"I didn't even know this was here!" was the comment by several people at our first Business After Hours for 2009. They were talking about our venue, the idyllic Lane Cove River Tourist Park, which is a rural haven in the heart of corporate North Ryde. First time visitors were delighted with the Park, and those who have previously experienced the hospitality of Andrew Daff and his team were delighted to return.

North Ryde Macquarie Park Chamber of Commerce was our co-host for the event; around 70 members from both RBF and NRMPCC enjoyed the BBQ and a cooling breeze, such a respite after the heat of the previous week.

Suzie Blackwell and John Gilroy from Railcorp were on hand to speak with members and guests about the Epping Chatswood Rail Link. The opening date for the line is scheduled for 22 February 2009, and we will keep members updated. If you have any questions about the rail link, contact Sabrina Ferguson. We will pass your questions to Suzie and John who will respond directly to you.

Business has been brisk for the Tourist Park over the Christmas and January period; Andrew Daff says the Park was fully booked, which is great news not only for him but for the local economy in Ryde which benefits from the visitor spend. The Park offers a range of accommodation facilities from caravan sites to new and comfortable furnished cabins, and uses 100% green power. It's a cost-effective alternative for family holidays, located in the lovely Lane Cove National Park.

We welcomed the following new members on the night:

• Peter Sullivan of LCD&Co Financial Solutions. Peter has bought the accountancy side of Lyn Clark-Duff’s successful business. Lyn will be concentrating on financial planning and retirement solutions. Contact Peter on 9874 1464.
• David Boundy of Boundy Legal, business and property lawyers, who can help your with your conveyancing needs. Contact David on 9043 1346.
• Sarah O’Reilly of PA on the Way. PA on the Way offers temporary and offsite secretarial and virtual office management services for companies of all sizes. Contact Sarah on 1300 660 895.
• Adam Hyland of Watermark. Watermark is Australia’s oldest patent and trade mark firm and has recently moved into Richardson Place in Riverside Corporate Park. Contact Adam on 9888 6600.
• Rita Lepedjian of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce. Ryde is the heart of business for the Armenian Community, and we look forward to working with the Armenian Chamber as one of our local business and networking associations.Contact Rita on 8005 2240.

Our Business of the Month is Watermark, our newest member. Established in 1859, Watermark has a long history of assisting clients to protect and manage their intellectual property with an emphasis on obtaining competitive advantage and sustainable market share. Find out more here.

Photos from the night are available here. These photos will be suitable for printing out at postcard size on your office printer. Photos by Sabrina Ferguson unless otherwise stated. If you would like a high res copy of any of these please contact Sabrina.