Jim and Karen Coe’s shiraz Leaning Cow is now an award winner and it could present a new opportunity for the shire to help promote itself.

Not to mention the business’s product line, hopefully Coe and Co is a successful venture and grows to the point where they can provide employment for residents.

For decades Junee has been a productive agricultural area and is known globally for ghosts, licorice, railway and rugby league.

There’s already one winery in Junee shire – Houlaghan’s Valley and with Coe and Co starting to grow it will help diversify the shire’s offering.

Events like the Junee Rhythm ‘n’ Rail Festival is a unique opportunity to advertise what the town, villages and shire have to offer – something which businesses like Coe and Co an can use to promote themselves.

They say one of the rules of sales is to get a buyer to handle the product, and what better way then being able to eat licorice, ride trains, listen to live music and see the town’s rich history?

The benefit of events such as Rhythm ‘n’ Rail, the poker run or even the Schoolboys carnival might not always appear immediately but they serve to illustrate how diverse this community is.

Extra people can be a benefit for existing businesses, increase council’s rate base and develop their own business – all beneficial.

- Declan Rurenga