet friends, taste some regional treats, savour a little ale and wine or cider, take part in a class or discussion and whet your appetite for the Festival’s many exciting events and experiences. RDA Limestone Coast coordinated the site dressing and management and were thrilled to have 5 local operators present to help share our real Food & Wine experiences. While the event was spread across a number of locations and days, the Limestone Coast was present and very active for 4 days and was overwhelmed with the response from the 50,000 patrons that attended. CHINESE GRAIN IMPORTERS TOUR THE LIMESTONE COAST The National Grains Conference in Melbourne in July attracted a contingent of some 40 delegates from many regions of China. Many of these were looking to source new products from Australia. Following the conference, and in a show of collaboration, Austrade’s China Business Development Managers and the South Australian Government’s Shanghai office and PIRSA, hosted 12 participants on a tour through some of South Australia’s grain growing regions. Tradestart Export Adviser, Bruce Rodda, supported the initiative by meeting the guests for the start of their tour at Bordertown, Keith and the Southern Mallee. The delegates visited Blue Lake Milling, Tatiara Seeds, PGG Wrightson and were guests at an informative session with the Mayors of Tatiara and Naracoorte. With the continuing development of a Free Trade Agreement with China, this successful mission could provide some early results for our region. SCHOOL INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS WINNERS ANNOUNCED Some of the Limestone Coast’s most successful school- Business working with a Secondary School Award community partnerships were celebrated at a gala dinner Allan and Kayelene Lucas, Glentanner Angus Stud in Mount Gambier this month. The School Industry (Nominated by Allendale East Area School Show Cattle Partnership Awards, hosted by the Partnership Broker Program) Limestone Coast program, recognised initiatives that have ultimately been designed to help young people stay Emerging Partnership Award engaged in education and training while also benefitting North School Community Hub – ac.care, Salvation Army, the wider community. Mount Gambier Children’s Centre, ICAN (Nominated by Mt Gambier North Primary School principal “There are a range of outstanding programs underway in Jane Turner) our region that have been cultivated with the generosity and guidance of hundreds of Limestone Coast Established Partnership Award – Joint Winners organisations and individuals, and their success Winner 1 highlights the importance of maintaining strong links Science & Engineering Challenge – Rotary Club of Mount between schools and their local communities,” said Helen Gambier Lakes, Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West, Strickland, Manager Skills, Training and Workforce Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Development, Regional Development Australia Limestone (Nominated by Samantha Brown and Karen Jared, Mount Coast. Gambier High School) From community hubs and gardens to country shows, Winner 2 cattle handling, science and engineering challenges, The Chemistry of Wine – Wynns Coonawarra Estate charity fundraisers, and chemistry of wine lessons, the (Nominated by Fleur Roachock, Principal, Penola High opportunities available for young people in this region are School) believed to be more diverse than ever. An additional ‘Sustained Partnership’ award was also handed out on the night to joint winners: “The participants recognise the value that partnerships bring – these collaborative approaches are not only Winner 1 motivating our young people to achieve some great Mil Lel Primary School – Mil Lel A&H Society things, but are nurturing a more cohesive, caring (Nominated by Mil Lel Primary School Principal Stephen community across all age groups and education Jolley) backgrounds,” said Helen. Winner 2 Schools were asked to nominate successful partnerships St Vincent de Paul Society - Tenison Woods College in six categories, and judges narrowed down the record (Nominated by Tenison Woods College – Michelle Coote, number of entries to the following list of winners: Assistant Principal – Religious Identity and Mission (APRIM) 2014 Partnership Winners: ‘Dream chaser’ and international author Sebastian Terry Individual Award was a special guest speaker at the dinner. Fresh home Kathy Bell from the Millicent High School Earth Care from Machu Picchu, he entertained the crowd of more program than 200 people with news of his quest to achieve “100 (Nominated by Millicent High School principal John Things”. Mr Terry has helped to create a global Shelton ) movement of people setting their goals, and dinner guests were encouraged to contribute to a soon-to-be published Business working with a Primary School Award list of 100 things that they would like to complete Mount Burr Community Garden - Bunnings Warehouse themselves or see achieved in the Limestone Coast. Mt Gambier (Nominated by Lisa Scott, Mt Burr Primary School) For more information regarding this event or the Partnership Broker Program, please contact Helen Strickland on (08) 8723 1057 or email [email protected] Partnership Broker Limestone Coast is part of a national program fostering a whole-of-community approach to supporting young people as they learn and develop, building links between and among schools and training organisations, business and industry, community, parents and families. THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS: CITY OF MOUNT GAMBIER, GTE, UNI SA, DI-MONTY TRAINING SOLUTIONS, BUNNINGS, UFS CHEMIST CASUAL