Three birds and a bloke

This is the second “good news” story The Land is publishing on the town and district throughout the week.

FOUR people who only started their businesses in Brewarrina less than five years ago have combined to support the very people who have supported them.

They have begun organising small events to bring members of the farming community together and away from their properties for some fun times in the hope they can forget, for at least a few hours, the worries of feeding stock.

The four call themselves “three birds and a bloke” and the team comprises Belinda Colless of Muddy Waters Coffee Shop; Ros Press, Macdonald Rural CRT; Richelle Codrington, Schute Bell Badgery Lumby; and Max Jeffery, Brewarrina’s Friendly Grocer.

Some of the events have been a seafood night and a curry night, and a morning tea for the CWA.

There are some other plans ahead now “Christmas in July” was a success.

Richelle Codrington, who runs the merchandise, rentals, in-town real estate and office accounts for Schute Bell, said all four get on “really well”.

“There’s not many businesses left in town, so we are possibly the four major ones still here,” she said.

“So we attempt to keep our rural customers involved by conducting events and activities they can be involved in.”

Mrs Codrington came from Nyngan and is married to Dallas, manager of the 92,000 hectare aggregation of Yammatree Family Trust north of Brewarrina towards Goodooga.

She has been with Schute Bell since January 2014, two months after it opened.

Muddy Waters Coffee Shop, Functions and Catering’s Belinda Colless leased the shop six months ago a short time after she left Brewarrina Shire Council after a nine year stint.

A Walgett girl, Ms Colless came to Brewarrina from Dubbo to fill a maternity leave position originally for six months.

But now her and her partner, John Taylor, (from Bourke) are employing several people including mums who can’t work full time.

“We are just trying to create a place here where I feel it’s an extension of my kitchen,” she said.

“I want people to come in and feel welcome, it’s an alternative to a pub and there’s no rush.”

Some customers now feel so much at home they take back their plates and cups and if the shop is busy, even wash up.

Ms Colless said it might sound crazy, but she feels people in regional communities don’t connect.

Particularly blokes. They are always on a mission,” she said.

“They have a purpose, a quick duck into town to grab a few things and off they go.

“Women, on the other hand, will stop and talk and mix.

“We offer good coffee and a place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There’s plenty of space here.”

The “Friendly Grocers”, Max and Julie Jeffery, are more than aware of the tough conditions farmers are facing having run the business for the past couple of years.

“We might be the new kids on the block, but we are here to help lighten everyone’s spirits by supporting events being organised,” Max Jeffery said.

Ros Press opened Macdonald Rural CRT in November 2013 for one of the western region’s wool brokers, Don Macdonald who is now based at Dubbo.

At that stage there was no other rural merchandise store and the “big” agency companies had closed up and left town some time before.

Ms Press has been the treasurer of Dubbo Show Society for the past 10 years and employs three people at the “Rural” while she is in town three days a fortnight.

“The thing that keeps me going to Brewarrina is seeing it grow and providing those facilities and opportunities for the people who are there,” she said.

“There was a time when people were going off to Walgett, Bourke and Nyngan, and even Dubbo for their merchandise needs.

“When they go out of town they will buy other things they need as well, so now they don’t have to do that. They have some choice here.”

Ms Press said while the group wants to help their community, they agreed they didn’t want to do things like giving handouts and the like.

“It’s all very good in its place, but these guys (farming families) have been in drought for a lot longer than most other regions.

“They have been hand feeding stock to two years, most of them.

“What fodder and grain they had in reserve had been eaten a long time ago.”

Ms Press said the group just wants to give families some support.

“Let them know we realise they have been doing it hard.

“We don’t want to embarrass these people with handouts, but we want them to understand the four business leaders in town want to help.”

On Saturday, August 18 the group has organised a “men’s nag-free day” mini fishing holiday on a property outside Brewarrina.

“Leave home with your fishing gear, chair, swag and esky” the notice states.

As well, during the next school holidays, a movie afternoon and night will be conducted.

Belinda Colless said sometimes a casualty of drought can be the children, especially in school holidays as there’s not much surplus cash about.

“So we’re putting on a movie night so the whole family can come and have fish and chips out in the backyard where we’ll put up our large screen and have some fun,” she said.