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. Cowra Economic Gardening

2. Who am I? Mike Foster - Married to Bev, 5 kids Economic Development - Cowra Shire Council Cowra Business Officer

3. About Cowra Central West NSW Population 9,000 in town 13,000 in the Shire Lachlan River Wheat, Sheep Canola

8. History of Cowra Australia settled by the Aborigines 40,000 years ago Wiradjuri Country – one of the first inhabited Lachlan River - dingoes, bilbys, platypus, cockatoos Indigenous population approx. 1,000 Koori

11. Wiradjuri

12. Wiradjuri Greeting GAMBIANNA (welcome) Yamandumarang? (how are you?)

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

14. History of Cowra Early white settlement in 1817 Land grants for settlers, convicts, squatters 2,000 acre grants

15. History of Cowra Crossing over the Lachlan River Coura Rocks 1840 began flourishing 1870 first bridge replaced boats (ferry)

16. Cowra and War World War 1 – 1914 to 1918 World War 2 – 1939 to 1945 Cowra Prisoner of War Camp Sept 1940 military camp for 3,000 soldiers Infantry training – 80,000 passed through

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

18. The camp Japanese prisoners arrived in 1943 and 1944

19. The camp

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

21. Casualties Total Japanese Casualties One Officer Killed 230 other ranks Killed One Officer Wounded 107 other ranks Wounded Total Australian Casualties 1 Army Officer Killed 3 Guards Killed 3 Guards Wounded

22. Cowra war cemetary

23. Cowra japanese garden

25. Furniture factories

27. The rise of economic gardening

28. Launch of cowra entrepreneur program

29. Cowra entrepreneur program

30. Koori entrepreneur program

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

36. Market your business

37. Network with like-minded business

38. Expand and value-add products, services, staff

39. Our approach: Ultimately a one-on-one interaction Engender entrepreneurship in the whole business community Encourage regional, national and international marketing Strengthen business skills GIS – AnySite by Mapinfo ABS

40. Our approach: Work smarter not longer Australia has the second longest working hours in the developed world PLAN – while we are working on the business “This country was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward--” JFK

41. Challenges: DROUGHT SWINE FLU SARS GFC KFC NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES

42. Thank you for having me here Questions ???

43. WHAT HAVE WE SEEN SO FAR?