Whenever we support these locally owned businesses, it not only helps them to stay alive and thriving (particularly important for those small businesses up against the big corporate conglomerates) but there are flow-on effects for our whole community.

The reason why I prefer to shop locally is not only to support small business, but also because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other locally-owned businesses, which in turn stimulates the local economy.

Small businesses also strengthen our local economy by providing jobs, and they usually have a genuine loyalty to our region that large non-locally-owned businesses just don’t have.

This means they’re less likely to just pack up and take off to another area, based on the profit-driven advice of their team of accountants.

The old cliché of small businesses being the backbone of our economy may be a little tired and worn-out, but it certainly rings true.

Factors such as the drought unfortunately have a huge impact on our local small businesses. Recently I was speaking with a small business owner in the mower shop industry who explained that due to the drought there had been an industry state-wide downturn of more than 30 per cent.

Farmers are certainly doing it tough in this drought, but the flow-on effect means that other small businesses feel the pinch, too.

So what can we do to make a difference to ensure our region continues to thrive during these harsh times? Simply choose to shop locally as much as possible. Popping in and saying hello to your local green grocer, for example, is always a great experience.

It’s good to know that every dollar spent locally in these vibrant small businesses benefits us all.

FINALLY, we’re well on the way to getting the much needed 161 car spaces at the Orange hospital. I’ve strenuously lobbied and campaigned for this to happen; it’s vital that our community has an adequate car park for hospital patients, visitors and families. Stage one of the project is now complete, meaning 86 of the spaces have been delivered.

It’s all too easy for the large political parties to make pre-election promises then neglect our area unless it is pointed out to them. I’m proud to be the voice Orange needs to help drive these changes and hold the Government accountable for their promises. I look forward to the 75 car spaces to come.

FOR a while now I’ve been advocating for improved health care for our local community through the implementation of a legislated minimum nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:4, a ratio which was determined through liaising with the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association.

NSW has been left behind with an out-of-date and complex system of nursing-hours-per-patient-day, while Queensland and Victoria have already prioritised health care by effecting this necessary change. The question is – when will we?

I’ll continue to lobby for these changes to ensure we receive the level of health care the community expects and to provide nurses with the support they need, too.