Merry Christmas - and thank you

This year the beautifully refurbished Parramatta RSL was the host location for the Chamber's December Business After Five. In the well appointed Macquarie Room, The Chamber paid a special thanks to long term sponsors Suncorp for their magnificent support of the WesternSydney Business Excellence Awards for the past eight years; sadly they have scaled down their support for next year but, happily, they retain their closeworking relationship with us.

Chamber sponsors and Business Excellence Awards Major sponsors and Award Category sponsors were presented with plaques of appreciation and each spoke in praise of the Awards and the opportunities that their sponsorship provided. As Category Sponsors,The Parramatta College remarked, "This is the best value sponsorship availablein the region."

The event was attended by Local Members, including former Premier Nathan Rees, Julie Owens, Parramatta Councillors, Chamber Directors, members and friends of the Chamber; so many of whom tooktime out from busy schedules to attend. That is what makes Parramatta such a special place because this is the time of year when we all come together, regardless of politics, disagreements or policy differences.

This is that special time of year when, amid the social hurly-burly we take some time to get together with others and reflect on the year we had together. Reflect on what we have been able to achieve together and realise that whatever our differences we all still have the same goals in mind; a time to thank each other for all the support and all the effort.

And a time to wish each other joy.