Gazette recognised as Business of the Month

Tanya & Cameron Outridge accept the award from Chamber vice president, Brian Bugenhagen.

The Sunshine Valley Gazette has been named Nambour Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month in recognition of its role in telling local stories and supporting community life across Nambour and the hinterland.

Chamber vice-president Brian Bugenhagen presented the award to Cameron and Tanya Outridge at the chamber’s Coffee Catch Up on July 2, describing the independent newspaper as “one of the major voices of our region”.

“At a time when many local newspapers around Australia have disappeared, Cameron and Tanya have gone against the trend,” Mr Bugenhagen said.

“They’ve invested in local journalism because they believe local communities deserve better local stories. That takes courage.”

Mr Bugenhagen said the Gazette’s work included celebrating local businesses, promoting charity events, recognising volunteers, reporting community issues and sharing good news that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“They just don’t simply report on our community. They are part of it,” he said.

Accepting the award, editor Cameron Outridge said the Gazette was a hyperlocal, independent, free community newspaper printing 10,000 copies every fortnight and distributing through about 100 drop-off points across Nambour and the hinterland.

He said the paper had grown in six years from a sometimes 16-page fortnightly publication to a regular 32 pages, with a recent 40-page edition produced by a small team.

“People will never tire of local news,” he said.

“They may tire of politics, clickbait, outrage, celebrity gossip and whatever algorithms they’re serving up this week, but they do not tire of reading about people they know, streets they drive on, businesses they visit, schools their children attend, clubs they belong to and issues that affect the little towns and places they call home.”

Mrs Outridge thanked the chamber and said Nambour’s business network reflected the character of the town.

“And we love to hear your stories. We love to tell your stories. It's a privilege and an honour. You all have so many exceptional, amazing things going on. Please don't stop telling us about them.”

The Gazette nominated Fit Kat Gym as the next Business of the Month.