THERE is something wonderful about a group of like-minded people coming together in the name of community.
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And that's exactly what we saw at Bathurst Goldfields on Tuesday as around 300 people took two hours out of their busy weeks to celebrate local business.
And what an important two hours it was.
Not only did attendees at the Biz Month business lunch get the chance to hear from one of Australia's true living legends, they also had the opportunity to reflect on what is so good about local business, even given the tough times so many are battling at present.
But as guest speaker and Australian Broadcasting Corporation chair Ita Buttrose told the business lunch, the tough times are nothing new.
"People who live in country NSW must be the most resilient Australians of all," Ms Buttrose said.
"Time and time again they demonstrate resilience, people like you.
"Droughts, floods, bushfires - they happen frequently in our country and yet country folk remain resilient.
"So I take my hat off to you. What strength you all have."
And after that rallying call came the statistics that prove small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are, as Ms Buttrose put it, the "backbone of the Australian economy, a significant employer of people".
She told the lunch that SMEs employ about 70 per cent of Australia's workforce, though their contribution often goes unrecognised by others in the community.
And that's the beauty of Biz Month.
Co-ordinated by Bathurst Regional Council, Biz Month is a chance each year to shine a light on local businesses and thank them for their efforts.
It is a time to consider the benefits of shopping locally and supporting those businesses that support our community.
It's a time for local businesses to take a moment to reflect on what they do, and take some pride in the fact they are able to do it day after day, week after week and year after year.
And it's also a time for the local business community to come together to show their support for each other, to network and share ideas and experiences.
And if it is also a time to to take two hours out of their day to hear some words of wisdom and encouragement from a former Australian of the Year, then so much the better.