Coronavirus heralds return of bushfire mantra to support local business

Just as people were encouraged to buy from the bush to help drought-affected communities and bring their empty eskies to bushfire-ravaged communities, the importance of supporting local businesses in regional areas is again being emphasised. Key points: Regional events, such as local shows, are being cancelled amid the coronavirus threat Local chambers of commerce are worried the pandemic will result in regional businesses shutting their doors and not recovering Businesses want customers to continue shopping online in regional areas, similar to the #buyfromthebush campaign during the drought In Wingham, on the NSW Mid North Coast, the call comes as the community grapples with the cancellation of both the local show and annual Beef Week, which draws at least 500 student competitors plus their supporters. "Buy a voucher from a local coffee shop or other businesses so that the money still comes into the business — the activity or the service is delivered at a later date, but those business owners still have some money coming in." "But there are opportunities in some of the stores in Wingham and around the area for online sales, so if people are shopping, I'd urge them to shop from local businesses, especially regional businesses." "We'd been sort of gradually building the excitement for everybody in the region because they have come in off a really hard year last year, and we were trying to bring some normality back to everyone's lives," Show Society president Elaine Turner said.