July 25, 2016
Nanango businesses concerned South Burnett Rewards could have a negative impact on the town’s Mardi Gras Dollars promotion should put those fears aside.
Graham Archdall – who created the Mardi Gras Dollars promotion with Nanango vet John Fearnley last year – told Thursday night’s meeting of the Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) he had discussed the Rewards program with South Burnett Directions and was confident the two promotions could be run together without any problems.
Graham said the South Burnett Rewards program, which lets shoppers swipe a card over a terminal to win rewards, was able to run both promotions simultaneously.
This meant shoppers would earn Mardi Gras Dollars as well as Rewards points whenever they shopped in Nanango.
But when they shopped outside Nanango, they would not earn Mardi Gras Dollars, only Rewards points.
Barry Green said Mardi Gras Dollars had turned out to be the most successful “shop local” promotion Nanango had ever seen.
The proof of this was the 5000-strong crowd that packed out the Nanango Showgrounds on New Years Eve, cashing in their Mardi Gras Dollars for a free night of family entertainment that included amusement rides, entertainment, food and drinks.
Barry said he would not like to see anything jeapordise this.
Graham said the purpose of the Mardi Gras Dollars promotion was to encourage shopping in Nanango between October and December, while the purpose of the South Burnett Rewards program was to encourage local shopping throughout the region over a longer period.
However, because the South Burnett Rewards system was electronic, a lot of the work involved in running the paper-based Mardi Gras Dollars promotion could be eliminated.
“I am convinced this electronic system is the way forward,” Graham said.
The meeting voted to hold an information session for Nanango’s business community in the near future to explain how this year’s Mardi Gras Dollars promotion will work with South Burnett Rewards.
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Sharyn Garrett from South Burnett Directions also attended the meeting to explain how South Burnett Rewards would work, and confirm the Mardi Gras Dollars promotion could be run in parallel with South Burnett Rewards.
At present, Sharyn said, 16 local businesses have begun undertaking trials of the Rewards system.
More businesses will be joining the trial in the next two weeks when extra equipment arrives.
The businesses participating in the first round of trials are:
- Something’s Country, Kingaroy
- Sportfirst Kingaroy
- Pioneer Lodge Motel and Restaurant, Kingaroy
- Ollie’s Mower Service, Kingaroy
- Ken Mills Toyota, Kingaroy
- Bob Jane T-Mart, Kingaroy
- Kingsley Grove Estate, Kingaroy
- Kingaroy Joinery
- Glendon Street Café, Kingaroy
- Barambah Veterinary Surgery, Kingaroy
- TASTE South Burnett, Kingaroy
- Rapid Fitness, Nanango
- Ringsfield House, Nanango
- Nanango Real Estate
- Nanango Spare Parts
- Blackbutt Medical Centre
Heritage Community Branch Nanango, who are already the major sponsor of the South Burnett Business Excellence Awards and Mardi Gras Dollars, has also joined the Rewards program as a foundation sponsor.
Sharyn said the goal of South Burnett Rewards was to provide a co-ordinated “whole of community” awareness campaign about the importance of shopping locally, as well as give small businesses the opportunity to capitalise on subsidised marketing and get access to modern marketing technology.
“This will help grow their businesses and increase local customer loyalty,” Sharyn said.
The South Burnett Rewards program will run for six months between September and February.
The cost of joining the promotion for the full six months was $300, Sharyn said, but the trial period is free.
South Burnett businesses who’d like more information about South Burnett Rewards should phone her on (07) 4189-9173 or email her.
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NaTDA has received a favourable response to its idea of relocating the former Nanango Railway Station building the Nanango Race Club to its former home in Pioneer Park.
President Gloria Kirkness told Thursday night’s meeting NaTDA recently received a letter from the Nanango Race Club confirming the club had no objection to the building being moved.
She had also received a favourable reaction to the concept during informal discussions she’d held with the South Burnett Regional Council about the idea.
However, the next step would be to find out what the cost of moving the building would be, and what other costs would be incurred setting up the building on Pioneer Park’s railway platform.
Determining these costs would allow NaTDA to prepare a formal business case that could be submitted to the Council for more detailed consideration.
The meeting resolved to seek quotes to relocate the building.
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Nanango will soon get a new tourist attraction.
Barry Green told Thursday night’s meeting he intends to run bus tours of Nanango’s heritage sites in the near future.
The first tour would be run on the weekend for NaTDA members, and the first public tours will begin running during the up-coming Nanango Country Music Muster on September 8-11.
“Nanango is the fourth oldest town in Queensland and the oldest town in the South Burnett,” Barry said.
“We have a lot of history in this area, and I think tours might be a good way to show visitors many things they’ll never see anywhere else.”
If the Country Music Muster tours are successful, Barry said he also plans to run tours during the South Burnett And Cherbourg On Show festival of events over the October long weekend.
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Nanango residents will have the opportunity to be the first to see the region’s “Brushes and Flashes” art exhibition before it goes on a State-wide tour.
NaTDA member Karren Bolton, who has put “Brushes and Flashes” together, said the exhibition’s opening night will be held at the Nanango Cultural Centre at 6:00pm on Friday, September 16.
The exhibition features five works each from a dozen of the South Burnett’s best artists, and will go on tour around the State after its Nanango premiere.
The exhibition has cost $15,000 to put together, and NaTDA are one of many sponsors who’ve come aboard for the project.
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A strip of the D’Aguilar Highway between the Tarong turnoff and Lions Park will be looking cleaner after NaTDA members carried out their quarterly clean-up on Sunday.
Every three months for the past four years, NaTDA members have run an emu parade along both sides of the highway as part of the national “Adopt A Spot” campaign to pick up litter.
Recently their efforts were honoured with small road signs at either end of the strip which recognise the work the group have put in to keeping the town’s entrance looking tidy.
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NaTDA represents the interests of businesses and residents in Nanango and its surrounding districts.
The group usually meet every third Thursday in the Nanango RSL’s Long Hai Room at 5:30pm. Meetings are followed by an optional social dinner in the RSL’s dining room.
NaTDA members are involved in a variety of community activities, and the group also organise periodic social outings for members which can include race days, visits to local wineries and bus tours.
New members are always welcome, and membership enquiries can be made by phoning Gloria on (07) 4163-2848.
