Events Hunter, the way forward for the Hunter?

The idea for Events Hunter came from, quite simply, a Friday business luncheon I attended where there were 2 other business luncheons being held on the same day.
I felt vindicated when, some months later, I was part of an organising committee for a fundraising fashion event and we found out - too late - that another group was holding a fashion parade on the same night. Despite all our best efforts, our events were competing for attention.


So I knew the need was there, everyone I spoke to agreed, and that was enough to start building the website.

However, as I started to build the content and research the organisations in the Hunter that might be users and customers of Events Hunter I became lost in a web of groups, forums, organisations and committees that seemed to overlap, duplicate or compete for patronage with the same goal in mind - economic development, promotion and vision for the future of Newcastle and the Hunter.

Renew Newcastle, Save our City, the Business Chamber, the Council, the Property Council, HDC.

Tourism, lobby groups, business groups, non profits, sporting associations, industry associations, government agencies.

All are to be respected, applauded, admired for putting their money where their mouths are, taking their passion for progress for our Region and trying to make change. But again, in a fairly small market, we see competition, duplication and disparate voices. The Premier of this State has told us repeatedly, we have to tell the Government what we want, with conviction and with clear strategy rather than wait for handouts.

Can Events Hunter be the answer to providing a platform for these groups and the community to converge and find that one single, strong, proud and loud voice to take to Local, State and Federal Government, investors, industry groups and anyone else we need to lobby, pursuade, excite, inspire, motivate and partner with to realise the potential of our Region?

As an independent, central platform, Events Hunter can be an easily accessible tool for existing and potential stakeholders in the future of our Region to share ideas, form working parties and keep the community informed of strategies, ideas and progress. Through Events Hunter we can build an online Face for our Region, to be accessed by potential visitors to our Region, to maximise the economic opportunity and enhance the experience of their time here.

Cruise ship stopping by in the harbour? Go to Events Hunter to tap into a range of day trips from vineyards to shopping to nature walks and dolphin watching.

Expanding a business here or new to our Region? Go to Events Hunter to find out what general and industry specific networking and business groups we have here, how to get involved with the community, support local charities and sporting groups.
Funding up for grabs for infrastructure, tourism development, education? Go to Events Hunter to start the conversation with its committee, submit your ideas, share your knowledge and experience. Join a working party using your expertise to help make the submission for investment.

Combining our Tourism bodies, business groups, sporting associations and lobbyists under an independent and freely accessible umbrella is surely the best way to leverage our passions, talents, knowledge, experience, ideas, funds and contacts...? Collective wisdom, spoken with one united voice is surely a more certain path to a brighter future than a cacophony of competing, divergent pleas, demands and think tanks?

I once heard the analogy that when a family decides it would like a new puppy, often each family member will lobby for a breed that serves their own interests. When the family can't decide which breed to bring in to the family, often it all gets too hard and they end up with no puppy at all. However, if the family can agree on one breed, then even though some may be a little disappointed the choice didn't go their way, at least they get a puppy. Which is better than no puppy at all. And in time they adapt and accept that a little compromise early on was better for everyone in the end.

In the end, the answer for the Hunter may not be Events Hunter. But I remain convinced that we need one voice, one independent conduit for all the ideas and voices to be funelled through until out the bottom of the funnel falls a clear, concise strategy to take to stakeholders with our one loud, proud, voice that will persist and persevere until we get what we deserve. And as a passionate and proud Hunter girl, I sure do hope we end up with some kind of puppy.....