Why Leave Town Community Gift Card program a national awards finalist

The Why Leave Town Community Gift Card program is one of 14 national finalists in its category of the 22nd annual Resilient Australia Awards.

It comes after the group – founded by Narrabri residents Ashley Watt and Justin Smith, supported by an all-local team – were selected for, and won, the NSW finals.

The finalists span across the country, including schools, communities, local and state governments, and businesses – all of which have been recognised for showcasing innovation and exemplary practice.

Competing for the title of ‘Resilient Australia National Award’, the homegrown Why Leave Town team is up against two other NSW groups, another two in Queensland, one from Tasmania, three ACT-based initiatives, one NT organisation, two from Victoria, one in SA, and one in WA.

Why Leave Town was formed in Narrabri in 2007, and the first community gift card program launched in 2010, with the goal of supporting the local economy.

A number of local businesses have since jumped on the bandwagon and there are now over 120 participating in the program across the Narrabri Shire.

Why Leave Town keeps funds in the community by ensuring every dollar loaded onto the Eftpos-type gift cards is spent locally.

In the first year alone, $20,000 was loaded onto the local gift cards – since then, the local program has been embraced by Narrabri Shire Council, with over $1 million added to gift cards since.

In that time, councils and business chambers around Australia have joined with hopes of encouraging their communities to shop locally and support smaller retailers.

Why Leave Town now has over 70 active programs, having injected over $13 million back into local businesses.

The Narrabri born and bred initiative is now growing largely around Australia, with programs as far north as Queensland’s Cloncurry, and all the way down to George Town in Tasmania.

There are 5,000 participating businesses across over 150 postcodes.

“It began as a corporate gift card alternative,” national sales and marketing manager, Rhys Gard explained.

“But it’s now often used for resilience and recovery purposes.

“The program has been especially popular lately with vaccination incentives and Christmas gifts in lieu of larger parties or events.

“The card gives the holder plenty of choice with their purchase from a local business, rather than a gift they don’t need or use.”

With such rapid growth and the proactive goal of stimulating small-town economies, Why Leave Town is a deserving finalist in the Resilient Australia Awards.

The organisation has also been selected as a finalist in the regional Australia Community Achievement Awards.

The team is overjoyed to be recognised for their efforts, with Mr Gard describing it as a win for tight-knit communities like Narrabri.

The winners of the Resilient Australia Awards will be announced at the National Awards Ceremony in Melbourne on Wednesday, December 8.

Mr Gard will be attending the event on behalf of Why Leave Town.