Stop bickering: Longley

STOP bickering and work together for the common good of Fremantle, said Fremantle Chamber of Commerce executive director John Longley in his inaugural Chamber address.

“We’ve got to stop the bickering and moaning. Yes, we don’t all get along – but just like any family we need to work together,” Mr Longley said.

“If we can’t drive this city to greater heights by working together then we are a pretty lame lot.”

Mr Longley said it was important to stop the media’s enjoyment of the fighting between individuals who all shared a common love of the port city.

“We need to move together in the same direction. We can’t afford to sit on our hands,” he said.

Mr Longley considers that one of his most important tasks as executive director will be to increase membership of the Chamber.

Chamber president Doug Kerr said the aim was to increase membership to about 1,000 from the current 300.

Mr Longley considers this to be achievable given Fremantle has around 4,000 businesses.

“We must become a clear, loud voice and to do this we need to increase our membership,” he said.

Mr Longley hopes to encourage the use of email so the voice of the community can be better heard.

Having collected ideas from its members the Chamber would then go to the Council or the Government to present its case.

“The key is to make Fremantle attractive for businesses. People will go to places that are successful,” Mr Longley said.