Life Membership honour for Mary

Chair Maria Branch presents Mary Partridge with Life Membership of the North-East Tasmania Chamber of Commerce.

December 13, 2023

Twenty two years after playing a pivotal role in the re-establishment of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, Mary Partridge has been honoured with Life Membership of the business body.

Chairwoman Maria Branch said the award was a way to formally acknowledge and show appreciation for Mrs Partridge’s years of support, dedication and contribution to the community.

“As a founding member of the re-establishment of Chamber in 2001, Mary also took the position of Treasurer for many years,” Ms Branch said.

“Under the Chamber banner for the past 15 years, Mary has co- ordinated Lucky Shopper whilst still running her own business and continues in this role as a community member.”

Mrs Partridge said she remembers that she and her husband Murray attended a meeting at Kendall’s Hotel along with Steve Love from the Scottsdale Pharmacy, Sue Farrell from the Secretariat and Peter Gutwein from The Bay Inn Bridport.

“From that meeting Chamber of Commerce was reformed.  We all felt it was time to reform and help revitalise the area,” Mrs Partridge said.

“I have stayed involved for most of that time.  Now I do not attend meetings, but I am heavily involved with the Lucky Shopper, Find Santa’s Reindeers and the Letters of Christmas.”  

Mrs Partridge’s working career started in the office of Kraft Foods.  

“I was there for 14 years then left to start a family,” she recalled.

“Three children later Murray and I were bread vendors for Nubake for several years, then we purchased the Cottage Bakery and owned that business for nearly 23 years.

“My present career is being a grandmother as our daughter is a RN and we have the grandchildren every second weekend or any time that their mum needs a helping hand. 

“I am also heavily involved with making things to pack to go to children overseas for Operation Christmas Child.”

Mrs Partridge said she was proud of her business journey and honoured to be recognised.

“Along our journey at the bakery due to hard work and having a great team around us we lifted production dramatically, we were able to win many State and Federal Baking Shows. 

“We were able to qualify six apprentices and had just signed a seventh when we sold the business.  

“We were admitted to the Baking Association of Australia Hall of Fame for our services to our Industry, but I think a real stand out for me was when Janine and Craig Williams were running their tourism business they hosted travel agents from overseas and we ended getting coverage for the North-East area in London and New York papers regarding the product we supplied for these tours.

“My hope for the future of our business community  is that our local population keeps up their support for these businesses.  They provide employment for future generations and once you lose a business it is very hard to have that replaced in this economic climate.

“I am honoured to have been made a life Member of the Chamber and I regard it as a privilege to have served both the business community and the local community and I hope I have a couple of more years in me to continue to do so.”