
Bless your cotton jocks: town's cheeky bid to retailers
Cotton grows as far as the eye can see across the plains of Narrabri during the height of summer.
But despite producing more than half of all the cotton in NSW at a value of $100 million in the last decade, locals in the north-west region say the closure of a department store has left them without a decent supply of socks and jocks.
The shire council has launched a tongue-in-cheek social media campaign called Bring Back Socks and Jocks to attract new major retailers to the town of 12,000.
Locals are seen making and wearing raw cotton garments, despairing at their empty sock drawers and even framing their last pair of sagging Y-fronts.
"We grow the cotton that fills our nation's department stores, but we don't have a place to buy jocks and socks in Narrabri," a forlorn farmer says, backed by sombre music.
Behind the dry rural humour is a serious message about regional economies and business.
The bustling rural hub lost its last major retailer in 2021, one of about 50 Target Country branches to close across NSW, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Narrabri's closure has forced families to travel two hours to try on and buy essentials, or shop online.
The absurdity of Australia's leading cotton producers having to travel to buy their cottontails demonstrates the broader disconnect between cities and the country, mayor Darrell Tiemens said.
"Years ago people were a lot more connected to their country cousins, they had aunties and uncles or grandparents living on farms, but a lot of those connections have been lost," Mr Tiemens told AAP.
"When it comes to equity and fairness, whether it's your local health services, hospitals, retailers or the banks ... they need to start thinking about the opportunities that some of these large shires provide.
"We're producing billions of dollars worth of value in these areas and yet we're being ignored by some of these retailers probably because they think it's all too hard."
Retail is also a major employer in country areas, with research by independent think tank Per Capita showing retail wages contribute more than $300 million per week to regional economies, or nearly $16 billion a year.
Local shopping is also central to the social fabric and vibrancy of country towns, an issue that was explored in-depth during a Senate inquiry into the closure of rural banks.
"It's a social thing, it's an outing, it's people catching up on the news, it's people supporting each other," Mr Tiemens said.
"That's what we love about country living - the fact that you can walk down the street, you can walk into a store and you actually feel like you're part of something."
Cotton grows as far as the eye can see across the plains of Narrabri during the height of summer.
But despite producing more than half of all the cotton in NSW at a value of $100 million in the last decade, locals in the north-west region say the closure of a department store has left them without a decent supply of socks and jocks.
The shire council has launched a tongue-in-cheek social media campaign called Bring Back Socks and Jocks to attract new major retailers to the town of 12,000.
Locals are seen making and wearing raw cotton garments, despairing at their empty sock drawers and even framing their last pair of sagging Y-fronts.
"We grow the cotton that fills our nation's department stores, but we don't have a place to buy jocks and socks in Narrabri," a forlorn farmer says, backed by sombre music.
Behind the dry rural humour is a serious message about regional economies and business.
The bustling rural hub lost its last major retailer in 2021, one of about 50 Target Country branches to close across NSW, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Narrabri's closure has forced families to travel two hours to try on and buy essentials, or shop online.
The absurdity of Australia's leading cotton producers having to travel to buy their cottontails demonstrates the broader disconnect between cities and the country, mayor Darrell Tiemens said.
"Years ago people were a lot more connected to their country cousins, they had aunties and uncles or grandparents living on farms, but a lot of those connections have been lost," Mr Tiemens told AAP.
"When it comes to equity and fairness, whether it's your local health services, hospitals, retailers or the banks ... they need to start thinking about the opportunities that some of these large shires provide.
"We're producing billions of dollars worth of value in these areas and yet we're being ignored by some of these retailers probably because they think it's all too hard."
Retail is also a major employer in country areas, with research by independent think tank Per Capita showing retail wages contribute more than $300 million per week to regional economies, or nearly $16 billion a year.
Local shopping is also central to the social fabric and vibrancy of country towns, an issue that was explored in-depth during a Senate inquiry into the closure of rural banks.
"It's a social thing, it's an outing, it's people catching up on the news, it's people supporting each other," Mr Tiemens said.
"That's what we love about country living - the fact that you can walk down the street, you can walk into a store and you actually feel like you're part of something."
Cotton grows as far as the eye can see across the plains of Narrabri during the height of summer.
But despite producing more than half of all the cotton in NSW at a value of $100 million in the last decade, locals in the north-west region say the closure of a department store has left them without a decent supply of socks and jocks.
The shire council has launched a tongue-in-cheek social media campaign called Bring Back Socks and Jocks to attract new major retailers to the town of 12,000.
Locals are seen making and wearing raw cotton garments, despairing at their empty sock drawers and even framing their last pair of sagging Y-fronts.
"We grow the cotton that fills our nation's department stores, but we don't have a place to buy jocks and socks in Narrabri," a forlorn farmer says, backed by sombre music.
Behind the dry rural humour is a serious message about regional economies and business.
The bustling rural hub lost its last major retailer in 2021, one of about 50 Target Country branches to close across NSW, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Narrabri's closure has forced families to travel two hours to try on and buy essentials, or shop online.
The absurdity of Australia's leading cotton producers having to travel to buy their cottontails demonstrates the broader disconnect between cities and the country, mayor Darrell Tiemens said.
"Years ago people were a lot more connected to their country cousins, they had aunties and uncles or grandparents living on farms, but a lot of those connections have been lost," Mr Tiemens told AAP.
"When it comes to equity and fairness, whether it's your local health services, hospitals, retailers or the banks ... they need to start thinking about the opportunities that some of these large shires provide.
