In the last edition of the Collie Mail Thursday, November 22, “Employing locals” was the heading.
After the flurry, nay deluge, of reactions from my last soapbox article (not one), I have come to the opinion that I am the only person living in Collie and buying the Mail on subscription with delivery. After reading the headlines I was prompted to think (dangerous, I know) and being a city lad thinking outside the dots looked at this from a different point of view.
We often ask ourselves, why are we hiring folk from outside town but shouldn’t the question be, ‘why aren’t the people who are hired because they have the skills, attitude, enthusiasm, not moving to live in Collie?’
For over 30 years I used to travel 45 minutes to work, and returned home for another 45 minutes in the evening. Stop-start traffic, impatient idiots on the road and the full tank of fuel I used each week. So, I ask you, ‘why do people choose to live in Bunbury, Busselton, etc. when they could live here?’ Then let me follow up with, ‘what are you going to do about it?’. I have a head full of reasons that support my statement ‘the only way I’m going back to the city, is in a box with the lid screwed down.’ What is your reason?
Are you passionate about it? In my opinion, if you’re passionate about something, it comes out in your conversation and the listener can’t help getting caught up in the same passion or enthusiasm. It’s easy to talk about and it shows! For 30 years of being involved in computer sales could only have been successful from being a believer in the product and passionate about the outcomes. Running a caravan park 24x7 is just like that. If we didn’t have the passion, it would show when we greeted the guests.
To quote a Michael Jackson song “I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”
Remember, when you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you. What can we do to make this town be so attractive, people want to live here? This town needs you to ACT – BELONG – COMMIT. We’ve been here for less than four years and already involved in your Visitor’s Centre, Chamber of Commerce and Business Connections. But I need your help. Can I count on you to stand alongside me at the next opportunity to tell people how great this town is, and encourage them to come live here with us?
