Keira Marchini: Montague Coffee Narooma owner elected Chamber of Commerce president

A recently-elected business leader plans to use the position to bring businesses in her coastal hamlet back from the brink following years of “atrocious times”.

Keira Marchini was elected Narooma Chamber of Commerce president two months ago. Picture: Tom McGann.

An expecting mother, business owner and lifelong south coast resident has taken on a new role which she plans to use to bring businesses in her coastal hamlet back from the brink following years of “atrocious times”.

Montague Coffee owner Keira Marchini became the Narooma Chamber of Commerce president only two months ago and is already planning big things for the town.

“I have lived in Narooma my whole life, grew up here, worked here and have now owned Montague Coffee for five years,” she said.

“So, knowing Narooma well, knowing how businesses work here, my main goal is to really stop these businesses from closing down. With our team and a really busy upcoming Christmas, we’re going to be able to turn the tides and bring a lot of money back into the town.”

Ms Marchini took over from previous president Jenny Munro, who led businesses in the town through the Covid-19 pandemic and Black Summer.

Former Narooma Chamber of Commerce president, Jenny Munro. Picture: Tom McGann

While she said her predecessor did a “phenomenal job during atrocious times”, there was still work to do.

“Businesses in Narooma are definitely still feeling the effects of that time and we did see a few businesses shut down,” she said. “I think a big part of that was the Christmas periods really weren’t busy.”

For south coast towns like Narooma, the Christmas holidays present a massive economic boost with tourists from Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney flocking to the beachside hamlets and shopping locally.

Mrs Marchini said with the Black Summer fires and pandemic behind the town, the upcoming Christmas season will present the major economic boost business owners in the town are begging for.

“I think this will be the busiest Christmas season we have seen in years,” she said.

“And we have a few things planned so tourists know that Christmas is back on in Narooma and we’re open for people to come and enjoy the holidays on the coast.”

Keira Marchini has owned Montague Coffee in Narooma for five years.

For one, Ms Marchini and her team in the chamber have taken over the Carols by Candlelight for 2023, planning to run them out of the Narooma Bowling Club.

“We’re going to be holding that on Saturday December 16,” she said. “It was usually held on a Sunday, but I’ve decided to move it to Saturday because a lot of people work the next day and I think Saturday will allow them to enjoy the night a little longer and possibly follow it with some late night shopping.”

Ms Marchini also wants to see businesses display Christmas decorations right along the main street.

“We’re really expecting this to be a busy holiday season so we want businesses to get involved and if they can’t get decorations, we want to provide them with some that they can then use every year,” she said.

“If we can get the main street looking very jolly, then we may see more tourists come and check out these fantastic local stores.”

For Ms Marchini, becoming the Chamber of Commerce president has been an honour and she hopes to keep bringing Narooma back.

“We need to see our businesses start coming back and I think with a busy summer on the way, the country back open and some great businesses opening, Narooma really is going to be the place to be this summer,” she said.