Economic Gardening

Cowra

WHO AM I? Mike Foster - Married to Bev, 5 kids Economic Development - Cowra Shire

Council Cowra Business Officer

ABOUT COWRA

Central West NSW Population 9,000 in town 13,000 in

the Shire Lachlan River Wheat, Sheep Canola

HISTORY OF COWRA

Australia settled by the Aborigines 40,000 years ago

Wiradjuri Country – one of the first inhabited

Lachlan River - dingoes, bilbys, platypus, cockatoos

Indigenous population approx. 1,000

Koori

WIRADJURI

WIRADJURI GREETING

Yamandu marang?(how are

you?)

GAMBIANNA

(welcome)

Ngawa baladhu marang

(Yes, I am

well)

Marang nganha (That’s good)

HISTORY OF COWRA Early white settlement in 1817 Land grants for settlers, convicts,

squatters 2,000 acre grants

HISTORY OF COWRA

Crossing over the Lachlan River Coura Rocks 1840 began flourishing 1870 first bridge replaced boats (ferry)

COWRA AND WAR World War 1 – 1914 to 1918 World War 2 – 1939 to 1945 Cowra Prisoner of War Camp Sept 1940 military camp for 3,000

soldiers Infantry training – 80,000 passed

through

COWRA AND WAR Prisoner of war camp built in May 1941 Held 5,000 Italian & 1,000 other

prisoners

THE CAMP

Japanese prisoners arrived in 1943 and 1944

THE CAMP

THE BREAKOUT

On 2 am on 5 August 1944 Japanese prisoners attack the wires

Over 300 escaped outright over 230 died. 18 buildings were burnt to the ground

CASUALTIES Total Japanese Casualties

One Officer Killed 230 other ranks Killed One Officer Wounded 107 other ranks Wounded

Total Australian Casualties 1 Army Officer Killed 3 Guards Killed 3 Guards Wounded

COWRA WAR CEMETARY

COWRA JAPANESE GARDEN

COWRA THE NEXT 50 YEARS....

•Cannery•Furniture factories•Abattoir

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

(45%)

Retail Trade (11%)

Construction (10%)

Property and Business Services (8%)

Manufacturing

(6%)

Total Businesses 1,344

THE DECLINE OF INDUSTRY

Between 2005 & 2006

NSW lost 1,399

manufacturing businesses

THE RISE OF ECONOMIC GARDENING

LAUNCH OF COWRA ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

COWRA ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

KOORI ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

WHAT DO WE ACHIEVE IN OUR PROGRAMS?

•Develop a business plan

•Create a vision for your future

•Understand your IR and staff needs

•Determine the health of your business

•Price your products and services

•Market your business

•Network with like-minded business

•Expand and value-add products, services, staff 

OUR APPROACH:

Ultimately a one-on-one interaction Engender entrepreneurship in the

whole business community Encourage regional, national and

international marketing Strengthen business skills GIS – AnySite by Mapinfo ABS

OUR APPROACH:

Work smarter not longer

Australia has the second longest working hours in the developed world

PLAN – while we are working on the business

“This country was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward--”

JFK

CHALLENGES:

DROUGHT SWINE FLU SARS GFC KFC NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE

Questions ???

WHAT HAVE WE SEEN SO FAR?