Merriwa business welcomes boost from Fleece Festival

MERRIWA business owners relished  being ‘‘run off their feet’’ over the long weekend, as thousands of tourists converged on the town for the annual Festival of the Fleeces.

It was a welcome change from the quiet year most businesses are facing, and now they want more events on the town’s calendar to bring people into the area.

Upper Hunter mayor  Wayne Bedggood, acknowledged the pressure on businesses in small towns, but said it was unlikely that Merriwa would host more major events.

He said the Upper Hunter had a substantial events calendar that was shared between the bigger towns, and a regional approach was necessary to entice tourists.

He said the Festival of the Fleeces was the ‘‘icing on the cake’’ for Merriwa businesses, who were ‘‘fairly stable’’ unless there was a big drought.

Bits N Pizzas owner Teresa Nutt said enhancing tourism was vital because businesses only received ‘‘lots of support from the locals when they have the money’’.

She has seen businesses prosper and decline over the past decade, and knows events give ‘‘people a reason to stop and look around’’.

Joanne Everitt has diversified into gluten free and coeliac products – a move that has allowed her to appeal to new markets.

She noticed tourists on the weekend appreciated the ‘‘family friendly’’ atmosphere, and the opportunity to learn about the wool industry.

Royal Hotel publicans Jack McIntyre and Monique Barrowcliff, said “not much had changed” since tough farming conditions and the downturn in the mining industry caused residents to “tighten their belts” last year.

Mr McIntyre said the festival gave tourists a chance to sample local cuisine, and he hoped their “vast menu” would entice them back out to the country.