KINDNESS and authenticity were the focus at this week’s Swan Chamber of Commerce Hour of Power, where speakers shared stories of purpose, perseverance and viral marketing.

Midland Meals founder Loren Pratt, who won the City of Swan ctizen of the year award in 2024, spoke about his journey founding Midland Meals, which now feeds about 100 people a night across three locations.

He said his life had been shaped by small acts of love, recalling how his mother once gently removed burrs from the back of a man sleeping rough.

“You never judge people,” he said.

“You love the unlovable – you love them until they ask you why.”

He told attendees his drive came from both faith and experience, including early lessons on resilience and compassion learned on a farm in rural New South Wales.

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,” he said.

“Two things stand like stone – kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.”

Mr Pratt said Midland Meals had grown from a single trailer and pot of soup into a registered organisation with more than 200 volunteers.

“I just want to bless this city,” he said.

Pham Group director Matthew Pham and owner of several IGA supermarkets gave a presentation on branding, social media and the value of being genuine and projecting that in online marketing.

He said a light-hearted video promoting Chick-fil-A sauce had reached more than half a million views and led to the sale of 500 bottles across his stores.

“This dumb TikTok video – it’s okay to call it dumb because my staff remind me it is,” he said.

“But it actually worked.”

He shared three lessons for success online: be authentic, build community and hit the post button.

“It’s like throwing darts – eventually one hits the bullseye,” he said.

Mr Pham also spoke about his past struggles with social anxiety, saying volunteering helped him gain confidence and direction.

“My parents were boat refugees and I realised how lucky I had it,” he said.

“Volunteering is the best thing I’ve done in my life – period.”

The session ended with questions from the audience covering everything from artificial intelligence to how to get involved with Midland Meals.

“You never touch a person so lightly that you don’t leave a trace,” Mr Pratt said.