A little about us
A little about the St Helens & Districts Chamber of Commerce In 1958, after a few years of discussion and procrastination, the then Warden of Portland, Florence Pendrigh, called an inaugural meeting to form a Chamber of Commerce. The first AGM was held on 4 August 1958 with Mr W J Manthei becoming the first President. The following Presidents were elected between 1959 and 1973:- Mr W Stokely, Mr T Haley, Mr K Viney (now a life member), Mr F Grose, Mr D James, Mr N Suter, Mr W Graham, Mr E Denman and Mr J L Walker. It is planned to have a Roll of Honour for this website when research of Chamber's records is completed. The Chamber of Commerce is a very powerful lobbying and promotion body with access to local, state and federal government as well as interaction with industry and business through affiliation of the TCCI (the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry). It strives at all times to address members' concerns and is proactive in promoting business and commerce for St Helens and its surrounding district, in particular. Meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday of the month, commencing at 6pm and at a different venue each time where members can discuss business whilst enjoying a working dinner at one of its member's restaurants. If you wish to join, please download the membership application from this website or call into The Carlyle in St Helens.
Milestones - Achievements and participation
• The ‘Link Road' between Falmouth and the Chain of Lagoons
• Inshore Boat Ramp for St Helens
• St Helens Wharf Development
• Information Boards and Banners for St Helens
• Visitor Information Centre and the ‘Meet & Greet' Service
• St Helens Cycleway – known as the Walkway
• Sister Town relationship with Kiakoura NZ
• Tourism Award for the Premier Tourist Town
• Energy issues – HEC and AURORA
• Mobile Phone coverage
• Broadband
• Orienteering Championships
• Esk Highway upgrading
• Council Roads and Signage
• Lighting – Christmas Parade
• Banner Poles for the main street
• Shop Locally Campaign
• Safety Rails – Beauty Bay and Tasman Highway
• Aerodrome – upgrading and acquisition of land
• Streetscape Plan – Parking
• Mining, Forestry, Aqualculture, Fishing, Agriculture, & Coastcare
• Recreational Reserves
• Appeals – Legislative Council Inquiries into the Tourism & Fishing Industries
• Representation on the Suncoast Regional Tourism Association and the East Coast Regional Association, including Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, and Sydney Travel Shows
• Instigation of the Portland Small Business Awards
• Joint project between St Marys and St Helens Chamber of Commerce to introduce and run the OLMA and ACIS projects – forerunners of the BEC
• Participation in the Suncoast Regional Tourism Strategy, and the St Helens Tourism Precinct Steering Committee
• St Helens Barway issues
• Promotional video for St Helens The Place to be and co-operative advertising for St Helens on DVD with Northern Tasmania Development
• ABC outside broadcast – from the St Helens Wharf with local produce
• Local brochures and maps over many years
• Courtesy buses for a number of events
• Welcome for Skyrace Tasmania and participation in Par Avion's 1st birthday at Launceston Airport. Trial run for regular air service with Airlines of Tasmania between LST, STH and Flinders Island
• Workshops and strategic planning – training with TCCI – providing training for AussieHost (customer service workshops).
