Think Globally Buy Locally
Recently we were faced with the closure of the hardware store. We were very fortunate that a new couple in town saw the importance of keeping the shop open and took it on.
Two years ago we were faced with the closure of the only fuel and garage service in town. Most of us will remember how inconvenient that was, and what a pain it was to have to use fuel to travel to get fuel.
How would our town be if we didn't have the shops that we have in the main street?
Have you thought about the true costs of car travel? The true cost of driving a car is much more than just the cost of fuel. There is wear and tear on the vehicle, insurance, depreciation, etc.
The RACV figures for the cost of running a car are over 60c / km for a medium car such as a Camry, and 75 c / km for a larger car such as Falcon or Commodore. Using these RACV figures, a 96 km return trip to Shepparton, in a Falcon costs $72 in total expense to the individual.
Bigger town prices are often no cheaper anyway, but if they were you would have to save an awful lot to get back the $72 expense of getting to Shepparton and back.
Most local business know that it is far cheaper to pay about $7 to get something over by courier, than to drive over to get it.
The RACV figures do not even take into account the broader social costs of car use such as greenhouse carbon emissions leading to climate change [drought], road maintenance, and using up the finite and valuable fossil fuel resource.
Money spent locally can go round and round and benefit us many times over. We need to make a conscious decision to try to support all local businesses whenever possible, to develop our local economy.
Violet Town Action Group - Looking after our community
Fuel is a limited resource and the cost will increase over time. It is in our own best interest to do what we can to develop our local economy. Our local community depends on our patronage.
Violet Town Action Group
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858