Over twenty years ago the Birchip Butcher’s Shop was in a perilous position and the current owner was unable to supply the local supermarket with meat or find anyone willing to purchase the business as a going concern.  

The then Birchip Development president, Daryl Edwards, secretary Frances Lee, and local business owner Gail Sharp met with the Bourke family, who were butchers in Charlton, to propose an option for them to expand their service to Birchip.

The Development Group formulated a proposal that a community consortium could purchase the building, which was also the premises of the clothing shop Just U Casuals and rent it to these two businesses to ensure that two valuable services were retained in the Birchip community; and from there, Birchip Business Inc was formed. 

Birchip Development Inc. invited the community to get involved under the premise that the more members they could get on board the better, because there would be more people who had a connection and an obligation to support the tenants.

Forty-seven members joined up by purchasing up to 4 x $500 shares. However, twenty- four years on, many of these members have moved from Birchip, have passed on, or they are no longer interested in being part of the project.

AGM Next Week
The AGM for the Birchip Business Incorporated will be held on Tuesday, November 19, at 6 p.m. at the Birchip Neighbourhood House in the “The Old Shamrock” at 77 Cumming Avenue, Birchip, and the current committee is looking for new active members.

If you or your parents have shares and no longer wish to be involved in the project, the shares are able to be passed on to a family member or a friend. Or you can let the committee know you are happy to pass them on, as there are people on the list who are interested in becoming members to continue to foster the spirit of community and see the project prosper. 

It is quite simple; members (or a legal representative acting on behalf of the member) can provide the secretary, Simone Christie, with a request in writing to transfer their membership. If you are unsure how many shares you or your parents purchased originally, contact Simone 0429 922 735 and she will be able to help.

Birchip Business Incorporated was set up as an incorporated association with the purposes “to maintain community services, improve facilities for community services and to create opportunities for employment.”

Constant Tenant
Steve Bourke has been a constant tenant since December 2nd, 2000, and there have been several changes in the tenancy arrangement in the second shop. Fortunately it has always been tenanted and provided an opportunity for another business in the community to have a shop front.

Diligent
The committee of management (elected annually at the AGM) has been very diligent in working with the tenants over the years to ensure the buildings have been maintained and improved. As with any old buildings, there are many ongoing maintenance issues, and the committee has worked hard to provide quality facilities for the businesses over the years. 

Members of the association have received some nominal interest payments on their initial contribution and would be entitled get their initial contribution back one day if the premises were sold, but Birchip Business Inc can only exercise its powers and use its income and assets for its initial purposes of providing community services, not for making profits for its members. 

Shareholders/members haven’t received a dividend for several years, due to the building repairs that were required over the past few years. However, the building has been relatively stable over the past couple of years and there are some accumulated funds which will be presented at the AGM, and the members will decide if a dividend will be paid out in ’24/’25.

Onerous Task
The current committee has been reluctant to pay out dividends because it doesn’t have members’ bank details, and  would have the onerous task of issuing around 50 cheques for a small amount that would incur a fee for the association and most likely a fee for the member to cash the cheque.

The members didn’t go into this proposal thinking it was going to be a financially rewarding business investment. They were primarily concerned about supporting their community. They knew the importance of locally owned businesses and the role they play in building strong communities. 

At the AGM one of the business items will be to determine if it should pay out a dividend, or whether it continue to build reserves to pursue another project that meets the aims of the original association. If the committee does  decide to pay a dividend, it will be requesting bank details. 

Community ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who care about the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. This underlying principle has ensured the success of Birchip Business Inc for the past twenty plus years and hopefully for many more. If you require more information please contact Simone Christie 0429 922735 or email simonechristie@hotmail.com.