General News
16 May, 2025
Businesses come together
Businesses from across the region came together last Friday in the Central Goldfields Shire’s first Village Business Expo.
The event aimed to strengthen regional prosperity through collaboration: between business, between towns, between levels of government.
While there were almost 50 exhibitors, their stories, advice, and needs reflected those of the majority of businesses in the nation.
As of June 2024, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found 97.2 percent of businesses in Australia were small businesses (fewer than 20 employees).
Organised by Village Business in collaboration with local business association Committee for Maryborough, the expo intended to show how collaboration can lead to a more sustainable and connected regional economy.
Village Business founder Luz Restrepo OAM said their goals would only be possible if small businesses worked together.
“We are so busy in our business that sometimes we give our voice to someone else. This is our mistake,” she said.
“We know we need a space where we start to talk not just about our problems, we need to start making solutions. Government is not going to do that for us, we need to let them know what we need from them.”
Representatives from local, state, and federal government spoke to attendees about the importance of working together.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said she was there with Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards to learn about businesses and their employees’ needs.
“We know there is more to do — there always is,” she said.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella emphasised the importance of sharing, in all its forms, between businesses.
“When businesses support each other through mentorship, resource sharing [and] collaboration, it creates a ripple effect that strengthens local and national economies — that’s a fact,” she said.
“Each and every one of you today, as one business thrives it paves the way for others to grow, strengthening economic fabric for everyone.”
Dani Cain, who runs a local personal training business, echoed the message of visibility and its ability to empower locals — particularly young women.
“Visibility in leadership matters. When young girls see women in leadership, in ownership, and in power they start to imagine themselves there too — and imagination is where it all begins,” she said.
“Maybe your voice makes them take the first step.”
Recognising the expo is planned to return to the shire next year, Ms Restrepo had a simple message for attendees.
“We are like the Paul Kelly song ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ and the only way little things become big is when we work together,” she said.
