Celebrating 30 years of community connection

The Hills and Districts Chamber of Commerce has donated almost $90,000 to the community in the past seven years and more than a million hours of volunteer work since its inception 30 years ago.

Members and guests – including four past presidents - gathered at the Arana Leagues Club on Friday night to celebrate the Chamber’s milestone birthday.

Current president Mary Di Marco said the organisation’s success was based on the work of volunteers.

“Since 2014 we’ve donated $89,000 to not-for-profits in the local community,” Ms Di Marco said.

Vice president Brian Battersby, who was a member of the steering committee as a Pine Rivers Shire Councillor, told the gathering the council wanted to grow the region’s economy through business groups.

See the gallery

A public meeting that would pave the way for the formation of a steering committee for the chamber was held on May 26 at the Hills District Community Centre, with the first official meeting on July 28.

Foundation president Val Ryman said when the chamber began the area was known as “Nappy Valley” due to the number of young families who called it home.

“It (the chamber) was more a support group to support the community and to support each other in setting up our businesses,” she said.

|“The community spirit it started with is still here.”|

Moreton Bay Regional Council chief economic development officer Paul Martins said the community should not underestimate the contribution of chambers of commerce.

He said that over the chamber’s 30-year history the number of volunteer hours spent by members making the area a better place would likely total more than a million.