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November General Meeting Minutes

Written by Narellan Chamber Admin on . Posted in Minutes.

General Meeting

12 November 2025
Held at Camden Valley Inn

The meeting was opened at 6.30pm

Welcome – Carla Upfill, Director Meetings

Carla welcomed everyone to the meeting including Life Member Tony Perich AM and Cathy Perich, Life Member and Past President Adriana Care, Past President Shaun Pereira, President of Wollondilly Business Chamber Pania Gregson, and Guest Speaker Dr Adam Fraser.  She also welcomed all members, and guests to the meeting.

President’s Report – Roland Blackstone, President

Roland spoke about:

  • Carols by Camdenlight – Chamber is the Naming Rights Sponsor
  • TGIF Drinks will be quarterly from January 2026
  • Meeting with NSW Opposition Community Cabinet at Oran Park Library
  • Meeting with Small Business Minister Janelle Saffin and Acting Small Business Commissioner Catherine Ellis
  • Meetings with NSW Premier Chris Minns MP
  • NSW Community Cabinet and Forum at Camden Civic Centre
  • Trump update
  • F1 update

Apologies

  • Alison Lewis – Alpha IT
  • Daniel Fenech – Brick Stuidos
  • John Gannon – Macarthur Lady Funerals

Membership Update – Tony Bonanno, Director Membership

New member introductions:

  • iTravel Camden – Christine Kelly
  • KIS Bookkeeping & Business Solutions – Nichole Beiermeister
  • SC Web & Digital – Kym Heffernan

Member Shout Out – Wendy White acknowledged Alysha of WOW Studios

Sponsorship Update – Rachel Elliott, Director Sponsorship

  • Gold Sponsor                  Narellan Town Centre
  • Silver Sponsor                 Kelly+Partners South West Sydney
  • Bronze Sponsor              Century 21 Pereira Group
  • InKind Sponsor               Private Drivers Online

What’s On – Laura Blackstone, Director Governance & Sarah Ryan, Director Events

  • November                 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
  • 18 November           Alpha IT Sip & Secure
  • 20 November           Camden Council Careers & Jobs Expo
  • 26 November           Spirit of Camden Village Gathering
  • 3 December              Say No 2 DV Breakfast
  • 3 December              The Blind Sea, Free community screening at Wollondilly Performing Arts                                    Centre
  • 6 December              Carols by Camdenlight
  • 12 December            Christmas Party at Belgenny Farm

Networking Break

Speaker Presentation

Dr Adam Fraser

  • The champions manage the groups
  • Use the gap to relax and conserve energy
  • Completely present in THAT moment
  • Find your Third Space – work and home requires me to be different
  • How you show up after the chaos
  • Why do people choke under pressure?
  • The Third Space
    • First Space – Reflect (How do I interpret what just happened to me?) Rest (Can I be still and present?), and Reset (How will I “show up”?)
    • Second Space

Q&A Session

  • Matt Glynn – What happens if you have something after The Third Space
    • Be adaptable to suit each situation
  • Tracy Attanasio – How has this changed since COVID, same spaces are home
    • People “miss the commute”, very clear boundaries, get dressed for work, then get changed to casual
  • Rob Elliott – How do you bridge the generational gap
    • I want to be in this moment, when you practice it, you get really good at it
  • Sandra Bartlett – Love your energy, hydration and nutrition and rest
    • Resilience, recovery – need time, nutrition, health of gut are critical, an impact on mental health
  • Roland Blackstone – Holidays, how much should you take
    • The benefit only lasts 3 weeks before your back, 1 week or 4 days is most restorative
  • Tony Bonanno – What is the research for home
    • 43% more positive
  • Veronica Macdonald – Discipline of staying on the path
    • Strategy, it sticks, sticky language
    • Paramedics – leave shoes at the door, peel green uniform off before goes into the house

Dr Fraser was thanked for his presentation and presented a thank you gift by Peta Borg of Hamper Culture.

Lucky Door Prize

From Century 21 Pereira Group             – Monica Willats (RM Super Services)
From Private Drivers Online                   – Geoff Rogers (Camden Valley Financial Services)
From Kelly+Partners                               – Olena Pereira (Century 21 Pereira Group)
                                                               – John Siljic (Mitronics)

Closing Remarks – Carla Upfill

Carla thanked everyone for attending and especially guest speaker Dr Adam Fraser.
Thank you to all the sponsors and the InKind Sponsors.

The next meeting will be the Christmas Party on Wednesday, 10 December at The Estate Camden.

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 8.40pm.