As the year rapidly draws to a close – we’ve been reflecting on what a significant year it has been for FAN.
Over the past 6 months we’ve rolled out our new operating model, appointing Membership Coordinators in Gympie, Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay to deliver more opportunities for our members, and strengthen relationships with our stakeholders and supporters.
We’ve held more events than ever, facilitated hundreds of valuable connections, and as always, continued to shine a spotlight on our members.
We look forward to sharing a full review of the year at our upcoming AGM (Thursday 25 November) as well as a taste of what’s to come in 2022!
Yours in collaboration
Emma Greenhatch
Table of Contents
A big congratulations to 7 of our members – selected as Finalists in the Moreton Bay Region Business Excellence & Innovation Awards.
Bask & Co, By Green, Jacki Hinchey, Little White Goat Cheese,
Luvaberry, My Berries & Sandstone Point Hotel
Upcoming FAN Events
Farm Tech Planning Workshop
Thursday 11 November
Join us for a FarmTech Planning Workshop – making your data work for you, that will encompass a full day face-to-face workshop and a 2-hour follow-up call. This workshop and wider AgTech Program is supported by AgriFutures Australia. Only 10 spots left! BOOK HERE.
Save the Date
Thursday 25 November
3.30pm – 4.00pm: Registrations
4:00pm – 5:30pm: AGM
5.30pm – 7.30pm: Celebrations
EOI HERE.
Programs & Projects
Member News
Buderim Ginger Turns 80!
Buderim Ginger, one of the regions best-loved and most established businesses celebrates 80 years this month with the launch of a mural at The Ginger Factory depicting the history of Buderim Ginger. Visitors to The Ginger Factory can view the mural, alongside some historical photos and original uniform of the factory. Happy Birthday!!!!
Australian Organic Awards Finalists
Congratulations to Mick and Kelly Good Harvest Organic Farm – selected as Finalists in FOUR categories at this year’s Australian Organic Awards.
Retailer of the Year
Young Organic Farmer
Women in Organic of the Year
Farmer of the Year!!!
Also a big congrats to COYO Organic – selected as a Finalist for New Product of the Year.
Kilcoy Global Foods – Winner Export Awards
Congratulations to Kilcoy Global Foods – winner of the Agribusiness, Food and Beverages Award at this year’s Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2021! A huge testament to the company’s vision and innovation. .
Nuffield 2022 Scholarship
Congratulations Jade King who was awarded a 2022 Nuffield Australia Scholarship. Jade was among 12 national ag innovators to receive the prestigious scholarship and is supported by AgriFutures Australia. FAN was proud to support Jade’s application.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Economic Development Award
Congratulations to the Economic Development Team at Moreton Bay Regional Council awarded the 2021 National EDA Awards for Excellence (Economic Development Strategic Thinking). Also congratulations to Sorita McGrane – Principal Industry Lead for being awarded a prestigious EDA scholarship in the category Indigenous Economic Development.
Moreton Bay’s Power List
What a great showing of members and food and ag businesses in the recent Courier Mail Power list: Moreton Bay’s 30 successful business men and women!
Karen Lindsay – Little White Goat Cheese
Stuart and Alison McGruddy – My Berries
Shane Newcombe – Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism
Kelvin Patch – Caboolture Sports Club
Robert Comiskey – Comiskey Group
And our own Jacki Hinchey Blue Dog Farm.
Sunshine Coast Foodie Award
Congratulations to FAN’s Ambassador, Martin Duncan aka Sunshine Coast Foodie for being awarded with the Community Empowerment Award at this year’s Sunshine Coast Senior Leadership Awards! Martin has enriched the lives of the seniors in our community through his initiative SconeTime.
Australian Gin Awards
The results are in… Congratulations to Sunshine & Sons and 20 20 Distillery on picking up some silverware at this year’s Australian Gin distillers Assoc’ Inc. Awards.
The boys from Sunshine & Sons were awarded Best in Class for their Small Batch Barrel Aged Gin, Gold for their Original Dry Gin and a Bronze for their Pineapple Parfait Gin.
Meanwhile the team at 20 20 Distillery were awarded Gold for their East London Dry Gin and Silver for their ‘George’ Gin.
Sunshine Butterflies – Walk in Wings event
The Sunshine Butterflies team are calling on the entire community to come and celebrate people of all abilities with us. Join them for ‘Walk in Wings’ between 6-8:30 am Friday 19 November at Quota Park, Gympie Terrace, Noosa River. The walk is continuous so join in at any time! Find out more HERE.
