Well-known Toowoomba cake baker named advocate for national support local campaign

A TOOWOOMBA woman passionate about promoting small business has been named a Go Local First Campaign advocate, and she has big things planned to promote buying local.

Mary Reid (left) of Merivale Cakes and Crafts with Regional Development Australia Darling Downs and South West director Trudi Bartlett meet in the Toowoomba CBD to discuss the Go Local First campaign.

A well-known Toowoomba cake baker and decorator has come out of retirement and been named the Go Local First Campaign small business advocate.

The aim of Federal Government’s Go Local First Campaign is to raise awareness of supporting small businesses across the country with a number of small business advocates promoting it through their existing communities and networks, focusing at the grassroots and regional level.

At 71, Mary Reid from Merivale Cakes and Crafts, has been named as a small business advocate after the Australian Bridal Industry Association (ABIA) asked if she would step up to the challenge.

Ms Reid only planned on coming out of retirement for six months to hold community cake decorating during COVID-19 but said it was humbling to be an advocate for something she was so passionate about.

She said not only would she be promoting supporting the local wedding industry, but all forms of small business.

“Having grown up in a family owned business in North Queensland and as an owner-operator for over 20 years I am very passionate about small business,” she said.

“I have also had an extensive private and public sector business career.

“The fact the ABIA had faith that I can do more for businesses during this economic downturn has been a great honour.”

She said the campaign was bringing an old concept into new light.

“Supporting local business isn’t a new conversation but since the pandemic it has changed the psyche of the local buyer,” she said.

“Once a upon a time you would go to the supermarket and buy the cheapest products but now people are conscious of trading partners, keeping people in jobs and checking labels to see if they are supporting Australian.”

Ms Reid said she felt a responsibility to find the right voice for the campaign.

“There are so many challenges at the moment. There is no common plan, road map, timelines or end in sight,” she said.

“However, I do have faith in the resilience and capacity of the Aussie community spirit to pull together. This is the fabric of communities across regional Australia and the core of what Go Local First is all about.”

Ms Reid is partnering with Regional Development Australia Darling Downs and South West director Trudi Bartlett in an attempt to spread the message of supporting local as wide as possible.

The pair will hold joint press interviews, present at the Highfields District Business Connections meeting and national SEGRA zoom webinar, and are also in discussion with the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Toowoomba Regional Council.

Ms Reid will also continue with her business mentoring and promotion for regional micro businesses and home-based owner operators.

Ms Bartlett said it was more important than ever to support small businesses with 14,000 registered in Toowoomba and 31,000 covering the 10 council districts she operates.

“It’s always been important to support small businesses and if anything the idea is getting more traction and funding behind it which is really good,” she said.

“It means another person gets employed and keeps their family here, which means their partner could potentially be an extra teach or doctor in the region.

“We want to see more people supporting local and more business owners showcasing what they have to offer.”

For more information or to find out how you can take part in helping Ms Reid and Ms Bartlett email [e-mail] or [e-mail].