The GMCU, or Goulburn Murray Credit Union, has appointed a new chief executive, Gerard Smith, also known as Ged.
Originally from country NSW, Ged has a connection to the Goulburn Valley through his great-grandfather, who was from Tongala.
I’m told Ged has three priorities as he settles into his new role:
- Bringing more technological features to the GMCU;
- Welcoming members and non-members alike with an even more personalised service at GMCU branches; and
- Putting the credit union’s mission of ‘Unleashing what’s possible’ into action.
Munarra Centre milestone
The vision that will become the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence reaches a major milestone on Tuesday, February 28 when the first sod is turned on its construction.
Due to open next year, the centre is a partnership between Rumbalara Football Netball Club, the University of Melbourne and Kaiela Institute.
The centre will be a First Nations-led sporting and education precinct, with a university campus providing a culturally safe space for multiple education and training providers such as University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.
It will be built on land next to the Rumbalara Football Netball Club.
Free business workshops
The Greater Shepparton Business Centre has combined with Business Victoria and a variety of organisations to host two free workshops for local businesses.
The first, Starting Your Small Business, will be held on March 7 between 4pm and 7pm.
This workshop is designed to help potential small business owners learn about the essentials of starting a business.
A Winning Government Grants and Tenders workshop is scheduled for March 29 between 10am and noon.
It’s designed to help small businesses win government work by providing practical tips and simple strategies on how to respond to government tenders, quotes and grants.
Both will be held at the Greater Shepparton Business Centre, 70 New Dookie Rd, Shepparton.
More information on the workshops can be gained by contacting the Greater Shepparton Business Centre on 5832 1100 or by going to sheppartonbusiness.com.au/events
Rye at Tallis
As hinted at in this column some weeks ago, Tallis Wine is making some changes to the operation of its cellar door side of the business and we can now reveal what those changes entail.
Tallis Wine has announced that marketing and design specialist Rye Studio will be running a new experience at Tallis.
According to a Tallis Wine Instagram post, the Tallis cellar door will become Rye at Tallis “showcasing Tallis wine alongside other wonderful local beverages and food from our region”.
Tallis Wine says the new arrangement will allow Richard Tallis to concentrate on winemaking while the Tallisman wine club will continue to provide “exclusive wine access and generous discounts”.
The Tallis cellar door will officially become Rye at Tallis from Sunday, March 5.
Climate conference
Local businesses and climate change experts gathered in Shepparton on Thursday, February 23 for a Climate Leadership and Jobs Summit hosted by Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell.
The summit aimed to inform businesses and business leaders about some of the opportunities that moving to a carbon neutral economy offers.
One of the businesses represented at the conference was Watters Electrical, which is said to be the largest solar company in the region.
Interestingly, Watters business development manager Reg Hickey said he had already turned his attention to what comes after solar, and he thinks some of the waste created by local industries can help.
“So we have the waste. My issue is bringing us all together to ensure continuity of that waste and sometimes it can be fruit, sometimes it can be straw or whatever, to allow the community to benefit beyond the individual companies,” he said.