Funding of $4500 gained through a Council grant has enabled Childers traders to further capitalise on the record numbers visiting the picturesque town.
Childers Chamber of Commerce President Teena Mammino said Childers and Woodgate had fared surprisingly well during the past 12 months where business had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have been able to build on the advantages our highway location has provided with the addition of a Council funded Information Board in a central location in Childers.
“As a Chamber we recognised that any promotion we could generate for our local traders and business during the challenges of 2020 would be a bonus.
“‘It was quite obvious that a lot of people were still touring the state especially during periods of lockdown and our local RV areas in particular were catering to vastly increased numbers of overnight and longer stay campers,” said Mrs Mammino.
“Council provided funding of $4500 through its Community Grants program and this allowed the Chamber to design and purchase a large information board for the Crescent Street RV Friendly Parking area.
“The board contains information on Childers, its tourist attractions, cafes and specialist services.
“The cabinet, which is lockable and graffiti-proofed, has also been made available to local groups and organisations to advertise their activities including yoga, gym and sporting group training nights,” Mrs Mammino said.
“The feedback has been so positive from visitors who really see value in this initiative.”
She said positive comments on the Chamber's Facebook page included:
Julie Ferguson: Thank you Childers for having the foresight in providing this for RV travellers. We have stopped a few times in your RV friendly town and have always supported the lovely shops and eateries. You will thrive where many short sighted towns that don’t encourage this, will not.
Diane Gilmartin: That’s a great idea – letting us nomads know where everything is in town! Thank you CCC for providing this!
Neville Deuis: It certainly helps having a great Mayor and a Council that supports this forward thinking in relation to tourism!
She said the Chamber appreciated the ongoing support it received from Council.
“It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the Chamber members who provided the resources to actually erect the sign at no further cost to the Chamber.”
Mayor Jack Dempsey attended the unveiling of the sign.
“The information board is a worthwhile initiative to assist residents and visitors to beautiful, historic Childers,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“Council was pleased to support the chamber of commerce in this commendable endeavour.
“It’s not just for visitors. This is a good, old-fashioned community noticeboard where businesses and organisations can promote their services and activities.”
Mrs Mammino said the Chamber is again active and hosted a networking gathering on Friday morning at Flying High Bird Park.
“There are a number of initiatives that the Chamber has added to a busy agenda for the current year,” she said.
“This includes discussions with Council regarding ideas for the future use of the Childers water tower, some clarification from the State Government regarding future highway plans and in particular any bypass options for Childers and the development of a more user-friendly website for the Chamber.”
Persons interested in joining the Childers Chamber of Commerce can contact President Teena Mammino on 0427 262 880.
Anything that is done to attract the RV tourist is a bonus. Childers used to be a town you drove through to get to somewhere else but now with the RV Stopover they are now planning Childers as a must stop destination. You only have to follow the various camping Face Book sites to see how people talk about the town. Well done Childers and the Bundaberg Council.