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SUPPORT those that support you should be the mantra of every small community, none so more than Junee.
A great location close to a major centre can be a drawcard for a smaller town, but it can also cause consternation for business owners as it drags locals away.
However, Junee is in an enviable position of having so much close at hand, but being able to provide the day-to-day necessities conveniently.
Junee Business and Trades president Tony Butt said there were always good reasons to shop local.
“The service, the shops know their customers and they need to survive or we’re only going to be living in a suburb, with no shops,” Mr Butt said.
“The stuff that gets used every day, there is plenty of that day-to-day produce.
“A lot of people are loyal. If it’s in town, people will shop here, otherwise they go to Wagga.
“It is a bit of a chicken and egg situation because you do get more choice in Wagga.”
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Born and raised in Junee, Mr Butt said the town is prospering with an influx of residents.
“There are a lot of new faces in town,” he said.
“There seems to be a heap of people moving to town because it’s cheaper, people are retiring here and there are more jail staff.
“It’s a beautiful little town to live in. It’s friendly.
“It’s also cheaper than Wagga and a hell of a lot cheaper than Sydney to live.
“A lot of retirees are moving from Sydney because they can buy a better house than they would there and still have money left over.
“There are new homes going up all the time, new sub-divisions. It’s getting bigger and bigger.”
Junee is an easy commute to Wagga for work, has good medical and dental facilities, sporting fields, four schools in the immediate area and a bus service to private/independent schools.
It is well set up for tourists, with attractions including the Roundhouse Railway Museum, Monte Cristo Homestead, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory and the Broadway Museum, which houses the visitor information centre staffed by knowledgeable locals.
Mr Butt said a “meet and greet” would be held to welcome newer residents.
“We ran one last year and there’ll be one on September 9 from 2pm to 4pm,” he said. “We invite all the people who have recently moved to town to meet other people who have moved here, as well as locals, so they can get the feel of the town.”
Reasons to shop local
The place and choice of where you live is often about the people as much as the physical buildings and the ambience.
Where we live, shop and play is the foundation of our community.
Reasons why we need to shop local:
1. Get better service – local people with local knowledge.
2. Reduce environmental impact – less travel and air pollutants.
3. Invest in the community – owners usually live in the community.
4. Create more good jobs – employment for residents.
5. Encourage local prosperity – owners live and invest in the community.
6. Put your taxes to good use – local business anchors council infrastructure.
7. Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy – local businesses find a need and fill it.
8. Support community groups – local businesses support local non-profits.