ACROSS Mallee, there are a multitude of aspirational businesses producing local, Australian Made produce. From food and fibre to homewares, our producers are keen to showcase what can be made and produced right here in Mallee.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of supporting local businesses and buying Australian made and Australian grown. I know many businesses in Mallee have been struggling to pay to the bills and keep on staff. As a country we’ve worked hard and made sacrifices to slow the spread of the coronavirus, now we need to rally together to back our local businesses and manufacturers.
I encourage everyone to spread your shopping to local stores and businesses. Visit your local butcher, green-grocer, or health foods store. You might need to pay a bit more in some cases, but you’ll be making a worthwhile contribution to your community.
When you do shop at the supermarket, keep an eye out for Mallee products that stock supermarket shelves around the country – from local carrots, table grapes and sultanas, to Cobram Estate Olive Oil, Capilano Honey, Simsons Pantry, and even Kooka’s Country Cookies.
Every day I hear about new products and innovations coming out of the Mallee, and I want to do everything I can to support the people pouring their heart and soul into their ideas and businesses.
This week I spoke with Carly Noble, a sheep, cattle and dairy farmer from Arnold, in the south of the Mallee electorate. Carly has a plan to develop fibre and yarn products from local wool, and has been working with mentors from the Farmer2Founder program and with Australian Wool Innovation.
Her plan is to build and open a yarn factory in the Arnold area. Currently, raw wool fibre is exported out of Australia, manufactured into yarn overseas and then imported back into Australia. The construction of a yarn factory here would allow for the entire supply chain to be based in Australia, creating jobs and further opportunities for locals.
I am eager to see ideas like these flourish, and I will be working closely with my colleagues in Government to help these businesses progress their ideas. If you know of any similar innovations happening locally, I would love to hear from you.
It’s time to renew our focus on manufacturing and Australian made products, please join me in promoting Mallee businesses and producers.
