Bush communities are known for supporting their own in tough times, and that’s what Blackall Newsagency owner, Keren Greenhalgh has found during the latest Christmas trading season.
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Figures compiled by the Western Queensland Drought Appeal and released in preliminary findings show that small businesses in the west have experienced a turnover decline of between 40 and 60 per cent in the past two years, mostly in 2015/16.
Keren, who has been in business in Blackall for 37 years, said she’d seen plenty of ups and downs in that time, floods and droughts, and this year, despite being one of the quiet ones, was going as expected.
“It’s like any business on the land, you have your ups and downs. You just have to get through to the other side.
“Your staff are with you every day – you can talk about sales targets but you’ve got to look at the big picture.”
Keren said she had changed a number of gift lines to reflect values for people watching their budget more carefully, which she felt was contributing to the shop’s steady turnover.
“And we have a very strong community spirit here – locals are coming through the door and they’re happy,” she said.
She acknowledged the kindness of St Brigid’s parish at Longreach, which had given out $30 vouchers to go towards school books for children in the district, and said the tourist season just past had been a big help too.
“The atmosphere tourists create is worth a million dollars,” she said.
“They’re happy to be here and they’re asking questions about your town.
“It’s nice to have people on holidays around you.”
According to the drought appeal survey, tourism is worth $105 million to the wider region, and construction, of items such as renovating hospitals and building solar farms,has played an important role through the drought, being worth $280m a year.
Agriculture, though depressed through drought and wild dogs, is still the biggest economic driver, being worth $410m.
Keren said while local businesses were coping, communities definitely needed to see more jobs and more services, bringing more people.
She also said fixed costs were making it harder for people to operate.
“If they want people to continue living in the west, governments should look at the costs of utilities,” she said.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
