Franc Smith,
Mt Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA):
ON behalf of the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA), welcome to the Mail Newspaper Group. MEEPPA has had a long and fulfilling association with the Ranges Trader Mail for years and we have always welcomed the fair and balanced reporting of those issues that have confronted us. We have appreciated especially its willingness to engage the community positively and cover those stories that other local papers have relegated to the back of their property sections, if at all, and that consistently their ratio of news to advertising has been without peer.
Now with the advent of the Mount Evelyn Mail, we take pride in the knowledge that our symbol of wisdom and knowledge, the Powerful Owl, forms part of the banner which we hope with this latest addition to its stable takes Mount Evelyn again to the ‘dizzy limits’.
It is gratifying to know that Pat and her staff have had the sensitivity and interest to respect the existence of our ‘M2’ which will also continue to serve us well. Congratulations on your enterprise, we wish you every success in the future. You have chosen wisely and welcome to this beautiful village we have always strived to preserve.
Steve Deakins,
President Mount Evelyn Central Business and Landlords.
THE Mount Evelyn Central Business and Landlords Inc welcomes the Mail Newspaper to its new location in York Road, Mount Evelyn.
We believe that having a local newspaper office based in the CBD of our town could have many benefits such as a more informed and faster information flow about the many issues that affect us all, and are so important to traders and community alike.
It’s pleasing to see that the Mail has already become a member of the Mount Evelyn Central Business and Landlords Inc, which is actively involved in many township issues including the proposed bus stop changes, the abolition of graffiti in our town and the recent inclusion of a right turn lane into the York Road shopping strip, into the plans for the York Road modifications. We look forward to the Mail’s input and support.
The decision to deliver the Mail newspaper to every household and business in Mount Evelyn will be welcomed by thousands of readers throughout the town.
Once again we welcome the Mail and all staff to both Mount Evelyn and the MECBL Inc.
Tim Heenan
Shire of Yarra Ranges Billanook Ward councillor :
IN this day and age many things seem to be geared towards a global audience so it’s really good to have a focus on your local community. That’s where we live, it’s where our friends are, it’s where we shop and all the important things that happen in our community.
I’ve noticed in the years that I’ve lived in Mount Evelyn that the Ranges Trader Mail has always strived to place emphasis on local news and local issues, so it is with great pleasure that we welcome them to our township of Mount Evelyn. I know all the staff are excited to be based here and they will want to report lots of stories that have a local feel.
Jan Simmons, CEO Morrison House and secretary of the Mount Evelyn Township Improvement Committee
SO Mount Evelyn is to have a second newspaper.
In responding to the imminent arrival of this venture I am referring to ‘13 Ways to Kill Your Community’ – a paper written by Doug Griffiths, MLA.
“The second in the list of 13 things you can do to ensure your community’s failure is to ensure that new businesses are not enticed to your community especially if they may be competing with existing businesses. In touring the region we found that communities of about 1000 people in which there was one grocery store, that grocery store owner barely made a enough money to support his/her family. However in communities of roughly the same size where there were two grocery stores, interestingly both did quite well. Likewise in communities of 3000 to 5000 when it came to restaurants. Where there were a couple of restaurants they all seemed to do well.
“What is important is why that would occur. People in general like choice and variety, and they like to feel they are purchasing in a competitive environment that assures them the best price. In communities where competition is limited we found that people chose to drive to another community where there was more choice, more variety, and better prices because of competition. Essentially their dollars leave town.
“Now it seems that some community members did not like the idea of giving new businesses encouragement to locate in the community or that local business owners enjoyed the monopoly within a community and feared competition (we all like the idea of competition unless we are the ones being competed against). Either way, successful communities have looked at the benefit of competition to local businesses. However if the death of your community is your ultimate goal, be single minded think only of today, and don’t foster a climate that will entice businesses or lead to competition, variety and choice for community members.”
This gives us some food for thought. Welcome to our newest business in Mount Evelyn.
