May 5, 2020
South Burnett groups have been keen to embrace video conferencing to beat COVID-19 isolation and keep their networks intact.
The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) was one of the first.
The group has been hosting weekly “Breakky With BIEDO” get-togethers on Wednesdays for several weeks now, inviting specialist speakers to explain topics of interest to local businesspeople.
The next is on Wednesday (May 6) from 7:00am (Zoom meeting ID: 94986127289)
Guest speakers will include Donna Constable, from the Wide Bay-Burnett Back to Work Program; Vicki Leeson, from the Bundaberg Business Enterprise Centre; and small business financial counsellor Jo Tardent.
“Breakky With BIEDO” will be held every Wednesday morning for the rest of May at least, and all local businesspeople have been invited to connect.
BIEDO also took its quarterly Ag Network meeting for farmers online in late April after the planned physical group meeting had to be cancelled.
CEO Kristy Frahm said this had been a success. Extension officer Sarah Shaw was now working on ways to take BIEDO’s popular Women in Ag days online, too.
The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held its first virtual meet’n’greet on Tuesday night.
The KCCI meet’n’greets are usually held every six weeks, although the recent schedule has been disrupted due to COVID-19.
This time the KCCI opted to meet for the first time on Zoom and attracted 23 participants.
Compere for the one-hour meeting was KCCI president Damien Martoo with guest speakers Kristy Frahm (BIEDO), South Burnett Regional Council economic development portfolio holder Cr Kirstie Schumacher, Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, and Brisbane-based consultant Grant Doyle, from ExecForce
Mr Doyle talked about business strategies to prepare for the post-COVID world as well as the importance of a “24/7” business plan in these rapidly changing times.
Participants also discussed the South Burnett / North Burnett water review; the South Burnett Regional Council’s procurement policies; and free “microcredential” and financial resilience courses being offered by TAFE Qld.
The next KCCI meet’n’greet has been pencilled in for June 16, but whether it will go ahead in a physical location or online will depend on what restrictions are in place at that time.
Artist Olivia Everitt hosted the first South Burnett Arts Hour for local artists and arts supporters – in conjunction with South Burnett Arts Inc – on Tuesday afternoon.
This attracted eight participants, including SBRC’s senior economic development officer Craig Tunley.
Guest speaker was Trudie Leigo, from the Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network (CQRASN), who explained various funding opportunities available to help people in the arts community develop worthwhile projects while in isolation.
The next proposed South Burnett Arts Hour will be held from noon on May 19 (Zoom meeting ID: 84972221887).
- External link: Download Zoom
This is not new.
The Kingaroy Church of Christ has been streaming their services on Facebook for weeks now. They have been having Deacons and Elders meetings via Zoom, and every Sunday after church there has been a Zoom get-together for church members.
Yes, and the local Catholic parishes have been doing it, too. Many other congregations, sporting clubs, hobby groups are also making use of technology to stay in touch.
We didn’t say these were the only groups doing it, rather we were highlighting the new phenomenon that has swept the area in the past few weeks.