BURDEKIN CHAMBER SURVIVES LOCALS STEP UP TO KEEP THE ORGANISATION ALIVE

The new committee (L-R): Jack Bridgett, Candace Young, Reg Huston, Linda Butler, Harry Vo. Missing: Taylor Johnson. Photos: Jacob Casha

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A new executive committee has stepped in to rescue the Burdekin Chamber of Commerce at the eleventh hour, sworn in at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting last week.

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The long-standing organisation was set to fold if executive roles remained vacant beyond the AGM.

The newly-elected team of five will take control of the organisation effective immediately while the handover process continues.

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Reg Huston of Southern Hemisphere Drones will lead the new committee, elected President after expressing long-term interest in the position.

Salted Roots owner Candace Young will serve as Vice President, with Taylor Johnson and local accountant Harry Vo stepping in as secretary and treasurer respectively.

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Jack Bridgett of Life Publishing Group and Linda Butler of KDEE Designs join the committee as executive members.

The new-look committee inherits an organisation with over 100 members.

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Outgoing president Eusebio Aguirre said he was happy to see the organisation continue after a nervy wait for a new committee.

“Hopefully it will continue to be successful,” he said.

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Mr Huston said his team will look to build on the foundations built by its predecessors and encourage a collaborative relationship between the committee and members.

“It is important for us to build on good work done by earlier committee teams, and I am conscious of benefits that I got from their work,” he said.

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“The Chamber’s role is to help its members to do the real work and respond to their needs. We will aim to provide some leadership, but the best leadership comes from engaged members themselves.

“I'm never short of ideas and projects but genuine member engagement and their needs come first.”

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Mr Huston said the committee would meet in the near future to identify short term-goals for the organisation.

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