Character Accolades For Our Town
How would you describe the character of Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, Yeppoon, Moura, Springsure, etc.? What goes to the character of a town? It’s buildings?, open spaces?, location?, events?, people?; there are a lot of factors that go the character of a town/city. And it is very important that each town has its own unique desirable character, after all who wants to visit a town much like where they live, as tourist’s we are after new experiences. I raise this question of a town’s character as in the current environment we currently have real power to change it, and it can be for the better. You can be a Town Character Builder.
Dream Up Success Around What We Have
Imagine it is 5.00pm on a Friday afternoon, 2 years from now, you are walking along Quay Street towards the new (completed) Art Gallery. The beautifully maintained national trust buildings still capture our awe with their individual style and workmanship. The coffee shops are busy and restaurants are preparing for early dinner diners. Market stalls on the riverside of the street are starting to get some patronage as the entertainment behind them starts its first set of the evening. You take the fairy light brightened short cut beside the Art Gallery into East Street to take advantage of its diversity of stores and the extended Friday night trading hours. Large advertising signs have been pulled down to reveal the now beautifully restored original facades of the buildings, housing a diverse selection of locally owned businesses that pride their personal service. You bump into some friends not seen for some time, spontaneously decide to have a drink with them then dinner, before relaxing on the grassed lawns of the riverbank enjoying the smooth jazz being played.
Our Dreams Have to Include
Hopefully you can nearly taste the character being portrayed. And eagerly look forward to the day you can experience it as either a resident or tourist. The Council is certainly enabling this character to develop with its infrastructure and placemaking plans; however, the whole picture needs more than just Council involvement. Locally owned businesses need not to just extend their Friday trading hours, they need to fill empty stores. Landlords need to revitalise their buildings. People in 2 years time will need to feel more relaxed about their financial position to do a night on the town and spend some cash. And all this largely depends on your actions now and ongoing (plus a covid-19 vaccination developed).
Making Good from the Bad
One positive out of covid-19 has been it has created a community of circumstance. You’ve heard it, “we’re all in it together” and this has generated real sympathy for front line health workers, the unemployed, elderly, local businesses, supermarket employees, sporting clubs, public transport drivers, etc. Broad cross sections of our geographic community united.
It is important that this sympathy is turned into ways that can best help in our recovery. One way is to spend money locally. Covid-19 will result in an acceleration of the use of technology and with that a better understanding how it can make people’s lives easier. An obvious example of this being the convenience of online shopping. By choosing to shop online (and in-store) with local businesses we have a much better chance in 2 years time actually experiencing the vibrancy I’ve painted. As local businesses are a foundation stone of a town’s character. A stone that underpins local sporting/community clubs and of course local jobs.
Share Your Town Dreams
Our town’s character is a competitive advantage, it’s what makes us different, that hopefully attracts and retains people, it’s what we fall in love with and want to protect.
Use this current circumstance to consider what positive changes to your town’s character you like to see. Share them here on these pages and help make them with your (and other’s) spending. Your dollar is more powerful now than it has been for some time. Use it to build character, your town’s character.