Coonamble Chamber of Commerce

14/08/2026

An important update from the Coonamble Chamber of Commerce

Following our AGM last week on the 6th of August, the Chamber has made the difficult decision to enter a period of hibernation while we consider what the future of the organisation looks like.

While the Chamber has more than 60 financial members, only the minimum quorum of five attended the AGM. After several years of declining active participation, it has become clear that the Chamber cannot continue to deliver its programs and events without more members willing to get involved.

Over the past few years, the Chamber has proudly delivered the popular Buy Local campaign, our hugely successful Business Awards, a mental health support initiative, advocacy for local businesses and much more.

Unfortunately, this means that popular Chamber initiatives including the Buy Local Campaign and the Coonamble Business Awards will not be held in 2026 (unless drastic action is taken 🤞).

These events don’t happen by themselves. They take many hours of planning, organisation and volunteer effort behind the scenes, and without enough people actively participating, they simply aren’t sustainable.

This isn’t necessarily goodbye. We hope this pause starts an important conversation about what Coonamble businesses want and need from their Chamber membership and, importantly, who is willing to help make it happen.

Why do businesses join, but not join in? What should the Chamber’s core purpose be? Where do you see value, and what would encourage you to become more involved?

We genuinely want to hear from our members and the wider business community as we consider the next chapter for the Coonamble Chamber of Commerce.

You can read more about the decision in this week’s Coonamble Times https://www.coonambletimes.com.au/missing-members-sees-local-business-group-press-pause/

💬 We’d love to hear your thoughts below.

The 2026 annual general meeting of the Coonamble District Chamber of Commerce last Thursday 6 August attracted just the minimum quorum of five people from a total financial membership of …

13/08/2026

A huge congratulations to our own Lee O’Connor for winning this special award. Very well deserved!

05/08/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 Annual General Meeting is on TOMORROW!

📆 Thursday 6 August 2026
🕧 6:00pm
📍 Coonamble Bowling Club

If you're a new or existing business in town and are thinking of joining, now is the time! Come along to our AGM!

For more information please contact: 𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒄2829@𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

30/07/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 Annual General Meeting is on next week.

📆 Thursday 6 August 2026
🕧 6:00pm
📍 Coonamble Bowling Club

For more information please contact: 𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒄2829@𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

27/07/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 Annual General Meeting is coming up.

📆 Thursday 6 August 2026
🕧 6:00pm
📍 Coonamble Bowling Club

If you're a new or existing business in town and are thinking of joining, now is the time! Come along to our AGM!

For more information please contact: 𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒄2829@𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝒎

04/02/2026

23/01/2026

Bring Tones & I to Coonamble NSW 💃💃

23/01/2026

Country towns that are economically reliant on agriculture are vulnerable to shocks from drought and flooding. But towns that have other industries, such as mining and tourism, are generally more resilient.

Which is part of the idea behind Country Heartline, a tourism initiative driven by the Coonamble Shire Council, Bogan Shire Council and Warren Shire Council, with support from drought resilience funding.

Country Heartline encourages people to visit this part of the world, which, as they say, is "more than a road trip, and greater than a destination – it’s an invitation to slow down and discover the rhythm of country life."

The invitation is also extended to people based in these shires to start their own agri-tourism venture, taking advantage of recent changes to support new businesses

To find out more, go to- https://countryheartline.com.au/resources/agritourism-startup-handbook/

18/12/2025

Buy Local Campaign 2025 – Making a Measurable Impact

The Coonamble Chamber of Commerce is pleased to highlight the strong economic results of the Buy Local Campaign for 2025.

On Monday morning, Paul Wheelhouse kindly counted the envelopes while emptying the concrete truck after the draw. A total of 8,066 envelopes were recorded, representing at least $1.21 million spent locally between 1 October and 13 December across the 61 participating businesses.

These figures demonstrate the significant economic impact of supporting local businesses. Every local purchase helps sustain jobs, strengthen businesses, and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the Coonamble, Gulargambone and Quambone communities.

The Chamber thanks all residents and visitors who continue to support local businesses and encourages the community to maintain this momentum into 2026. Merry Christmas!

13/12/2025

Thankyou to the Coonamble, Gulargambone and Quambone residents for shopping local this year. There was a huge amount of entries, which is very encouraging! Big thank you to all 61 participating businesses and our major sponsor Coonamble Shire Council, please continue to shop local!

A huge thanks to Paul Wheelhouse and Joe Bellgardt for their efforts in the draw each and every year.

Drumroll………today’s winners are:
$5,000 - Jake Fernando
$2,000 - Sandra Gray
$1,000 - Nathan Finn
$1,000 - Darren Millstead
$500 - Annette Chapman
$500 - Neil Ruttley

Merry Christmas!