Photographers' vision for struggling town creates portrait of success
As community leaders from around Australia meet at the National Small Town Reinvention Conference, one Queensland town showcases how a spotlight on unique qualities can attract more residents and visitors.
Two photographers in Blackall, a small town in western Queensland, turned their community's fortunes around after years of drought. Sarah Pearson and Lisa Alexander began a #BetterInBlackall social media campaign to showcase their town's beauty and inspire their community. The campaign led to a revamp of the town's annual festival, new welcome signs, and a focus on improving the town's overall presentation.
Community consultant Peter Kenyon estimates that around 70% of small towns in Queensland are dying, but towns across the state are finding ways to innovate and reinvent themselves. First impressions matter, and Kenyon emphasizes the importance of town entrance statements, main street appearance, and window displays. The National Small Town Reinvention Conference brought together 80 delegates from across Australia to learn from successful small towns, with many highlighting the role of humor and quirkiness in creating unique identities.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
