The Deepwater community turned out in force to celebrate the official opening of a store that promises to service local farmers’ needs and reduce the cost of traveling to other towns.

The family business of Wilshire and Co declared Deepwater Rural Supplies open on Tuesday night to a crowd of 100 people. The new business operators in town treated those attending to drinks and a BBQ, but the real reason for the crowd was to acknowledge the benefits that the business will bring.

A local grazier for 28 years, Butch Hollingworth said that the Wilshire family business would provide a sense of homebase in town where everybody had been use to travelling long distances for basic produce items.

“I have two properties on different sides of Deepwater. It will allow me to pick up on the way through,” Mr Hollingworth said.

“I look forward to this place and hope they look after me. It does give us a sense of belonging. The town was empty when Norco left.”

The new store means easy access to produce resources for farmers like Terry Cunich.

“It’s the convenience more than anything. You now don’t have to travel to Glen Innes or Tenterfield,” Mr Cunich said.

“I deal with these people in Tenterfield and I’m expecting just as good a service. They’ve got a good shed, display, produce and range, and we know them.

“It’s good to see them open up here.”

Along with primary producers there were representatives from companies who supply goods to the Wilshire family. National Sales Manager for the 4 Season Company, James Dickson, officially opened the store and was excited for the opportunities this would bring the Deepwater community.

“Farmers in the community have to drive to Glen Innes or Tenterfield. It’s the commitment that Wilshire and Co shows to the community, and they said they will be delivering twice a week to Emmaville,” Mr Dickson said.

“I think it’s a huge thing for the community to have a store like this. The guys have three stores...and have support from 35 different suppliers.”

Mr Dickson said that the Wilshire family had seen an opportunity in Deepwater and will benefit the community with their increased buying power and ability to pass on savings to the local community.

Having three businesses in the region will also allow Wilshire and Co to distribute produce be-tween premises, according to Deepwater Rural Supplies Branch Manager David Barber.

“With higher fuel prices we are going from globalisation to localisation,” Mr Barber said.

“This has a knock-on effect. People aren’t going outside of Deepwater for services and we will probably employ more people as time goes on. We think services have been sadly lacking in this area, it’s a good agricultural area and we want to be part of it.”

Wilshire and Co already owns produce stores in Tenterfield and Stanthorpe. Another Deepwater farmer who is happy to see a produce store in town again is Alex Cunninghame. He said traveling long distances for goods had been a nuisance for him and other farmers.

“It’s something we really needed in Deepwater since Norco closed down,” Mr Cunninghame said.

“There are always odds and ends I need, as well as major items. This will make things easier for our cattle farming enterprise.”