Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate small business owners, Penny Lane and her partner, Dale, for their service over 11 years to their local community. Barrington is a small town in the north-west of Tasmania in my electorate of Lyons. Kentish Councillor and Barrington General Store proprietor Penny Lane has advised her community that she will close the store at the end of this month. The Barrington store has been an important part of the community since 1880. It is the community meeting place. The decision to close it was clearly a difficult one. For a small-business operator in an isolated country town, it became increasingly challenging to compete with the major supermarkets on the price of general goods and petrol.

The community this weekend have an opportunity to thank Penny for her contributions, enjoy the sausage sizzle and recognise the significant part many storekeepers have played within this community since 1880. I quote Penny from the Kentish Voice:

... so, please if you can—whenever you can, always try to support your local businesses.

Walk through a shop door, call to get a quote, hire something from the guy just down the road, use local petrol stations, buy local hardware, and enjoy local food and beverage.

You might change someone's day even by buying a stick of gum and smiling at a shopkeeper that's having a tough day, and turn everything around. I know, it happened to me.

Thank you everyone—Barrington is the best part of our lives, let's see what the next door opens.

Thank you, Deputy Speaker.