Tell us about Shepparton? Where do we begin? Do we lead with our geography as the southern gate way in and out of the Murray-Darling Basin, and the key intersection on the national freight network that runs like a spine through Australia’s primary production corridor linking the Darling Downs of Queensland, to Australia’s busiest container export port (Melbourne) and west to Adelaide?
Or do we talk about our extraordinary community? That we are home to Victoria’s first and oldest mosque, Australia’s youngest Socceroo, and a steady stream of AFL and sporting names. Did we mention that more than 100 of the world’s 160 nations live in Shepparton?
Or do we talk about our First Nations community, the largest outside Melbourne, and their aspirations that are embodied in the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan and Munarra.
And let’s not forget our climate that delivers droughts and flooding rains but also seasons of colour, quality produce, and attracts millions of dollars of investment in new and renewed agriculture that fills supermarket trollies across the nation and around the world.
Should we mention our irrigation network that matches the Snowy for its ambition and impact, and our environmental water management expertise that means 650 GL is enough!
Or do we talk about the innovation, collaboration and investment that’s reflected in our schools, universities and TAFEs and their partnerships with industry.
And did we mention we are a manufacturing powerhouse, with robots, co-bots and sophisticated automation working alongside engineers, scientists and specialists and contributing to the success of world leading companies and iconic household brands. That our largest business employer is a commercial dry cleaner that services more than 1,500 hospitals and hotels across Victoria and NSW, or that our second largest manufacturing export is fabricated metal.
Or should we talk about our hospital and health sector that services from the Riverina in NSW to the outskirts of Melbourne – from cities and towns to remote farms and communities.
Or maybe we should simply state that we are the biggest city on Victoria’s biggest river – and unlike our peers who were built on ports, pits and mines, we were built on food – and everyone needs to eat!
