CHRONICLE COLUMN – HOLIDAY SEASON – 16 December 2024
What does the festive season mean to you?
For some, the festive season is a time for reflection, joy, relaxation, and togetherness. A time to care, support, and look after each other.
For others, we acknowledge, the festive season will be stressful, sad, and at times overwhelming.
Which category do you fit into?
Notwithstanding if it is winter, spring, summer, autumn or the festive season, what I love about being a citizen, small business owner, and an advocate for the Capital of the Darling Downs and Great Southwest, is that irrespective of one’s predicament, the Toowoomba community will support and look after each other, all year round. It takes care of each other.
This quality, value, and culture of connectiveness, as articulated by our research undertaken by McCrindle, is one of our regional city’s, competitive advantages. It is ingrained in our regional identity. It showcases our spirit. It helps define the region. And is probably, one of our best kept secrets.
This Holiday Season support local
However, we do need to be mindful, in a cost of doing business crisis, that every decision we make this festive season, including where we choose to spend our money, can have a profound impact on our community. At the Toowoomba Chamber we urge you to make the choice to support local businesses as a powerful way to express your value for the community, local suppliers, producers and the like.
And, as we continue to battle the cost-of-living crisis, reach out to one of our terrific community-based organisations (too many to name here) and see if they need a hand or check in on your neighbour, an old friend, or the like. I encourage you take the time this festive season and reach out to someone in greater need than yourself.
As I take a wee break, I wish you all a safe holiday season. I look forward to seeing you in 2025.
