Last ditch attempt for business group

A last-ditch attempt is being made to keep the Drouin Business Group operating.

An executive meeting last Wednesday night decided the group’s fate would depend on the response to a call for more business operators to join the committee.

The annual meeting in July would make the decision whether to close or continue, president Helen Taylor said, but added that a reasonable guide to whether more people were willing to step forward would be by the attendance at regular general meeting in the next few weeks.

She said the executive, however, was keen that even if the group disbanded there be a committee established to organise the popular pre-Christmas “Drouin Lights Up” festival.

The Drouin Business Group was formed eight years ago.

Mrs Taylor said it had been a channel for two-way communication between local businesses and Baw Baw Shire Council, promoted networking and worked to boost the town’s business and tourism.

She estimated about 20 per cent of Drouin’s businesses owed much of their success to the number of tourists and visitors to the area, especially those attending events at Lardner Park.

A few more and varied retail outlets were a major need for the town and the group had always tried to foster that, Ms Taylor added.