General News
19 November, 2020
Terang Co-op welcomes new chairman Geoff Barby
NEW Terang Co-op Geoff Barby is settling into the role of chairman amid a flurry of redevelopment and changes
NEW Terang Co-op Geoff Barby is settling into the role of chairman amid a flurry of redevelopment and changes.
Mr Barby has moved into the chairman role in place of outgoing chairman Brendan Kenna, who stepped down after four years.
Mr Kenna will stay on as deputy chair to assist the newly-appointed chair over the next 12 months before another board member assumes the role as part of succession planning.
Mr Barby takes on the role in a period of transition for the Co-op, which completed significant changes this year including rebranding its hardware stores in Terang and Camperdown to Mitre 10 and its Rural Store to NRI.
An $850,000 redevelopment of the IGA Supermarket will also be completed this month.
“I’m coming in at the end of a pretty big year and the staff response to COVID-19 has been exemplary,” Mr Barby said.
“We have high expectations for next year,” he said.
Mr Barb joined the Co-operative as a member in 1986 shortly after moving to Terang.
He came to Terang to work in customer service for SEC and became manager of risk management for Powercor.
Mr Barby joined the Co-op board in 2015 and has been vice-chair for the past two years.
His other community involvement includes 21 years on the Terang College school council and 10 years on the Terang Mortlake Health Service board.
“We joined two weeks after we came here from Maryborough,” Mr Barby said.
“Terang is a very strong community-based town, a very caring community.
“We noticed that straight away, and wanted to be part of that by getting involved in local organisations.”
Now as board chair, Mr Barby wants to oversee the Co-op’s consolidation and growth in the region.
As the Co-op’s footprint has grown, so too has its membership base which is nearing 3000.
“We’ve gone through some massive changes this year and one of my priorities is to make sure people realise the benefits of membership,” Mr Barby said.
“Our traditional membership base has been around Terang and Noorat but it is continuing to grow in all directions, especially around Camperdown and Warrnambool.
“There are strong member benefits around rewards but it’s also beneficial to be part of a co-op and supporting an organisation that supports the town.
“The Co-op is a massive part of Terang and district. It’s important to have strong leadership to continue to grow the Co-op to benefit Terang.”
Mr Kenna joined Mr Barby in describing the role as an honour and said the Co-op is well placed for the future.
“Being such a diverse business, there is a lot to be aware of,” he said.
“The Co-op is in a very exciting phase; we’ve rejuvenated just about every aspect of the business and the business is very well placed.
“The Co-op is Terang. If the Co-op is trading well, the town and district are travelling well.”