Region’s admirable COVID-19 recovery earned national award from government

The initiative that saved a local community from succumbing to the pressures of COVID-19 has caught the attention of the State and Federal Governments this week.

L-R: Genevieve Windley from Scenic Farm Box, Dallas Davidson from Towri Sheep Cheeses, Steph Turner from Riverdale Herbs and Simone Jelley from Pretty Produce. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

A new business initiative designed to aide a regional community’s recovery from the global pandemic has just earned national recognition and a shiny new award for its far-reaching impacts on southwest Queensland.

The Scenic Rim Regional Council won Highly Commended in the National Local Government Award category of the Resilient Australia Awards for their outstanding response during the height of COVID-19, with the launch of the wildly successful Scenic Rim Farm Box initiative.

Scenic Rim Farm Box was launched to compensate for the loss of the Scenic Rim Eat Local Week – a casualty in the pandemic.

Scenic Rim Farm Box General Manager, Genevieve Windley, said the real winners were the farmers, foodies and suppliers to the project.

“This project has created a permanent way for consumers to connect with the talented producers who call the Scenic Rim home,” she said.

“Farm Box has introduced new customers to the regional produce and has also introduced new people to the region.

“We believe the benefits are multifaceted – from produce sales right through to increased tourism visitation due to the regional awareness created by Scenic Rim Farm Box.

“The positives have been extensive – from job creation and local investment to regional promotion. We’re thrilled this project has been recognised on a national stage.”

Mayor Greg Christensen said the initiative had become an important device in securing the region’s recovery from COVID-19.

“The initiative was designed to fill the gap caused after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Scenic Rim Eat Local Week, which pumps $2 million a year into the region’s economy and attracts close to 40,000 visitors,” he said.

“At the time of winning the Queensland award, Farm Box had already seen steady growth in the number of participating suppliers, offering over 240 different product lines available for purchase, it had generated 18 direct casual jobs, equivalent to 10 full-time positions and additional indirect jobs supported by the 50 businesses which supply produce to the operation.”

The national recognition for the Scenic Rim came after Council won the Local Government category in the Resilient Australia Awards (Queensland) in October.

The award was collected on behalf of Council by Brenda Walker, Manager for Regional Prosperity and Communications, with flights and accommodation covered by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.