Coconet featured on State Focus
On the 5th of July, Southern Cross Ten's State Focus featured a piece on Coconet and its inventor, Tim Straatmans.
You can watch the piece here...
Smart Net for a Smart State
Dear Tim,
Building Queensland as the Smart State is my Government's vision for the future. The purpose of this letter is to thank you for your contribution to making the Smart State vision a reality through the story which you shared via the Smart State: Smart Stories project.
Through Smart State: Smart Stories Queenslanders have demonstrated how innovative thinking and initiative are building the economy, improving skills and knowledge in the community, helping the environment, enriching quality of life and strengthening diversity in Queensland.
It has been a great pleasure to myself and many others to read stories from all over Queensland - from the Torres Strait to Mt Isa to the Gold Coast and all points in between. I have been inspired by stories about achievements in education, entrepreneurship, science, technology and research, and by smart activities and problem-solving being undertaken by Queenslanders such as yourself. The contribution which people like you are making to the Smart State cannot be understated and deserves to be recognised and celebrated.
Thank you again for your contribution to Smart State: Smart Stories. I wish you well with your future endeavors.
Yours sincerely
Peter Beattie MP
Premier and Minister for Trade
Praise from Austrade
Dear Mr Straatmans,
On behalf of Austrade I would like to thank Coconet International Pty Ltd for allowing us to feature your export experience in Austrade's 2003-04 Annual Report.
Austrade particularly values the inclusion of case studies as they are the best illustration of the diverse range of businesses that Austrade have worked with during the year. They are often also the first thing that readers turn to when they receive a copy of the Annual Report. It is a matter of satisfaction and pride to Austrade that we are able to draw on such and interesting story as yours.
Yours sincerely,
Sally Deane
2004 Annual Report Coordinator
Letters to the Editor 'Whitsunday Times'
Dear Sir,
Having just read the article on page 4 of the latest Times regarding coconut nets, I must say - what a brilliant idea! May I suggest that the council, resort owners and others with coconut trees in public areas invest in a sufficient amount of these nets immediately, thereby saving the annual expense and mess of de-nutting the trees while at the same time removing any risk to people spending time beneath them. However, may I also say please don't just throw the nuts away afterwards.
Why not instead donate them to some local charity where they could be decorated (perhaps with the aid of one of our many talented local artists) and sold as colourful souvenirs to raise funds. Perhaps the charity organisation (Eg PATCH) might also be able to provide the people to check and empty the nets regularly, thereby leaving council staff and other tree owners only the task of periodically checking and maintaining the actual nets.
Congratulations to Tim Straatmans for an innovative idea and here's hoping it can be put to good use here.
Sincerely,
Ross Collingwood
Proserpine