Cooee Cash - Local Shopping Card

Published on 03 September 2018

Gilgandra Shire Council, in partnership with the Gilgandra & District Community Bank ® Branch (Bendigo Bank), is producing a Cooee Cash Shopping Card to entice and promote spending locally.

The Cooee Cash Shopping Cards will be available for purchase from the Gilgandra & District Community Bank ® Branch for any amount and can be used at any business in Gilgandra with an eftpos machine.  The gift cards are not single transaction cards so shoppers can spend the value of the card at several different locations within Gilgandra.

Randall Medd Economic Development Manager says,

“The Cooee Cash Shopping Card is a gift card that can only be used at businesses in the Gilgandra Shire. When you buy these cards, you know that money will be spent locally.”

Adding

“It is the perfect gift card in the lead up to Christmas and will be available all year round for events like birthdays, mothers’ and fathers’ day or raffle prizes.”

Gilgandra’s Economic Development Committee has chosen to support this program as it provides a way to support shopping locally.

“The committee see this as a cost effective way to support and encourage shopping locally all year round, not just for an eight week period in the lead up to Christmas. The Shop Local promotion has run for nine years but its support has tailed off over the past few years”, says Mr Medd.

The Economic Development Committee, in partnership with Gilgandra & District Community Bank ® Branch, has financially contributed to date to get this program off the ground.

These cards also present an effective way to distribute the generous cash donations of drought assistance received by local organisations within our community and ensuring the money is spent locally.

Mr Medd says

“Any business without an eftpos machine is encouraged to contact their bank and discuss what is involved. All major banks are offering special assistance for drought effected communities and they may be able to assist with getting you set up.  Unfortunately there is no other way to undertake a program of this scale without using the eftpos machines.”  

Information about the purchase of the cards will become available over the next few weeks, as they are currently being manufactured. There will also be information available and distributed to local businesses as the program is implemented. At this stage, Council is expecting it to take four to six weeks to implement the program across the Shire.