1. Working together to promote the services, attributes and tourism of our region
2015 Annual Review
Year ending 30th June 2015

2. Agenda
Welcome Kym Griffiths, Current Chair
AGM Chair & Guest Speaker Mr Graham Simpson, Project Coordinator,
Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre
Apologies Tania Baxter, Steve Castle, Louisa Lammers,
Walter Berger
EDRBT Review Lynne Trensky
The Local Voice Review Kym Griffiths
Treasurer’s Report Phil Byers
Standing Down of 2015 Mr Graham Simpson
Committee
Election of 2016 Committee Mr Graham Simpson
Positions
Close & Supper Graham Simpson

3. EDRBT Review
The Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association (EDRA) formed on 26th June 2014
to support and oversee the activities of the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Business
& Tourism Group and The Local Newspaper.
The Eastern Dandenong Ranges Business & Tourism Group (EDRBT) represents
members in professional, trade, retail and tourism sectors operating in the
Eastern Dandenong Ranges corridor. The majority of our members are drawn
from Emerald, Cockatoo & Gembrook but open to all business operating in the
Eastern Dandenong Ranges.
The Emerald Business Group moved its auspice from the Emerald Community
House to EDRA along with members that belonged to the Gembrook Business
Group that dissolved in June 2015.
EDRBT took over the management of the existing websites belonging to the
Emerald Business Group, emeraldandranges.com.au and
gembrookvillage.com.au. We wish to thank past Gembrook Business Group
Chair Walter Berger for continuing to update the Gembrook Business Group
website in consultation with the EDRBT.
Our first initiative was to develop a brand identity for the group, membership
brochure and new website to promote all of our members as well as attractions
and events in our region. Our website and members events and products are
marketed through our blog on the website and Facebook pages.
We use our range of social media platforms to maximise promotion of our
member’s products and services. These are:
Dandenongsandranges.com.au
Emeraldandranges.com.au
Gembrookvillage.com.au
Dandenongs and ranges Facebook
Emerald Business Group Facebook
The Local Facebook

4. EDRBT Review
We held our official launch at Forest Edge Restaurant on 29th April 2015
providing members from across the region to get to know each other and build
connections.
We have encouraged members to contribute through editorial articles or
advertising in The Local to promote their businesses and introduced a
“Businesses in Profile” section for members to take advantage of.
EDRBT has created awareness and profile at a regional tourism level with Yarra
Ranges Tourism resulting in free use of digital maps, EDRBT membership
information on Yarra Ranges Tourism website, availability to use the stylised
template used to develop maps and trails in the Dandenong Ranges & Yarra
Valley region, participating in discussions with Cardinia Council, Casey Cardinia
Tourism, Puffing Billy Country Getaways & Yarra Ranges Tourism to promote
tourism products in the Eastern Dandenong Ranges. We have also had “Puffing
Billy Country” added as a region on visitdandenongranges.com.au ready for
when we progress with our regional map.
EDRBT has progressed opening a Visitor Information Centre at Emerald
Railway Station thanks to discussions and working with Puffing Billy to enable
this. The Centre will be a great asset to all EDRBT members. We are seeking
volunteers to train and operate the Centre. The Centre will also be the base for
our EDRA office. The use of the Station is being supplied free by Puffing Billy
and has also offered to connect free wifi and install heating/airconditioning.
We have decided on a layout for our local township maps for Cockatoo,
Gembrook & Emerald and a boutique winery map for the region and working
towards having these ready for the opening of the Visitor Centre before Easter
this year.