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Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 196: 24 June 2015

Mayoral Column

On Monday night we saw a textbook example of the benefits of a modern democracy combined with an open progressive Council. There has been significant discussion in this newspaper; on radio; on social media and in pubs and lounge rooms throughout the …

2015

Modern democracy and the Magna Carta: Weekender Column 83

Helicopter View

Having just returned from Canberra, where all 565 Councils from across the nation gather each year at the National General Assembly, the helicopter view of Councils is firmly in my mind. When you sit down and speak with Mayors from every part of Aust…

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 195: 17 June 2015

Mayoral Column

I am currently sitting in chilly Canberra (5°C last night) attending the annual National General Assembly which is a gathering of all 565 Councils from across the nation. This is an opportunity to hear from our Federal politicians (such as Warren…

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 194: 10 June 2015

Mayoral Column

Forget submissions closing last Friday on our $160 million Operational Plan and Budget for the next year or Ignite our Centre ideas or even the most significant reform of Local Government since 1993, Fit for the Future, all anyone has been able to ta…

2015

Do What You Always Did = Get What You Always Got

Small Business Ru!e of the Month

As the end of the financial year approaches, it is a great time to question if we are thinking critically about our business or just doing things the same as we have always done them. Rita Mae Brown once said that that if you do the same thing over a…

2015

What value marketing? Weekender Column 82

Helicopter View

Marketing. Just the word conjures up images of people with pointy shoes that spell their names in strange ways. Conjures is probably a good word there – marketing can sometimes seem like dark magic with money disappearing into a black hole with…

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 193: 3 June 2015

Mayoral Column

Thanks to our Deputy Premier, the Hon. Troy Grant MP, I am at Parliament House today meeting with the Minister for Regional Development, the Hon. John Barilaro MP, to push for funding for Evocities. The Evocities concept was launched on 22 September …

2015

Listen to the data not the emotion: Weekender Column 81

Helicopter View

At the moment the National Ice Taskforce is consulting around the country with Senator Fiona Nash in Dubbo this week. We hear that the nation is in the grip of an ice epidemic or perhaps even worse – a pandemic. I have two thoughts on this. Fir…

2015

Contradictions: Article 38

MSP Answers

I love how the human race is so adaptable. It is probably the reason we are still on the planet today. One of those areas of adaptability is in the sayings we have created to suit a range of different situations. If we have a group of people together…

2015

New Year Resolutions: Newsletter 17

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS) I have a terrible confession to make. As the celebrations start for another year, people are kissing strangers and everyone is sharing their resolutions for the next year. I suddenly feel al…

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 192: 27 May 2015

Mayoral Column

This Thursday sees the 45th time that local and regional talent in Dance; Vocal; Instrumental; Speech and Drama will be showcased in a multi-week extravaganza. The annual Dubbo Eisteddfod starts tomorrow and will continue on for 24 days. The City of …

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 191: 20 May 2015

Mayoral Column

Congratulations to the Dubbo Show Society for once again putting on a magnificent show over the weekend. It was certainly helped by the fact that the weather was beautiful and the crowds reflected the hard work put in by the Show Society. It is also …

2015

How to fail successfully: Weekender Column 80

Helicopter View

The ability to fail is an important ingredient in any organisation. That may sound like a crazy statement. Surely you want the ability to succeed rather than fail. In a utopian world, sure, succeeding at everything you do sounds fantastic. But the re…

2015

Service Then Loyalty Then Success

Small Business Ru!e of the Month

Focus on making your initial customer service the absolute best in the market. This service will lead to incredibly loyal clients, and your business will succeed as a natural result of this. Cisco Systems is a prime example of an incredibly successfu…

2015

Growing Pains: CRN May 2015

CRN From the Coal Face

Businesses typically don’t start as multinational organisations with tens of thousands of employees. Most businesses are started by one or two people with a passion. Think of some of the best-known in our industry. Paul Allen and Bill Gates lov…

2015

Pigeonholing: Article 37

MSP Answers

I was listening to a talk from a Greens Senator recently. She made some good points. She said that we have been too quick to forget about our rail network and we should further investigate the use of rail instead of road trains. I agreed. She said th…

2015

Growth: Newsletter 16

TechGenix Newsletters

Lead Article (Self-help topic – GROWTH) Growth in a business often raises different opinions. Some people focus on growth in turnover; growth in staff; growth in outlets; growth in product lines…the list goes on. There is only one item I…

2015

Break down the silos of communication: Weekender Column 79

Helicopter View

As many people would know, I have had to spend some time in hospital over the last week. We live in an incredibly lucky country and at no stage did I have any concerns about my health and I knew that I would be cared for. From my fellow racers who st…

2015

Daily Liberal Mayoral Column 187: 22 Apr 2015

Mayoral Column

On 6 May 2010, the Rudd Government released an implementation study on the NBN. By 18 August 2010, Mayor Allan Smith, General Manager Mark Riley and myself managed to be seated at NBN Co. headquarters in Sydney to push the case for Dubbo to be includ…

2015