Mike Foster is the Cowra Business Officer who runs the Cowra entrepreneur program to help local businesses. Cowra is a town of 9,000 people in central west NSW, settled by Aboriginal people over 40,000 years ago and later white settlers in the 1820s. During World War 2, Cowra had a prisoner of war camp that held Italian and Japanese prisoners; in 1944, over 300 Japanese prisoners escaped in a breakout where over 230 died. The Cowra entrepreneur program aims to strengthen local businesses through business planning, marketing, networking and developing new products and services.

1. CowraEconomic Gardening

2. Who am I?Mike Foster - Married to Bev, 5 kidsEconomic Development - Cowra Shire CouncilCowra Business Officer

3. About CowraCentral West NSWPopulation 9,000 in town 13,000 in the ShireLachlan RiverWheat, Sheep Canola

8. History of CowraAustralia settled by the Aborigines 40,000 years agoWiradjuri Country – one of the first inhabitedLachlan River - dingoes, bilbys, platypus, cockatoosIndigenous population approx. 1,000Koori

11. Wiradjuri

12. Wiradjuri GreetingGAMBIANNA(welcome)Yamandumarang?(how are you?)

13. Ngawabaladhumarang(Yes, I am well)Marangnganha(That’s good)

14. History of CowraEarly white settlement in 1817Land grants for settlers, convicts, squatters2,000 acre grants

15. History of CowraCrossing over the Lachlan RiverCoura Rocks 1840 began flourishing1870 first bridge replaced boats (ferry)

16. Cowra and WarWorld War 1 – 1914 to 1918World War 2 – 1939 to 1945Cowra Prisoner of War CampSept 1940 military camp for 3,000 soldiersInfantry training – 80,000 passed through

17. Cowra and WarPrisoner of war camp built in May 1941Held 5,000 Italian & 1,000 other prisoners

18. The campJapanese prisoners arrived in 1943 and 1944

19. The camp

20. The breakoutOn 2 am on 5 August 1944 Japanese prisoners attack the wiresOver 300 escaped outright over 230 died. 18 buildings were burnt to the ground

21. CasualtiesTotal Japanese CasualtiesOne Officer Killed230 other ranks KilledOne Officer Wounded107 other ranks WoundedTotal Australian Casualties1 Army Officer Killed3 Guards Killed3 Guards Wounded

22. Cowra war cemetary

23. Cowra japanese garden

24. Cowra the next 50 years....Cannery

25. Furniture factories

26. AbattoirThe decline of industryBetween 2005 & 2006 NSW lost 1,399 manufacturing businesses

27. The rise of economic gardening

28. Launch of cowra entrepreneur program

29. Cowra entrepreneur program

30. Koori entrepreneur program

31. What do we achieve in our programs?Develop a business plan

32. Create a vision for your future

33. Understand your IR and staff needs

34. Determine the health of your business

35. Price your products and services