Comment by Jillian Kilby
Regional Australia is built on the foundation of mateship, banding together when things feel like they're ready to fall apart.
As we welcome the new year we remind ourselves of the things that we are grateful for. From The Exchange Clocktower, we could not be more grateful for the community of small businesses that fill our town with energy and spirit.
We know that for some of these businesses, last year was the best year on the books. However, for many, it’s been really difficult, difficult beyond words and certainly not words those businesses might share on Instagram.
For these businesses, the customers dried up, goods stayed on the shelves and the thought of closing up and calling it a day kept them up at night, once the early pandemic passion for supporting small had waned. For these businesses now, more than ever we need to extend our country spirit and reaffirm our commitment to staying, supporting and celebrating local.
If you want to help, other than buying locally, what can you do?
It’s easy to imagine that the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre (DRTCC) will only open its doors if enough people buy tickets. And if people stop buying tickets, we will lose the shows and productions that travel from Sydney and Melbourne to perform here.
The same goes for local businesses.
If you want to retain our art gallery, vote with your feet by visiting and leaving a donation on your way out the door. If you want to retain our town pool, vote with your speedos and buy a season pass. And if you want to retain the Chamber of Commerce, the CWA, or The Exchange, buy a membership, turn up for a meeting, or book a co-working desk and meeting room.
Supporting local is not a compromise, it's an investment in the community which we all come together to make.
“Supporting local is not a compromise, it's an investment in the community which we all come together to make.”
We had been wondering how we support locals at The Exchange when the idea of Boardrooms in The Bush was born. We envisioned businesses from all over bringing their teams together here in Dubbo. They stay in local motels, order from local caterers, buy local keepsakes, visit local attractions and even hire a local facilitator or guest speaker.
You can see how one team meeting in town can send a few thousand dollars around the local economy and celebrate the community of Dubbo.
We have a number of national corporates on track for a Boardroom in The Bush in Dubbo in 2022, but we are now looking inward to our own community here in Dubbo and asking the question: can you hold your Boardroom in The Bush?
Not only is the answer "yes you can" but also there are so many benefits to investing in your team and your community in this way.
With interactions limited to zoom over the past two years (yes, two years!) the team offsite can increase engagement, develop trusting relationships and productive teams. Local businesses that want to support local businesses can use their boardroom experience to not only bring their team together in a Covid-safe environment but breathe life into a combination of local businesses. From ordering local catering to inviting a local guest speaker or facilitator, heading out for a meal, getting together offsite, your team and your community will thank you for this immersive experience.
It's really about recognising and recommitting to local. Now is the time to stay, support and celebrate local.
*** Jillian Kilby is, among other things, the founder of The Exchange in Dubbo – a social impact organisation supporting regional communities.