Trading exhibition gets down to business

– Shaun Inguanzo
BIOGRAPHICAL accounts of why people chose central Dandenong to set up businesses are part of a new public exhibition to be launched this week.
The Trading Places exhibition to be launched at Heritage Hill and will be on display until end of July, and also comes in the form of a booklet and CD.
The project kit and exhibition both tell stories, explore cultural backgrounds and highlight reasons why people have started businesses in central Dandenong.
City of Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown said the project was an important way of capturing the spirit of local traders.
“Everyone has a story to tell regarding their business, including the trials and tribulations they have endured to be part of the business community in Dandenong,” he said.
“Trading Places tells the story of the diversity of business life in Central Dandenong for this generation and future generations to come and highlights the wonderful mix of businesses that make central Dandenong the vibrant hub that it is.
“The retail traders who have participated in this project have shown us the optimism, hard work and dedication needed to succeed in business.
“It is a reminder of how enriched we all are by living in such a diverse, multicultural society.”
The project includes the history of 29 retail businesses in central Dandenong and was jointly funded by the council and the Department of Environment and Heritage, with contributions from the Dandenong Chamber of Commerce, Dandenong Retail Traders Association and the Dandenong Development Board.