The Chin Wag October 21 2020

PARK
UPGRADES
CONTINUE
TO BRANCH
OUT IN
MEANDARRA
Leo Gordon Apex Park in
Meandarra will be revitalised
with new facilities and extensive
landscaping as part of Western
Downs Regional Council’s local
stimulus package to create jobs
and boost the liveability of the
region.
Works to enrich the popular park will include
new picnic shelters, a BBQ shelter, walkways,
new trees, turfing and irrigation throughout
the space.
Council Spokesperson for Recreational Spaces
and Cemeteries Councillor Carolyn Tillman
said once complete, the project would benefit
locals and visitors alike.
“Leo Gordon Park is a very popular spot in
our community and it’s in a prime position
to welcome travellers passing through the
beautiful town of Meandarra,” Cr Tillman said.
“It is important that we continue to maintain
our parks and open spaces right across
the region as they are a valued part of the
community and play a big role in the liveability
for our residents.
“The completed project will not only provide
a more modern space for our community to
enjoy but will also entice our visitors to stop
and stay a little longer in our towns.”
The Leo Gordon Apex Park upgrade is included
in Council’s extensive COVID-19 Recovery
Package and will support local business with
the majority of materials and labour sourced
within the Western Downs.
Construction is expected to commence during
the first week of November.
To find out more about upcoming Council
projects visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au or contact
Council on 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624).
THE FACEBOOK GROUP THAT CHANGED SMALL BUSINESS FOREVER FOR RURAL AUSTRALIA
The Facebook group that was
created by Jenn Donovan, called
Buy From a Bush Business, turns 1
on October 31 st 2020.
In one year, Jenn has taken her online
community, which supports rural small
businesses from NO members to 285,000
members, and still growing at 100’s a week.
Jenn, a farmer’s wife and marketing thought
leader, who lives in the Riverina of NSW, tells
how she was driving home from a marketing
tour, with her business, of the Riverina back
in October 2019, when she came up with the
idea of a Facebook group to support rural
small business owners.
“Buy From the Bush was a hashtag that
people were starting to know about but
didn’t know how to get involved with. It was
the most common question all week during
my workshop tour of Narrandera, Wagga
Wagga, Moulamein and Hay”, says Jenn.
“I lived and was working in drought country
– years of drought had hit these (and
many other) towns hard. It was coming up
Christmas and no one was looking forward to
it.”
“I know as an ex-retailer, that if farmers don’t
have money, towns don’t have money – so no
one really expected a good Christmas in their
business”.
With the complexities of Instagram for
some business owners, Jenn decided that
a Facebook group, where people could just
post themselves, was the way to go.
So, on Friday October 31 st 2019, after getting
home from a week away, she created Buy
From a Bush Business Facebook Group.
Jenn laughs at how she celebrated with such
gusto at 5,000 members, 10,000 members,
25,000 members – having literally no idea
that it would grow to be, not only the size of a
small city, but an economy all of its own.
“I have no idea how much money has been
traded in the past 12 months, but it must
be in the 100,000’s of thousands – possibly
millions”, says Jenn
“Some people who posted didn’t even have
a business yet, just a hobby, but soon found
themselves with a community of brand new
buyers, from all over the country, wanting
their goods”.
It was a strategic decision by Jenn, from
the beginning, that it wouldn’t just be an
“Australian Made” group.
“As an ex-retailer, I didn’t make my goods,
so I wanted to support those who were like
me. Whether they made the product or not
wasn’t my concern – I just wanted to help.
My theory was that if we didn’t help retailers
like the ones in the main streets of our rural
towns, we’d have ghost towns everywhere –
which would further ruin the rural economy
for many years to come”, says Jenn.
Little did Jenn know what was to come.
Many communities who were already hurting
from drought, faced the devastation of the
summer bushfires, loosing homes, livelihoods
and the so important, for many communities,
the tourism dollar.
To then, to be hit with Covid19 on top of
everything else.
She connected the city with the country.
She created a community that, even if
they couldn’t afford to spend money with
businesses, they helped in other ways
like sharing a post, liking a post or giving
the business owner encouragement or a
compliment – which is, at the heart of it, what
SOCIAL MEDIA is all about.
If, by chance, you aren’t one of the 285,000
odd members of Buy From a Bush Business –
join the group here:
facebook.com/groups/buyfromthebush
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THE CROSSING - Wednesday October 21, 2020 - Page 3