Commerce Torquay celebrates 30th birthday

COMMERCE Torquay has celebrated 30 years of supporting and promoting local businesses in the Surf Coast town.

The gathering at Torquay Hotel on Wednesday last week included past and present members, local business owners, and community leaders.

The celebrations began with guests mingling over drinks and finger food.

Incumbent president Jeff Crow delivered the welcome speech and thanked guests including Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison and councillors Rose Hodge and Paul Barker.

Life members Bob Bailey, Barrie Sutherland, Martin Duke and Les Watson were invited to share their memories of the early days and the achievements of Commerce Torquay over the past 30 years.

“Commerce Torquay started with a handful of passionate business owners who saw the need to work together to promote Gilbert Street as the number of big box retail outlets on the Surf Coast Highway grew,” Mr Bailey said.

 

“Local business owners such as David Hosking from Sandbah café, Bryan Hayden from Hayden Real Estate and others got together to form Torquay Traders.

“The group worked together to promote local business and advocate to the council on what Gilbert Street and Bell Street needed to remain the focal point of business in Torquay.”

The life members discussed the many successes of Commerce Torquay – previously known as Torquay Commerce and Tourism – over the past three decades, including organising and running the Bell Street Fiesta and Go Go Gilbert Festival, arranging for Christmas decorations on the foreshore and in Gilbert Street, and arranging the many networking events.

Trevor Hall from the Rotary Club of Torquay also spoke about the Torquay Business Awards, which are in their third year and run as a collaboration between Commerce Torquay, Rotary and the Surf Coast Times.

Nominations are still open and tickets for the presentation event, to be held at The Sands Resort Torquay on November 18, can be booked online at commercetorquay.com.au