Local business owners from Narromine, Trangie and Tomingley are coming together this Small Business Month to celebrate some of their “Local Legends,” - people who have built businesses, created jobs and helped shape the community.

The event, hosted by the Narromine Business Collective, will be held on Thursday 23 October from 6pm at the Narromine Golf Club.

It’s designed to be a relaxed evening of stories, laughs and lessons from some of the shire’s most experienced businesspeople.

Co-president Sarah Atchison said the Collective wanted to create an event that was community-focused rather than formal or instructional.

“We just felt a need to bring business owners together and promote who we are and what we’re trying to do within the community,” she said.

“We didn’t want to do workshops or anything like that - we wanted something light and easy, something a bit different.”

Formed only 18 months ago, the Narromine Business Collective grew out of an informal Instagram chat between local business owners.

“We just felt there was a need to formalise it more," Ms Atchison said.

"A couple of us got together, applied for funding, and were successful, but we needed a formal group to run it through, and that’s how the Business Collective was born.”

The committee is made up entirely of business owners who volunteer their time to support each other and promote the local economy.

While still in its early stages, the group already has major plans.

“Next year we’ll be holding our Narromine Shire Business Awards,” Ms Atchison said.

“That will be our next major event after the Local Legends Night, and we’re hoping to run the awards every second year.”

Behind every great local business is a good yarn

The Local Legends Night will feature a panel of well-known local figures who have seen it all in business, sharing stories about their ups and downs, what’s changed over the years, and how they’ve adapted.

Amanda Ferrari is just one local Narromine legend who will share her experiences at a free event organised by the Narromine Business Collective.

“Our MC, Patty, will lead the panellists and get them to share their experiences and the pros and cons of business life, what’s worked, what hasn’t,” Ms Atchison said.

“It’s an opportunity for people to come together, have a chat, and hopefully learn something from each other.”

Sharing their stories are:

Amanda Ferrari: A driving force behind rural innovation, Amanda has spent more than 30 years turning ideas into reality in Trangie, from start-ups and community projects to fundraising initiatives.

As head of The Boarding Schools Collective and host of the Letters from Home podcast, she champions education access for rural families and will share her insights on building businesses with heart, community, and grit.

Paul McCallum: From humble beginnings as a 15-year-old bowser boy to owning Inland Petroleum, Paul has been fuelling Western NSW for decades.

With four depots, thirteen retail sites, and a 30-truck fleet, his story is one of perseverance, vision, and loyalty to local business, expect plenty of road tales and hard-earned wisdom.

Robert Handsaker: A true Narromine icon, Robert sold his first car at 18 and opened his Ford dealership in 1974, creating a family business built on honesty and trust.

Fifty years later, with teammate Greg Walsh by his side, he’s keeping locals on the road and giving back through community support and sponsorships.

Pat McCutcheon: MC for the night, Pat is a Narromine farmer, dad, and former Wallaby who captained Australia’s Rugby Sevens and played for the NSW Waratahs.

Off the field, he’s known for his leadership and community spirit - the perfect person to steer the evening’s stories, laughs, and lessons.

Unlike the Collective’s previous event on International Women’s Day, this one is open to everyone.

“We wanted to make sure this event is not just for women, it’s for everyone in our community,” Ms Atchison said.

“We’re encouraging men to be involved too.”

Locals can register free to attend the Local Legends Night through the Narromine Business Collective’s social media pages.