By Callum Ludwig
Businesses keen on ‘Embracing Change’ in the Upper Yarra came together at the Arts Centre in Warburton for WVCEDA’s Business Expo.
Attendees included individuals contemplating a business venture, new startups and established businesses and organisations.
Just recently David Szabo started up his therapeutic fly-fishing business, the Mindful Fly Fisherman, and he said it’s been a work in process, but he is excited to be finally launching.
“I’m just hoping to draw on the energy of other people here, learn from other people how to reach who I’m meant to be reaching and how I can just craft my message so that people who need my service find me,” he said.
“Warburton is the nature, wellness and adventure capital of the Yarra Valley and I used to run Warburton Fly Fishing, so this was a natural flow into mindfulness,”
“I think we have this beautiful river, that’s a metaphor for the river of our lives. I just think it’s all coming together: nature, business, and water speak to the world, and I just want to be part of it.”
The event was free and open to business owners all throughout the Warburton Valley, with the opportunity to become a member of WVCEDA and add their voice to the local business community.
Attendee Ben has a background in educational support and IT and said he was looking at starting up a side business to have a play with.
“I’m coming along to get some tips and ideas, I’ve got lots of different things I’m looking at, so I’m just pondering the possibilities for someone who’s looking to start something up,” he said.
“It’s a good chance to meet the community, meet the people I live around and share with them, grow with them and contribute.”
Speeches and workshops throughout the event focused on some key aspects of a thriving small to medium-sized business: grant writing, well-being processes, marketing and setting goals as well as a time for wine, cheese and networking into the early evening.
For Mem from Katu Katu Inc in McMahons Creek, the event was an opportunity for information gathering.
“I came to see what’s on offer and then identify what’s suitable for myself and my business and utilising what opportunities are out there with the Council, with networking and with some of the organisations in small business that could benefit not only us but of course the entire community,” he said.
“Katu Katu is all about mental health, all about shifting the minds, demographics and the everyday hustle and bustle and stress people are experiencing.”
Katu Katu is an ACNC-registered Health Promotion Charity taking people out into the natural landscape of the Upper Yarra to interact with Indigenous Australian history, culture and the native flora and fauna.
The event had 75 registered attendees.
