The Renewal of Country Towns

There is renewal going on in small country towns all over Australia. There is a sense of community that takes a visitor back to what it must have been perhaps a century ago. Some of this has been because of sea-change couples who have taken their superannuation and bought into country properties and businesses to work out a dream, even if it cost them money. They reckon the life style away from the cities is worth it.

I have conducted small four day evangelistic missions in small country towns for thirty years, spending about 35 weekends every year away from my own church, but always returning for Sunday afternoons and evenings for services and media.

The Murray River town of Echuca is an example. In September 2001, the Beechworth Bakery opened its doors in Echuca. Like the Bendigo Bank, the Beechworth Bakery is making a remarkable contribution to small towns. In Echuca, the former Drover's Bakehouse, built four years ago is a grand three storey building in High Street, on the banks of the Campaspe River, and a short walk from the historic wharf precinct. It features indoor and outdoor seating on two levels and an attractive deck area overlooking the River. It has all the wonderful Beechworth Bakery products, souvenirs and services on display. This is helping revitalise Echuca. I know, our family once owned the Echuca Bakery.

Tom O'Toole is the charismatic and inspirational "Baker" from Beechworth. He has built his bakery into one of Australia's greatest retail success stories and happily shares the secrets of his success. Tom's Beechworth Bakery has become the highest earning single retail bakery in Australia, and multiple winner of Tourism & Business Awards. His business model is emulated around the world. Tom's one man endeavour has brought renewal to the whole Beechworth community.

Tom took a small country bakery in a small county town (with a population under 4,000), from employing two staff to now 64; an annual turnover of $100,000 that increased to $3 million; and an operation that now sees more than 600,000 customers pass through its doors in Beechworth. Tourists flock to Beechworth just to visit the Bakery with its products and legendary customer service. The flow on effect on other businesses, restaurants and motels has been enormous.

Tom says, "We have to be passionate in everything we say and do. I can't bear to be around people who are bland or bored. There's a breed of brain dead, gum chewing assistants in so many shops. I want our people to feel excitement about our culture and our product!"

Tom's passion for spreading the word on motivation and achievement has resulted in a natural growth of speaking engagements. His natural and fun way of presenting to community and business alike has captured much interest, making him a highly sought-after, inspirational speaker throughout Australia and overseas.

Another revitalized country town is Nundle. On Saturday 6 May my wife and I travelled to Nundle once more for a very happy community celebration. Nundle has made a name for itself for the manner in which it has found new purpose and direction that has dramatically increased tourism to the town and added new employment opportunities.

This was one of a series of visits I have made to this delightful Northern NSW Tablelands community, the first being after the disastrous floods of Christmas 2001. Nundle had suffered more than $5 million damage in November and December, and a further $800 million of damage was caused to the whole region, with massive crop losses. With the help of my staff at Wesley Mission, we raised and distributed $250,000 in cash and food to the needy families. I gave gift cheques of $10,000 each to farmers who had lost their crops to help them to plant fresh crops after three years of losses. We also organised Christmas parties and left behind about $250,000 worth of food and goods that we had purchased locally, because everything purchased locally doubles its value to the community.

At that time floods had washed away three major bridges. A young widow in the area had to drive around a steep back road by the Chaffey Dam after the main bridge was washed away. In doing so she had a single-vehicle accident that crippled her. She was trapped in the car and her injuries left her a quadriplegic. Mrs Naomi Newbury had not long buried her young husband who had tragically died from cancer. They had no children, but when I visited her in the Royal North Shore Hospital she had discovered that she was six months pregnant.

Naomi had severe spinal injuries causing quadriplegia, but her unborn child survived. She became the first quadriplegic to carry a baby full term in 20 years. We visited Naomi at the hospital and supported her and her baby, Samuel. She was unable to nurse or bathe him because she was confined to a wheelchair. On behalf of the people of Sydney we presented her with a cheque for $10,000 to help cover some of her medical expenses.

Naomi spent three more months in the spinal unit, another three months at the rehabilitation unit at Ryde and another six months in the maternity section of Tamworth Base Hospital. However, her desire was to return to the peace, beauty and people of Nundle, but her house was unsuitable. Temporarily 2002 Naomi, her carer and son have been living in a government house at Coledale, but Naomi s mobility was restricted to the bedroom because her wheelchair was too wide for the doorways. We launched an appeal locally through the Nundle Community Welfare Foundation set up by Mr Bryce Bridges of Wesley Mission to raise $100,000.

Following the telecast of the launch of that appeal, the Bunnings store in Tamworth indicated that it would be happy to supply every item required for the completion of a new house totally free of charge. The community would build a house for Naomi, her son, Samuel, and her carer, Nigel Hoad, to live in for as long as they chose. This March the young family moved into the house in Nundle and Naomi is able to get in and out of every room with ease. She is now a regular traveller along Jenkins Street, accompanying Samuel to and from primary school.

The eighty people who helped to build the house celebrated its completion. Nundle Community Welfare Foundation trustee Peter Howarth undertook the project management. He said more than 80 individuals and businesses had contributed to building the house over the past four years. Austam Homes donated a house shell, Peter Howarth and Wendy Emery of Bunnings Tamworth organised donations of materials and tradespeople, and New England Institute of TAFE carpentry and plumbing students completed a great deal of the work.

It was my privilege as the patron and co-founder of the foundation to open Naomi s house. The community of Nundle, the 80 individuals and the others who helped to raise the money and all who did the practical work to build a home for a remarkable lady, are to be congratulated.

Country towns need us to visit.

Go into the remarkable antique store on the main street, and the local museum. Say "G day" to the Mayor Ian Lobsey, and the publican and his mates from the Lions Club, the school teachers and the Anglican clergyman, the Nurse practitioner who is regarded as the local doctor when you cannot have a resident one, Judy and the men and women who have established the Nundle Woollen Mills and brought old machinery back into production and all the ladies who do the hand knitting, and the new restaurant in the old bank building and any of a dozen other features and people who are so typical of the many who have revitalised this country town.

You will enjoy yourself.