For update to date details of opportunities available for FAN Members
VISIT FANConnect
New Members
Upcoming Grants
Trade and Investment Queensland Go Global Program
Applications close 8 November
Applications are open for the 2021 funding round, under which $500,000 in funding is available.
The Go Global Export Program provides Queensland’s export-ready small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with funding to finalise an export deal in a new market.
The funding is designed to help Regional Queensland businesses overcome specific challenges they are facing with a planned export transaction through matched funding up to 25,000 (excluding GST).
FIND OUT MORE HERE.
Support for QLD Hospitality businesses
Applications close 22 November
The Queensland Government has announced assistance for tourism and hospitality businesses impacted by the Queensland-New South Wales border closure. This program will deliver one off grants of $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 for small, medium and large employing businesses across Queensland that have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for at least seven consecutive days between 1 July and 30 September.
READ MORE HERE.
COVID 19 Business Support Grants
Did you know that the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants are still open? Your business or not-for-profit organisation may be eligible for financial support if it has been affected by the August 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns in Queensland.
FIND OUT MORE HERE.
DAF Rural Economic Grants
EOIs open
Round 4 grants are available up to $200,000 with a 50% cash contribution requirement with a total of $3.3 million available. Projects providing unique opportunities to generate economic and employment opportunities related to primary production value chains across rural and remote Queensland are sought. READ MORE HERE.
Upcoming Events
Female Founders Workshop – Marketing, e-Commerce & Online Platforms
2 November
Want to cut through the noise and attract customers both online and in-store? Marketing done right has the power to change everything. Learn how to leverage digital marketing to increase your sales, attract the right customers, and raise awareness of your brand – all on a tight budget.
MORE DETAILS HERE.
Regional Entrepreneur Mentoring and Training
Startup Onramp Queensland regional entrepreneurs can access training and mentoring programs offered by Startup Onramp at no cost, thanks to a partnership with Advance Queensland.
FIND OUT MORE HERE.
Sunshine Coast Job Fairs
3 & 5 November
The Australian Government and Sunshine Coast Council are hosting two Jobs Fairs to help employers on the Sunshine Coast find the staff they are looking for.
REGISTER HERE.
Indigenous Native Food Program
Indigenous Native Food Program Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and innovators to develop and commercialise native food products. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
This is the second webinar following on from Understanding Environmental Markets. In this webinar the team from Regen Farmers Mutual aims to help you and your farming business and community have a better understanding of how to Access Environmental Markets.
REGISTER HERE.
QRIDA Disaster Support
Storm season is here. In the event of natural disaster, effected producers may be eligible for assistance from QRIDA. Primary producers significantly affected during a disaster, but not located in a defined disaster area may be eligible to apply for assistance as an individually disaster-stricken enterprise. QRIDA is a specialist provider of government financial assistance, farm debt services and advisory support to agencies, businesses and industries across Queensland. Have questions contact the team HERE.
Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Industry Networking Evening – presented by AusIndustry
Tuesday 16 November
Join the FAN, MEF and Caloundra Chamber of Commerce teams for some light refreshments and to hear how local businesses have collaborated with AusIndustry to enable growth and opportunity in our region. AusIndustry supports your business to grow, diversify and thrive through a range of government programs and services. Hear first hand from Sunshine Coast businesses who have engaged with AusIndustry to become strong, self-reliant and competitive in a global environment.
BOOK HERE.
Mentoring for Growth Program
Mentoring for Growth (M4G) offers eligible businesses free access to volunteer business experts who provide insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities you are experiencing in your business. The Mentoring for Growth program from DESBT also has mentors ready to connect with COVID impacted small businesses. Mentors are available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning.
Register your interest in a Mentoring for Growth session or phone 1300 654 687 or email for more information.
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Reports & Reading
Marketing to Millennials report
Marketing to millennials mindsets and motivations behind our biggest spending generation. Drawing from over 400 global and local reports, case studies, and industry research, the team at Davidson, together with Australia’s leading shopper scientist, have produced an in-depth analysis capturing the lives, likes, emotions, purchase drivers and shopping behaviours of our biggest spending generation.
READ HERE.
The Protein Transformation Report
The world’s consumers love animal-based protein. Yet concerns about the environmental costs of growing all the animals we eat, how those animals are treated, and the consequences for human health of eating so much conventional protein are rising even faster. That’s why alternative proteins have morphed from a niche product to a mainstream phenomenon.
READ HERE.
Our Partners
Special thanks to FAN’s Partners and Sponsors who provide significant resources towards the ongoing sustainability of FAN and the growth and resilience of our regions’ food and agribusiness industry.
