As the festive season approaches, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Australians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods; merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Australian labour. This year Australians should give the gift of genuine concern for other Australians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Australian hands. Yes there is! Its time to think outside the box. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber? Gym membership? Its appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldnt appreciate getting their car detailed? Small owned detail shops & car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. For the Gardeners on your list - how about some lovely healthy pot plants or plants for the garden or even a gift certificate from the local lawn mowing man? Are you one of those extravagant givers who, thinks nothing of plonking down a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps the recipient would like their driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or a few games at the local golf course. There are hundreds of “owner-run” local restaurants, all offering gift certificates. If your intended isnt the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local cafe? Remember, this isnt about big National chains; this is about supporting your neighbours, those with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldnt use a service on their car, truck or motorbike, done at a garage run by the Australian working guy? What about a gift certificate from a local home handyman for some chores to be done around the home? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mum? Mum would LOVE the services of a local cleaning or ironing lady a few weeks. Someones computer could use a tune-up, and I bet you can find some young bloke who is struggling to get his repair business up & running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool & knit them into scarves. They make jewellery, pottery & beautiful wooden boxes. Or! What about a voucher for a Camper Trailer Hire for a weekend or so. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, do you REALLY need to buy another 10,000 Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a $5.00 string of light, about 50 cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the postman, Garbo or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Australian pockets so that China can build another glittering city Christmas is now about caring about Australia, encouraging our small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. When we care about other Australians, we care about us & the benefits come back to us in ways we couldnt imagine. Could this be the beginning of a new Australian Christmas tradition?
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 03:56:57 +0000