All Hands to the Wheel
25 June 2025
As we lead into the end of the financial year, I was thinking what a month June has been to date!
From an events and engagement perspective, CHDC kicked off the month with a Business Networking event at The Social Hub. This was quickly followed by our Childcare Chats in Blackwater and Emerald, which then led into our 10th annual Farm to Fine Dining in Brisbane. Just to keep things interesting, we also co-hosted a workshop on Creating Content for Social Media.
We closed this year’s Central Highlands Business Survey with some 180 responses – thank you, that’s brilliant! – and opened the People’s Choice Award nominations as part of the 2025 Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards.
CHDC’s Board and team also held a strategy and briefing meeting in Brisbane, with insightful presentations and discussions with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, Trade and Investment Queensland and the State Coordinator General. I also had the opportunity to attend the launch of the state’s new tourism plan Destination 2045, the Queensland Energy Market Outlook for 2025 and the Major Industry Briefing along with the Queensland Local Content Leaders Network.
This high-level engagement and strategic dialogue continued back in Emerald with the Queensland Government’s latest Regional Forum. I was also pleased to have a one-on-one briefing with forum host Dale Last, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development.
It was great to see the execution of some important pieces of collateral for CHDC. The launch of our new tourism video supported the timely promotion of the Sapphire Gemfields on Channel 7’s Sunrise TV program. What spectacular imagery!
The new agriculture video Central Highlands Agriculture – the future is growing here also hit the screens. This is an upbeat mini documentary that highlights world-class beef, cotton, grains, pulses, citrus, and table grapes produced in the region and its underpinning spirit of innovation and sustainability. This will soon be followed by the publication of our refreshed Agriculture Capability Statement.
You can find more information about all of the CHDC projects and events I’ve mentioned by browsing our website. A great starting point would be to check out the new agriculture video here.
To all our business, industry and government wrapping up another financial year – well done and thank you. A special thanks to the awesome CHDC team!
