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In Innovation
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Klaus Bartosch with his 36,000-signature paper plane protestA 36,000-signature petition folded into a giant paper plane has launched a credit card charge protest into the headquarters of Australian airline company Jetstar.

Delivered last week, the consumer revolt was kicked off last month on the Change.org website by Gold Coast businessman Klaus Bartosch who said he was sick of Jetstar’s $8.50 credit card surcharge. “These ‘booking and service fees’ are ridiculous,” he said.

“Jetstar is the worst. The airlines adds on $8.50 per passenger per flight to pay by credit card - hitting us with a huge surcharge for using the only real payment option they give us. 

"I posted a petition against what I regard as the latest retail scourge in Australia - credit card surcharges that are unique to this country. Jetstar's surcharge amounts to around 20% of their published airfare price! They deny it is a surcharge because they call it a ‘Booking and Services Fee’ - but it only applies when you pay by credit card.

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In Calvert
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Calvert's GM Mike ReidAdelaide-based smart business IT specialist Calvert Technologies continues its strong growth by appointing its first General Manager and recruiting two new members of staff.

Calvert has appointed its inaugural GM internally by promoting Mike Reid from the Service Delivery Manager role he held for three years.

Rhonda Smart has taken the reins as Service Delivery Manager, joining Calvert Technologies after a six-year stint as Administration and Finance Manager with Surgical & Medical Supplies. Before that, Rhonda was Branch Administration Manager for Schindler Lifts.

Calvert’s other new recruit is Sales Executive Shane Robins, an IT industry veteran of nearly three decades, whose first job was with pioneering South Australian PC manufacturer Microbyte Systems. Since then, Shane has worked for other Adelaide IT trailblazers including Protech Microsystems and Electronic Concepts. He has run his own finance and technology businesses for the past 10 years.

These latest hires brings Calvert’s head count to 15. The company has also recently deployed a new practice management system, called ConnectWise, to help streamline service delivery as it grows.

Calvert Technologies founder and managing director Dean Calvert said the new structure and employees provided the company with a solid base for continued growth. “We now have the people and the processes in place to maintain our growth, especially in the NT where we have strong demand,” he said.

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In Innovation
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Gordon KaySoftware entrepreneur Gordon Kay has launched a new venture, coaching business owners on how to avoid the potholes on the road to success.

Drawing on Gordon's more than three decades in business, Doing Biz designs and delivers programs that equip business owners to gain relevant and practical skills, business knowledge and confidence to take their business to the next level.

Gordon started working with business owners in the early 2000 via the City of West Torrens after a request from the local Business Enterprise Centre (BEC).  This progressed to roles with the SA Department of Trade and Economic Development, Department of Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia and other BEC groups.  At the time, Gordon was running his company ESS (Engineering Software Solutions), developer of the successful Steelbuilder platform which he has since sold.

Gordon said he established Doing Biz to meet a need in the business community. "In more recent times, the small end of business has been neglected in terms of development support, particularly for the owners of the business," he said.

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In Innovation
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John Knox Church restoration teamConstruction Industry Training Board (CITB) trainees skilled in the ancient craft of stonemasonry are restoring a 157-year-church in the Adelaide suburb of Morphett Vale.

The State-listed heritage building John Knox Church in William St, Morphett Vale, is re-emerging from ruins after undergoing restoration by an expert team from Edwardstown company Applied Building Conservation Training (ABCT), which is training newcomers in heritage trades skills.

One of Australia’s foremost Stonemasonry Training experts, Keith McAllister of Heritage Stone Restorations at Edwardstown, is collaborating with the CITB through his training company ABCT to provide a "hands on" approach to promoting this traditional profession.

The company employs qualified stonemasons and conservators from Australia and the UK to work on commercial projects while they actively train newcomers in the trade. This joint venture between the CITB and ABCT is a ‘national first’ in stonemasonry training.

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