Shopping locally a win-win in the Narrabri Shire this Christmas

Local shoppers and businesses were the big winners from The Courier, Wee Waa News and North Western Guide’s Shop Local Christmas promotion.

The newspapers’ annual Christmas promotion, which sees millions of dollars spent at local participating businesses, was drawn and celebrated at the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas street carnival on Friday evening.

This year’s promotion was again sponsored by Santos and local community radio station 2MaxFM.

A purchase from Orman’s Paint and Pool saw Ian ‘Bones’ Falkiner, of Narrabri, claim first prize in the promotion. Ian wins $3000 to spend in participating stores. His name was drawn from the barrel by Santa Claus last Friday night in the finale to the 10-week shop local promotion. And because his winning purchase was made at Orman’s Paint and Pool, the business wins a free full-page advertisement.

This year, The Courier’s Christmas shopping promotion saw 21 local, shire businesses participating and almost one hundred thousand tickets, representing millions of dollars in purchases at local stores, going into the barrel.

“The Christmas shopping promotion is a win-win for our participating businesses, their customers who support them by shopping locally, and for the community,” said The Courier’s managing director Wanda Dunnet.

“Thanks to all the participating businesses and the thousands of shoppers who made the choice to shop locally and support our local businesses,” Mrs Dunnet said.

The draw of promotion prize winners was a well-attended event at the Narrabri and District Chamber of Commerce Christmas Street Carnival, with onlookers gathering around the Maitland Street pedestrian crossing to find out who the lucky winners were.

Santa Claus drew the tickets from the barrel to be scrutinised for eligibility by Chamber of Commerce president Russell Stewart.

Second prize, $1500 in shopping vouchers to be spent at local participating stores was won by Sarah Smith. Her purchase was made at Toyworld/Longies SportsPower. And as the store that sold the second prize-winning product, Toyworld/Longies SportsPower wins a half-page advertisement.

Third prize, $750 in shopping vouchers went to Tanya Curtain, for her purchase at Outback Shack/Birdies Bistro which won a quarter-page advertisement.

All winners from fourth to tenth places won $250 in shopping vouchers to be redeemed at the business where their purchase was made.  The Courier then reimburses the businesses for the winners’ purchases.

The Courier and Wee Waa News thanked the 21 businesses that participated in the ‘Have a cracker of a Christmas’ promotion and customers who supported those businesses. This year’s participating businesses were Allpets Veterinary Clinic, Barden Pumps, Birdies Bistro, Boggabri RSL, C&D Electronics, CAMstart Pharmacy, Crazy Sam’s, Faber’s Weld n Tools, Fiesta Fried Chicken, Logan & Co, Max Orman Holdings, MJ’s Newsagency, Monterey Café, Narrabri Pharmacy, Outback Shack, Paradise Fresh, Richards Metaland, Toyworld Narrabri, Longies SportsPower, Vision Splendid and Watson’s Kitchen.

The Courier also thanked Santos for its sponsorship and 2MAX FM for promoting the shop locally campaign on air.

The fourth to tenth prize winners are as follows – fourth prize, $250 in shopping vouchers to be spent at Narrabri Pharmacy went to Margot Curtis, fifth prize, $250, was won by Judy Wilson (Birdies Bistro), sixth, $250, Ben Scott (Barden Pumps), seventh prize, $250 was won by Emily Luff (Watson’s Kitchen) eighth prize, $250, went to Sarah Leitch (Max Orman Holdings) ninth prize of $250 went to Lyn Smith (Watson’s Kitchen) and tenth prize, $250 was won by Brett Edwards (Barden Pumps).