About

Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry building unity and trust.

 

The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (KCCI) is the region’s peak business body and acts as a united voice for the local business community. With a group of passionate business people at the helm, the KCCI is committed to fostering growth within Kingaroy and surrounding districts. This website is part of that strategy to help our local community tap into resources and opportunities that will see business and industry continue to develop.

The KCCI has been operating within the local business community since 1912 and plays an active role in fostering and building business.

Every six weeks KCCI organises a Meet & Greet. These sessions provide new and existing businesses the opportunity to network in a social environment. Each Meet & Greet is hosted by a local Kingaroy business and provides opportunities to promote products and services along with discussion regarding development, business achievements and issues impacting on local businesses.

The KCCI is led by an executive committee who are responsible for making the decisions relating to the direction and activities of the chamber, with a focus on unity and trust. Under the leadership of Mr Damien Martoo, elected in 2019, the chamber is entering an exciting new era. The executive members are a group of passionate business people who believe in the community and are ready to capitalise on the opportunities as they are presented. The group are dedicated to finding out the real issues and working with local businesses to make sure that everyone benefits from growth, development and future planning.

Our members are part of the Kingaroy business network and are able to build connections, access information and keep up-to-date on the issues that matter within our community and on a state and federal level. It is all about communication and the KCCI provides and facilitates regular events to share knowledge, develop partnerships and learn what our business community has to offer.

Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory
Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory. Photo by Denise Keelan Photography

Vision Statement

Well-connected, innovative and thriving businesses, operating in a prosperous, united Kingaroy/South Burnett community.

Mission Statement

The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce aims to promote and encourage local businesses to work together and build successful business partnerships. We advocate for the promotion of all South Burnett industries.

Objectives

Provide regular networking opportunities, that give you opportunities to grow

Promote information workshops to help business, and support other organisations

Encourage high quality standards in business service and products

Liaison with SBRC economic development department

Research and promote training and education opportunities to keep you competitive

Disseminate information on products and services, that can assist businesses to become smarter and more efficient

Provide new business contacts and referrals

Support local community not-for-profit organisations

To join, simply complete the membership enquiry form and our Secretary will contact you. Alternatively, download a copy of the form and return with payment to the Secretary.

Executive Committee

 

Each year the membership votes and selects the committee to lead them through the upcoming year. KCCI financial year is 1st October to 30th September.

Damien Martoo was elected to the President’s chair in 2020 and under his leadership the KCCI is focusing on building unity and trust within the business community. The KCCI executive consists of local business representatives who are committed to the growth within business, industry and the community. They are passionate about creating and capitalising on the opportunities that present themselves with the view of making Kingaroy an attractive place to live and do business.

The executive are currently working on implementing a strategic plan for the growth and sustainability of our community with a vision of increased investment in new and existing industry in our region.

Feel free to contact any of the executive committee members regarding issues or ideas relating to business in Kingaroy.

The Executive Committee meet on a monthly basis to discuss and plan chamber activities.

Damien Martoo (President), Jacqui Trace (Vice-president), Paula Greenwood (Secretary/Treasurer). Photo by southburnett.com.au

2021 – 2022 Executive Committee

 

President: Damien Martoo
The Martoo Review
0408 068 485
Vice President: Jacqui Trace
Bill Hull Car Centre
0438 003 680
Secretary/Treasurer: Paula Greenwood
PG Mobile Bookkeeping
0427 622 918
Executive members: Nina Temperton
South Burnett CTC
0408 190 713

Chrys McDuffie
Downer Mining
0427 900 799

Darrin Kefford
Kingaroy Joinery
0419 197 448

Daniel Pelcl
APN Newspapers
0408 956 830

Rob Fitz-Herbert
RCF Entertainment
0429 224 004

David Musch
Ken Mills Toyota
0409 622 281

Lachlan Brown
Pakaderinga
0400 826 683

Steven Fiedler
Fiedler Brothers Plumbing
0447 664 572

Michael Sanford
Bunyarra Counselling & Mediation
0402 155 901

KCCI Bursary

Since 2016 the KCCI Bursary has been established with the intent to help inspire a Year 12 student from Kingaroy State High School and Saint Mary’s Catholic College. This bursary provides financial support for our school leavers, that will assist them as they take the next step in their educational journey.

Not every school-leaver needs the same support. Therefore, the KCCI has devised a bursary that not only encourages educational purchases from our local business community, but also offers flexibility for the recipient to use this $1,000  award to help them where it is needed most.

Demonstrated Qualities:

  •  Respectful, courtesy and conscientious
  • Have a good attitude and strong work ethic
  • Motivated, dedicated, reliable and has high levels of initiative

 

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Currently studying in Year 12
  • Current student at Kingaroy State High School or Saint Mary’s  Catholic College
  • Study Areas: Business, Legal, Economics and Community Services Studies
History of Kingaroy Shire

Kingaroy Shire, an area of 2422 sq km and generally 180km north-west of Brisbane, was amalgamated with three other shires to form South Burnett Regional Council in 2008. It was named after the town of Kingaroy (c1904), and the name is thought to have been derived from an Aboriginal word describing a small black ant or a red ant.

The Kingaroy area was under the Nanango Shire, but Kingaroy benefited from having a railway during 1904-11 while Nanango lacked a line. The town’s progress association and Chamber of Commerce agitated for municipal separation and in 1912 Kingaroy Shire was formed by severances from Nanango, Wambo and Wienholt Shires. Its area was 1070 sq km and shire offices were built in 1913. The eastern side of the Shire was its populous area, served by branch railway extensions from Kingaroy to Nanango (1911) and to Tarong via Taabinga Village (1915).

The south-western sector of the Shire is in the Great Dividing Range and includes the Bunya Mountains. A national park (1908, 11,700 ha), the second to be proclaimed in Queensland, preserves significant stands of Bunya pine trees, a species much sought-after by colonial timber cutters. The Stuart River, headwatered in the Bunyas, flows through Kingaroy’s fertile farm areas, and Lake Barambah dam in the neighbouring Nanango Shire is also fed by Bunya waters.

Intensive dairying supplied a large butter factory (1907) at Kingaroy, and by the 1920s peanut farming was increasing. Navy beans were first grown in 1942, and crops quickly expanded, supplying government contracts. In 1946 Kingaroy Shire was described in the Australian Blue Book:

Postwar agriculture further diversified into fruits, vegetables, lentils and wine grapes. Dairying, however, began to decline in the 1960s under a cost-price squeeze (stronger government regulation and competition from foreign producers). As more dairy farmers withdrew, dairy factories in the South Burnett were closed during the 1970s, and the last one to close was in Murgon in 1995. In 1993 the Shire had 56,600 beef cattle, 1300 dairy cattle, 27,000 pigs, 11,700 ha under cereals and over 17,000 ha under fodder, legumes and other field crops.