The 2026 annual general meeting of the Coonamble District Chamber of Commerce last Thursday 6 August attracted just the minimum quorum of five people from a total financial membership of sixty plus.
It was seen as the last straw for those members present.
Outgoing President Lucy Moss gave her report, showing that the organisation had overseen a successful couple of years that included a major Business Awards event, two Buy Local Campaigns, and an Australia-first Mental Health Support initiative that impacted numerous local lives.
On the advocacy side, the organisation championed more local procurement by Council, action to reduce youth crime, better freight infrastructure and more.
But it wasn’t enough.
“I’m not keen to continue when no-one else shows up,” Mrs Moss said.
“This is a legitimate ongoing issue that’s been going on for three years.
“We need members to be involved, not meeting for meeting’s sake but to do our business.
“This puts in jeopardy the Buy Local Campaign, the very popular Business Awards and even the success of the Christmas Street Party.”
Mrs Moss (owner of Mink & Me, Peppertree House and Outback Luxe Loos) declined to return as President and, with Lee O’Connor (Coonamble Times and Western Plains App) stepping aside as one Vice President, it left founding member Joe Bellgardt (Joe’s Quality Meats) as the other Vice President, Rachael Swansborough (Swannys Foods) as Secretary/Treasurer and Latha Pothu (Rams Motel and Mobil Service Station) as the sole attending ordinary member.
The vote was to place the Chamber of Commerce into ‘hibernation’ for at least a few months or until a solution can be found.
“We probably have to find out what people want to see as our core purpose,” Mrs Moss said.
“Why do businesses join up but not join in?
“Where do they see the value and who do they expect to do the work?
“Some of the people who benefit the most never turn up.”
The impact of an increasing number of absentee business owners, an influx of owners and managers who had never operated in a small town environment, and younger remote-working entrepreneurs who had not yet seen the impacts of collaborative action were discussed as possible contributors to declining participation.
Mrs O’Connor said not having a central point of contact and an active partner involving a wide range of businesses will make it harder for Coonamble Shire Council to work effectively in economic development.
“We definitely need the Chamber,” said Ms Potu. “The Chamber organised a meeting with local Police to reduce the high rates of theft and intimidation in local business.
“During COVID if not for the Chamber our business would have shut.
“It was the Chamber who told us what was available.
“When there’s a disaster then they will realise.”
Rachael Swansborough agreed.
“It is very disheartening considering how many businesses there are,” she said.
“I don’t think the town realises how much the Chamber actually brings to this town.
“The mental health thing was so well utilised it blew my mind,” she said.
“It was being talked about publicly, people saying what a great service we had access to.”
The Chamber’s role in managing the Drought Busters initiative during the last major drought was also referred to.
Joe Bellgardt has been a member of the Chamber since its inception under the leadership of Frank Cant and Ken Kelly.
“It would be a shame to see it go, especially the Buy Local, but if people aren’t going to get in and support it, it can’t operate,” he said.
It was agreed to seek input from the wider membership before re-grouping.
“I want people’s opinions, I want to know what they think,” Mrs Moss said.
Joe Bellgardt and Rachael Swansborough agreed to act as point of contact for anyone wanting to reach out.