Value of tourists evident as HF Radio Club visits town
For many small towns across the state, the need to attract tourists and the tourist dollar is of high priority, with seminars and meetings taking place to brainstorm ways to do just this.
Over the past week, the Warialda community has seen the full effect of visitors to town, with the High Frequency Radio Club setting up camp.
With 80 members here over the weekend, it would be expected that a boost to the local economy would occur. And for the first time ever, club members have tallied up just how much has gone into the community.
“We’ve never done it before, but we decided to collect our receipts and tally up our spending,” HF Radio Club President Barry Smith said.
“We just gone through everything and we’ve put about $14,000 into the local economy,” he said.
More than 70 club members dined at the Golf and Bowling Club on Saturday, and groceries and fuel have been purchased locally as well.
“On top of that is our accommodation,” Barry said. “There have been a lot of us here at the Showground, some in the caravan park and even a few at the motel.”
Other club members divulged that while the main focus of the weekend was a meeting, plenty of eating and socialising took place.
“The food and hospitality here has been great,” one member said.
“And the weather is amazing!” said another.
This is not the first time the club has used Warialda as a meeting point.
“We were here two years ago,” Barry said.
“Everybody loved it here and the weather is great, so we thought we would come back.”
During their stay, club members have attended local functions and praised community members.
“We were invited to come over to the Men’s Health Night last week which was great, the speakers were amazing and the whole night was run really well,” said one attendee from the HF Radio club.
Several members also attended ANZAC Day events and services.
“We will be back, it may not be next year, but we will probably be back!” Barry said.
The Warialda Standard
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