July was one of the Chamber’s busiest months to date, with five member events, a strong showing at the regional business awards, and record volunteer participation at The Dish. A summary follows, along with several opportunities that remain open to members.
Events Held in July
Hornsby After Dark Movie Party — Sunday 5 July, Event Cinemas
The Movie Party attracted 128 attendees and was very well received by the community. The Chamber thanks Angela Sciacca, her partner Geoff, and Louise Woo for their assistance in delivering the event.
Community Service at The Dish, St John’s — Wednesday 8 July
The Chamber served at The Dish of St John’s from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, fielding the largest volunteer group the Chamber has assembled for this activity.
Our thanks to those who gave their time and provided meals:
- Wally Gebrael — Vice President, Hornsby Chamber; Director, Granny Flat Solutions
- Grace Eu — CEO, The Village Chef
- Ryan Lee and his son — Treasurer, Hornsby Chamber; Tax Accountant, JSJ Tax Accounting and Advisory
- Preeti Dey and her daughter — Website Coordinator, Hornsby Chamber; Owner, Spod Technology
- Mark Langford — Owner, Sidewalk Social
- Hui Zhao — Owner, Belonging Early Learning
- Paul McKenzie — Committee Member, Hornsby Chamber; Owner, ABS Conveyancing
- Juliette Bereton and her daughter — Owner, Juliette Bereton Consultancy
- Suzanne and her daughter
- Claire Rampling and her daughter
The Dish runs monthly. Regular volunteers report that guests recognise and remember them from month to month, and the Chamber encourages members who have not yet participated to consider joining a future service.
Chamber Coffee Catch Up — Thursday 9 July, The Village Chef
Attendance was strong at the July Coffee Catch Up, hosted at The Village Chef, Unit 6, 43 Leighton Place, Hornsby.
The Chamber thanks Grace Eu and Paul Bennett of The Village Chef for hosting the session and providing morning tea. Paul’s address to members addressed the role of connection in their work and the value the business places on community, a theme that resonated with those present.
Members who are in a position to support The Village Chef’s work are invited to contact Grace or Paul directly.
Thanks also to Angela Sciacca for preparing name badges and greeting members on arrival.
Twilight Markets — Saturday 11 July, Hornsby Mall
The July Twilight Markets ran from 4pm to 8pm and were exceptionally busy.
The Chamber records its thanks to:
- Angela Sciacca — event games and general assistance
- Kylie Klift — children’s games
Hornsby / Ku-ring-gai Local Business Awards — Monday 13 July
Chamber members were well represented at the Awards, including a substantial contingent from Hornsby Shire Council.
Congratulations to Daryoush Binai of Binai Construction, awarded Business Person of the Year.
Congratulations also to Grace Eu, Paul Bennett and the team at The Village Chef on their win, the team’s contribution to the community is considerable and the recognition well deserved.
Claire Rampling addressed the event on behalf of the Chamber, and member feedback on the address has been consistently positive.
Small Business and Tax Forum — Wednesday 15 July, Pennant Hills
Julian Leeser MP hosted a Small Business and Tax Forum with Angus Taylor MP, Senator Jane Hume and economist Warren Hogan.
Demand exceeded capacity: online registrations closed ahead of the event, and members who contacted the electorate office directly were accommodated where possible. The Chamber acknowledges the assistance of Chantelle and the staff of Julian Leeser’s office in facilitating additional member attendance at short notice.
Members who attended and are willing to share their observations are invited to contact the Chamber for inclusion in the August newsletter.
Business After Hours — Thursday 30 July, The Hornsby Inn
The Chamber thanks all members who attended this month’s Business After Hours event, which featured a joint presentation from Karthik Thanumoni of Purplescape and Tim Mitchell of The Bowtie Agency, followed by an interactive question and answer session. The evening put a welcome spotlight on local businesses in our community.
Our thanks to Dearbhla, licensee of The Hornsby Inn, for hosting the event, and to Darren Hart, the Chamber’s photographer, for capturing the evening.
New Members
The Chamber is pleased to welcome:
- Rachel Wilson, Welcome Basket — featured on page 18 of the second edition of the Hornsby Magazine. Businesses interested in placing material in the basket should contact Rachel directly.
- Greg Harris, Harris Consulting Group.
Members are encouraged to make contact and extend the usual welcome.
Member Opportunities
Hornsby Magazine — Spring / September Edition
Bookings close 7 August.
Belinda Daly reports a strongly positive response to the first two editions. Work on the Spring / September edition is now underway.
- Members-only offer: any advertising booking receives equivalent value in editorial coverage.
- Front cover photography competition: open now — members are asked to pass this on to local photographers.
- Enquiries and bookings: hello@hornsbymagazine.com
- Website: hornsbymagazine.com
Berowra Woodchop Festival — Sponsorship
The Berowra Woodchop Festival will be held in the first week of September. It is one of the largest community-run events in the Shire and draws significant local attendance.
Organisers are currently seeking sponsors, and the opportunity may suit members seeking local brand exposure and community engagement.
- Prospectus: Woodchop 2026 Sponsor Prospectus
- Enquiries: Ben, via the Chamber member group
- Members are encouraged to register interest promptly, as packages are expected to be taken up quickly.
Community Support
7 Bridges Walk — Sunday 20 October
Michael is walking the 7 Bridges Walk in memory of Kayla, the daughter of close friends, who died of cancer at seventeen. He is raising funds for the Cancer Council, which supports the 53,000 families affected by cancer in NSW each year, with a target of $1,500.
Members are encouraged to contribute if able.
Dates for the Diary
| Date | Item |
|---|---|
| Friday, 7 August | Hornsby Magazine advertising bookings close |
| Saturday, 8th August | Twilight Markets |
| Thursday, 27th August | Christmas in August |
| Thursday, 3 September 2026 | Chamber Coffee Catch-Up at Inala Disability Services |
| First week of September | Berowra Woodchop Festival |
| Saturday, 12th September | Adult Disco – An Inclusive 18+ Disco |
| Sunday, 20 October | 7 Bridges Walk |
Dates for the August Coffee Catch Up, Twilight Markets and The Dish will be circulated in the member group and published at hornsbychamber.com.au.
Submission
Members with items for the August newsletter, business milestones, new appointments, openings, or upcoming events; are invited to submit them to the Hornsby Chamber of Commerce at info@hornsbychamber.com.au