DMT Industry Update

Hope you are doing well as we slowly move through winter. Paul here. Thought I’d drop you all a quick note while Steve is on a well-earned holiday with his family in a warmer climate. I know many of you have been struggling with staff availability as winter wreaks havoc on our industry with flu, colds of course another wave of COVID. But I’m told we are over the worst, so here’s to better days ahead.

Borealis on the lake has been an amazing highlight for Daylesford and surrounds with high ticket sales and many people choosing to make a long weekend out of it. If you haven’t been, its worth your time to experience the northern lights and get the buzz our visitors and community are getting. Just another month to go with it finishing on September 4.

Industry Spotlight

Today we have launched the first in a series of four, Industry Spotlight videos. First up is Marye O’Brien from Maiaveda. I encourage you to watch Marye as she talks about the importance of collaboration and how she has grown her business into one of the success stories of our region. You can see her fine work by clicking here.

Wellness Lunch in the Wellness Region

Next week we will launch the recent lunch talk where we heard from Lauren Burns, Taekwondo Olympic Gold Medallist and Nutritionist and Alla Wolf-Tasker AM from Lake House on nutrition tips, the importance of buying local and how good food can help your mood. It really is fascinating viewing and I know you will get a lot out of it in terms of storytelling and our region. I certainly learnt a heap!

New Business Grants announced

I am pleased to advise that the Victorian Government has opened a third round of the Business Chambers and Trader Groups Program. This competitive program will deliver up to 60 grants of $20,000 for Victorian business chambers and trader groups to deliver local projects and initiatives that support, educate and empower small businesses to thrive.

Applications can be made online at the Business Victoria website until 11:59 pm on Sunday 28 August 2022.

The program aims to support initiatives that:

  • enable local business collaboration
  • educate, inform and empower small businesses
  • support small businesses to build digital capability
  • help members transition into recovery and restart

I encourage you to apply if you have an idea or just simply need a kick start into restart mode.

Commonwealth Games – Ideas and Accommodation EOI

The Office of the Commonwealth Games (OCG) are currently Calling for Ideas from local councils, peak bodies, Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Organisations, businesses, creative and cultural organisations and individuals. You just need to be within a 45-minute drive of games venues. We want to hear from you if you have an idea on how to: For further details & to submit, click here. The closing date for Call for Ideas is Friday 12 August 2022.

The OCG are also seeking Expressions of Interest from accommodation providers to house Games officials and other workforce groups in 2026. The Games will be underpinned by a significant domestic and international workforce who will require accommodation. Venues may include hotels, motels, cabins and function centres, ranging from 2 – 5-star ratings. Again, venues should be within a 45-minute drive of Games venues. To submit your EOI, click here. The closing date for accommodation expressions of interest is Wednesday 31st August 2022.

Steve will be back from leave later next week.

All the best,

Paul Matthews on behalf of Steve Wroe and the DMT team.

Acting CEO, DMT