ONE of the things I enjoy about my job is that
I get to meet an astonishing array of people,
some of whom simply blow me away with
their outlook on life and business.
I first met Michelle Micalleff last year
when Star News Group agreed to sponsor
the inaugural Women in Business Network
awards, including the Star Business Woman
of the Year.
Michelle was the foundation president of
the Network. I met Martin at the awards night
that year when he unveiled the prototype
of his amazing Media Pod at the function.
Instead of the usual centrepiece of fl owers
on each table, there was a little gadget that
looked as if it might be more at home on the
set of Dr Who.
Since then, the gadget has evolved into
a sophisticated device that can promote
sponsors, detail award winners, run
electronic menus, or any information. And
it has already been picked up by several
AFL clubs, councils, state departments and
commercial organisations.
There's an exciting future ahead for the
Micallefs and their Media Pod. But there's an
equally fascinating past, as you'll discover
when you read Charlene Gatt's interview with
Team Micallef.
As this edition of Business West goes
to press, the Women in Business Network's
2010 Star Business Woman of the Year
will be named and we will bring you full details
of the awards in our next edition.
In the meantime, we feature the new career
path of Tania Avtarovski in the months after
she became the network's first Star Business
Woman of the Year.
Among the other interesting characters
in this issue of Business West, you will meet
Gavin Scholes, a knockabout ex-pastrycook
and footballer from Altona, who is
the ultimate numbers man behind the
1300 Phonewords ...
And John Haber, who when he bought his
fi rst Haines Hunter boat in 2000 never realised
that one day he would own the company. Not
only that, but he would spend $6.5 million
moving Haines from its original Queensland
headquarters to an 8000square metre state
of the art plant at Derrimut.
We talk with the man helping Brimbank
get serious about business. Stephen Sully
is the council's new General Manager of City
Development and his mission is to transform
economic development into a key focus.
Mr Sully tells Business West of his three-year
plan to attract new business and increase
employment opportunities across Brimbank.
And at Star News Group we're delighted
to announce that Star and Business West
have been chosen as the media partners for
the 2010 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence
Awards.
The awards aim to foster excellence
while promoting business achievements
and success in Hobsons Bay, home to more
than 3500 businesses.
Businesses can be nominated once in the
following categories: new / start-up business;
retail; hospitality; tourism; transport and
logistics; manufacturing and industrial;
professional services; not-for-profit
community; franchise; and home-based.
In addition, the judges will award three
winners from all entries for: Environment
and sustainable business; good access/
good business; and Business of the Year.
The Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Cr Bill Tehan,
will select a winner for the Mayoral
Achievement Award.
Nominations close on Friday 3 September
and the winners announced at a gala dinner at
the Williamstown Town Hall on
Friday, 22 October.
Contact Business and Tourism Officer
Sally Curtis on 9932 1000 to submit a
nomination or request an awards information
kit and application form.
You can see a list of last year's winners
by visiting
www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/tourismandbusiness
Get your nomination in, and we look
forward to writing about your achievement
in a future edition of Business West.
Jim Lawrence
General Manager/Editor-in-Chief
Geelong-North West Division
Star News Group
jim.lawrence@starnewsgroup.com.au
