Mirboo North Businesses update – February 2020
Ken Fraser, Coordinator Economic Development at South Gippsland Shire Council was the guest at Wednesday night’s Mirboo North Businesses catch-up. Presented by SM Butler Builders, Ken joined the group to talk about how we prepared ourselves and our businesses for a crisis, including how to plan for any such events. This is in light of the downturn being felt through the region after the summer’s fires and the economic impact of the corona virus on the area.
The group of Mirboo North businesspeople who attended, held a robust conversation on how they can improve their preparation to future proof themselves and their businesses. Ken presented each attended with a USB stick that can be fill with all the necessary business and personal details, as part of every body’s crisis plan.
“Quite often the disaster you plan for, is not the disaster that may happen. It’s important to have everything written down and easily accessible” Ken said. “You need to practice your emergency drills, as your mindset may change when disaster does happen. You may forget the critical functions of your business, if you haven’t practiced or written them down” Ken commented.
The conversation highlighted the role a group like Mirboo North Businesses can help when the community is facing a disaster. “Many businesses may go through vicarious trauma after a crisis event. Not only do they as locals in the community have to go through the event, but they also can serve as listening boards for their customers. This can create a heighten sense for the business owner of what has happened” Ken stated.
A group like Mirboo North Businesses can play a social and business support role for local businesses after a crisis event, Ken commented.
The talk of crisis planning and the economic impact on communities, led the conversation onto the topic for the March Mirboo North Businesses catch-up; the economic impact of the closure of Mirboo North Newsagent and the amount of empty shops now on Ridgway.
The March catch-up will be led by Mandy Bongers, property manager at Stockdale & Leggo, Mirboo North. The March catch-up will focus on creative ideas for the filling of the vacant shop fronts currently in Mirboo North. Open to everyone to attend, there will be an open conversation about how to best use the current empty retail premises.
“As the real-estate agent for many of the retail properties, we are open to new ideas on how to fill the vacant shop fronts. Ideas can be anything, from long term rentals to collective pop-up shops” Mandy said. Mandy mentioned that she is looking forward to hearing every bodies ideas on what we can all do to support the retail businesses in Mirboo North.
The next Mirboo North Businesses catch-up will be held on Wednesday 18th March at 7:30pm, at Co-space, 96 Ridgway, Mirboo North. Thanks to Mirboo North and district community foundation, Mirboo Country Development Inc. and Stockdale & Leggo, Mirboo North for their support of the catch-up.
The Mirboo North Business Group is open to all businesses and businesspeople in Mirboo North and the greater area, no matter of size, location or turnover. These events are open to anyone wishing to work together to build a stronger business community.
Up coming catch-up will included a Instagram meet-up with Mac&Erine (April 2020) and Financial for the EOFY (May 2020)
More information can be found on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MirbooNorthBusinesses/
Jaci Hicken
Owner - Jacican
I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Loch in Gippsland. As a young girl my time was spent reading the cookbooks that mum kept in the bottom kitchen draw. Always looking for a new recipe to try, a new food idea. Many weekends where spent making rainbow cakes with as many colours as possible – have you seen my Instagram feed, not much has changed.
At the aged of about 16, I remember stating that I wanted to leave the farm and travel the world. I had an idea that I would become a television technician and work on sporting events (which I did). This would be followed by retiring by about 30 and moving back to South Gippsland to grow vegetables and cook. From 16 fast forward 20 years and I returned, starting Jacican Food Studio in Mirboo North, South Gippsland where I grow vegetables and cook.
Before returning to South Gippsland I re-trained as a chef, completing my certificate of commercial cookery. This led me to working in catering, large and small hotels and small businesses, both in Melbourne and South Gippsland before starting Jacican. In 2014 I completed my Bachelor of Business and Commerce from Monash University, just to round out my education.
To follow my passion for sharing Gippsland stories, its produce, farmers, people and returning to my initial interest of producing media, I started a Graduate Diploma in Journalism at RMIT University in 2020.