David Luck was elected as the Chamber’s new president at last month’s annual general meeting, taking over from outgoing president Ben Wyndham.

At just 23 years of age, Mr Luck admitted that both the love of a challenge and a passion for local business are what drove him to accept his new position on the board.

“I wanted to be able to directly have a say on the issues that are affecting me,” he said.

Moving to the area from Sydney and finishing school at Scone High School, Mr Luck opted to get stuck into working life and from the age of 20 started running his own business in Scone.

“I did an apprenticeship at Dimmocks Butchers in Aberdeen and I’ve lived in Scone for three years now – about the same time I’ve had my business on the main street,” he said.

“With the Scone bypass and town revitalisation underway and as a local business owner, it’s all going to affect me.”

Mr Luck said he has a good idea of the views and issues affecting local business.

“I think that everyone on the main street needs to have a say,” he said.

“When I walk down Kelly Street I know most of the faces – I stop and have a chat and I’m very involved in the local business community.

“We just need to work around ways to diversify local business so that they have additional ways of making income to offset the loss of income when the bypass comes around,” he said.

The chamber has already started heading down the path of talking to local business about their social media presence.

“Rebranding on social media is one way we are looking to draw more people into the town as far as letting people know that we are here.

“We are looking to tie that in with Upper Hunter Country Tourism – there are so many brilliant industries in our area that are just overlooked.

"We are also really pushing people to support local and buy local in the lead up to Christmas, reminding them you can actually find Christmas presents here in town.”

Among the other board members, Jane Callinan has remained vice-president, Steve Guihot treasurer and Garry Gilkeson the chamber’s secretary.

Other new committee members that have come on board this year include Daniel Zammit, Jenny Dawson and Elizabeth Flaherty.

“A big thanks goes out to Ben Wyndham who we are still working closely with during the transition,” Mr Luck said.​