Jim and Kay Drysdale presented Gazette reporter Jim Mynard with a plaque in recognition of his contribution to the chamber. 34795
By Jade Lawton
THREE members of the Berwick Village Chamber of Commerce were honoured for different but all valuable contributions to the chamber at the annual general meeting on Monday night.
President Harry Hutchinson moved that James and Kay Drysdale of Drysdale’s Jewellers be made life members of the chamber at the next general meeting. The couple have been trading in Berwick for 25 years and have been chamber members for two decades.
Mrs Drysdale said they were honoured.
“We arrived on a motorbike from Noble Park 25 years ago, and since then we have watched Berwick grow,” she said.
Mrs Drysdale also thanked Star News Group reporter Jim Mynard, who is retiring this month from both the chamber and the newspaper.
Former colleague Elizabeth Hart prepared a speech for Mrs Drysdale, which described how Mr Mynard began his career more than 40 years ago and was a supporter of “advocacy journalism” before it became fashionable.
“Jim has not been afraid to tell it like he sees it,” Mrs Drysdale said.
She also described how Mr Mynard, when reporting on a past chamber AGMs, “stirred” members to stand for office-bearing roles because he didn’t want to go back and write about the chamber having to fold after 50 years.
Mr Mynard thanked the chamber for a certificate presented to him and said that for the past two years the chamber had been working better than he had ever seen.
“I have never before seen a better liaison between council and the chamber of commerce, thanks to Geraldine (Albrecht). Thanks very much everyone,” he said.
