Business Breakfast Club A Big Success

Sun Herald

Sunday March 2, 2008

John Church

AN UNUSUAL bunch of people will be getting together for breakfast at the Crown Plaza in a few weeks.

They are part of an organisation called the Founders Forum, which tries to get great business ideas and investors together.

The Hunter is a hotbed of innovation with a wide range of companies developing some pretty impressive products.

But many small businesses lack the capital and expertise to take their operations to the next level.

The chairman of the forum is entrepreneur Neville Sawyer, who until recently headed Tomago-based Ampcontrol, a company that employs more than 750 people around Australia and in Britain, China and New Zealand.

The Founders Forum is enthusiastically supported by AusIndustry, whose regional manager, Graham Baker, keeps the introductions of new players and investors flowing.

Since its inception in early 2000, entrepreneurs involved with the Founders Forum have raised more than $40 million in capital for their businesses.

That is an impressive track record for a nonprofit organisation aimed at generating investment in local companies.

Honeysuckle's sweet ending

AT THE risk of sounding like a social columnist, here is a date for those who like getting dressed up for a good cause.

The Mayumarri Ball will be the last major event held in Newcastle's historic Honeysuckle sheds before they're handed over to the newly relocated Newcastle Museum. It also marks the end of an era for the Honeysuckle Markets under the guiding hand of Carol Scott.

It will take the council some time to refit the building and move in the many interactive displays.

With that mix of things to do, we will then have an even more inviting city for tourists to visit.

The Mayumarri organisation helps survivors of child abuse to get back on their feet. The ball is on Saturday, March 15. It is black tie and tickets cost $110 each. Phone 4998 6041.

Bush tucker goes Italian

SECRETS of bush tucker are coming to a book shop soon.

West Gosford's Jake Cassar is your genuine Aboriginal bush tucker man.

He had a keen interest in hunting and gathering, but believes he only really learnt how to live off the land "when I went bush for a few weeks with nothing but a knife".

Cassar, 32, last night held a gathering feast of wildflower salads and kangaroo meat with the Aboriginal elders of the Hunter and Central Coast to discuss publication of his book, Wigi Wigi, meaning plenty of fruit.

It will describe 25 plants, more than 100 different recipes and the healing properties of each species.

Hunter Aboriginal elder Arthur Ridgeway says "Jake's the best Italian bush tucker cook going round", referring to Cassar's Maltese and Italian background.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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