Business Briefs

Experienced bankers back at Westpac branches

In a move that will see experienced bank managers back in its branches Westpac has announced the appointment Branch Managers at Gosford, Erina and Terrigal.

Greg Holt has been appointed Manager at Gosford Branch.  Mr Holt, a Central Coast resident since 1985, has thirty-three years banking experience, all with Westpac mostly in commercial banking and property finance. He has held many positions at over the years, mostly recently at the bank’s Hunter Business Banking Centre at Hamilton.

Mark Bailey has been appointed Manager at Erina Branch. He has twenty-eight years experience with the bank the last four years of which has been in Home Finance Training and Development Manager. He has held Regional Manager positions in Sydney’s North Suburbs and Newcastle and over the past ten years has worked in most Central Coast branches.  Mr Bailey has lived on the Central Coast for twenty-two years.

Rachelle Kroon has been appointed Bank Manager at Terrigal.  Ms Kroon’s banking experience commenced in 2004 in finance as a Home Finance Manager for RAMS Home Loans and subsequently becoming Business Development Manager in 2006. In this role she was responsible for training programmes for Mortgage Brokers.  She joined Westpac in 2008 as Business Development Manager for the bank’s Mortgage Broker Distribution managing relationships with 450 mortgage brokers from Central Coast to the Queensland border.

Sharpe Bros. appoints GM

Asphalt specialists and civil contractors Sharpe Bros have announced the appointment of Kerry Ruffels as general manager.

Mr Ruffels previously held the position of general manager at Business Central Coast/Regional Development Australia Central Coast and now becomes the first non-family member to hold this position at Sharpe Bros.

The locally based company is currently enjoying its 60^th year and has recently added a civil operations manager and business development officer.

Sharpe Bros has leading road works technology in the Sidewinder and has won National Awards for their Safety Bro program.

Mr Ruffels said “Sharpe Bros has the capacity and diversity to complete car parks, driveways, pot holes, road shoulders and roads. As a cyclist I know and appreciate the value of good road surfaces and the added value of excellent road edging. They care about our roads and safety and as a company they are very active in community events and this was something I have admired about the company” added Mr Ruffels.

Joint Managing Directors Richard, Michael and Hayden Sharpe welcomed Mr Ruffels appointment “We believe Kerry can deliver to Sharpe Bros further growth and assist with our expansion plans, something we are keen to pursue, more so now Kerry has joined us.”  

Roses2Go Florist opens at East Gosford

"Roses2Go Pty Ltd trading as A Dozen Roses has opened a new addition to their "specialized rose retail" outlets with Roses2Go East Gosford which opened in mid January.

This shop is currently managed by Nicky Mann, Sales & Marketing Manager of Roses2Go Pty Ltd, but is run by Julia Kirkman a senior florist with Roses2Go and her team.

Ms Mann said, “The main aim of this new outlet is to make our locally grown hydroponic roses more easily accessible to our customers on the lower part of the Central Coast and also to try out our systems and procedures to test whether the retail part of our business can be franchised into profitable businesses for franchisees.

“This would be a wonderful opportunity for rose and flower growers alike to assist with the marketing of their product directly to the end-consumer. We strongly believe in helping our industry raise its profile and become a real player in the gift and luxury item industry which is highly competitive.”

The Mann Family, who had a hydroponic rose growing operation in Zimbabwe until migrating to Australia and setting up on the Central Coast some twenty years ago, operate the Warnervale Rose Farm and Rose Farm Shop as well as marketing and selling their products online.

Adventurer sets up 4WD tour business

Tony Wells, has established Alpine Adventurer 4WD tag-a-long tours operating scheduled and customised tours of the region’s national parks as well as tours in Victorian High Country.

A 5th generation pioneer from Mount Buffalo his family history is steeped in the early establishment of guided tours up into the Buffalo Ranges from the late 1890’s and onwards.
Based at Ettalong Beach, Mr Wells said that this was a long time passion, and due to his current circumstances he had the opportunity to establish what promises to be a successful business based on the enquiry he is getting through his website: www.alpineadventurer.com.au

Mr Wells is a member of the Central Coast 4WD Club and a delegate for the Hunter Region 4WD Associations. He is a qualified trainer and assessor for the NSW/ACT 4WD Association’s Driver Training Unit.

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