"We're producing billions of dollars worth of value in these areas and yet we're being ignored by some of these retailers probably because they think it's all too hard."
Retail is also a major employer in country areas, with research by independent think tank Per Capita showing retail wages contribute more than $300 million per week to regional economies, or nearly $16 billion a year.
Local shopping is also central to the social fabric and vibrancy of country towns, an issue that was explored in-depth during a Senate inquiry into the closure of rural banks.
"It's a social thing, it's an outing, it's people catching up on the news, it's people supporting each other," Mr Tiemens said.
"That's what we love about country living - the fact that you can walk down the street, you can walk into a store and you actually feel like you're part of something."
Cotton grows as far as the eye can see across the plains of Narrabri during the height of summer.
But despite producing more than half of all the cotton in NSW at a value of $100 million in the last decade, locals in the north-west region say the closure of a department store has left them without a decent supply of socks and jocks.
The shire council has launched a tongue-in-cheek social media campaign called Bring Back Socks and Jocks to attract new major retailers to the town of 12,000.
Locals are seen making and wearing raw cotton garments, despairing at their empty sock drawers and even framing their last pair of sagging Y-fronts.
"We grow the cotton that fills our nation's department stores, but we don't have a place to buy jocks and socks in Narrabri," a forlorn farmer says, backed by sombre music.
Behind the dry rural humour is a serious message about regional economies and business.
The bustling rural hub lost its last major retailer in 2021, one of about 50 Target Country branches to close across NSW, WA, SA, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Narrabri's closure has forced families to travel two hours to try on and buy essentials, or shop online.
The absurdity of Australia's leading cotton producers having to travel to buy their cottontails demonstrates the broader disconnect between cities and the country, mayor Darrell Tiemens said.
"Years ago people were a lot more connected to their country cousins, they had aunties and uncles or grandparents living on farms, but a lot of those connections have been lost," Mr Tiemens told AAP.
"When it comes to equity and fairness, whether it's your local health services, hospitals, retailers or the banks ... they need to start thinking about the opportunities that some of these large shires provide.
"We're producing billions of dollars worth of value in these areas and yet we're being ignored by some of these retailers probably because they think it's all too hard."
Retail is also a major employer in country areas, with research by independent think tank Per Capita showing retail wages contribute more than $300 million per week to regional economies, or nearly $16 billion a year.
Local shopping is also central to the social fabric and vibrancy of country towns, an issue that was explored in-depth during a Senate inquiry into the closure of rural banks.
"It's a social thing, it's an outing, it's people catching up on the news, it's people supporting each other," Mr Tiemens said.
"That's what we love about country living - the fact that you can walk down the street, you can walk into a store and you actually feel like you're part of something."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Pools of human waste destroy home of popular farmers market
The beloved Freo Farmers Market is searching for a place to call home for the next month after a burst sewerage main flooded their oval and left a foul smell in the air. The Sunday morning market was not held on Bruce Lee Oval in Beaconsfield for the first time in three years last week after the sewerage main in Spearwood burst on Friday. The burst caused wastewater to flood residential areas, parks and roads. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Market operator Kylie Wheatley told PerthNow the Fremantle Arts Centre threw her a lifeline amid the sewage chaos, but the future of the event remains uncertain. 'Fremantle Arts Centre literally saved us last Sunday and have stepped up again for this week, but we are looking for a site going forward until ours is ready,' she said. The burst caused wastewater to flood residential areas, parks and roads. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS 'I am desperately looking for another site for the following weeks, my phone is running hot with stallholders and the public wanting updates. 'We think it's going to be a month before we can get back to our site.' Operating at the Freo Arts Centre meant the market had 30 fewer stalls than usual, but Ms Wheatley said the event was still a success. 'It was a huge hit with locals, and regulars as well as a lot of new faces,' she said. 'We had over 1500 through the gates on Sunday, which is amazing with less than a day's notice. 'The Arts Centre would be amazing to keep, but they have their events and programming which we are impacting.' Ms Wheatley said the challenge she is currently facing is comparable to the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. 'This is proving difficult,' she said. 'I have 70 stallholders who rely on our weekly market for their income, our farmers come from as far as Margaret River and out to Gingin. 'The market has faced challenges with COVID and now this is another big challenge but we are rising to the challenge.' Four days on from the initial burst, Water Corporation crews stopped the waste overflowing at the Spearwood site, along with further flows in Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. Credit: Facebook Four days on from the initial burst, Water Corporation crews stopped the waste overflowing at the Spearwood site, along with further flows in Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. Wastewater in Applecross and Alfred Cove was flowing into the Swan River, sparking a warning for river users. The burst is impacting local businesses, with road closures and the general smell turning people away. Despite there being no further waste overflow, nearby residents have said they cannot escape the 'smell of poop'. 'Despite having all our windows and doors closed since Friday, the stench continues to permeate our home,' April Peck said. 'It's now coming up through our sinks, toilets and shower drains. The smell is constant and unbearable.'


Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Albo to get $14.5k pay rise in weeks
Anthony Albanese and other politicians are set for a plumped-up pay packed in just weeks, with the Prime Minister's salary jumping from about $607,471-a-year to $622,050. Politicians, department secretaries and other senior public servants will get a 2.4 per cent pay rise from July 1, following the determination of the 2025 Review of Remuneration for Holders of Public Office. The statement issued by the Remuneration Tribunal on Wednesday noted that the total remuneration increases given in the past year have been 'relatively modest,' totalling 18.65 per cent since 2016. While the 2.4 per cent pay bump matched inflation, it is under the 3.4 per cent wage-price index for the public sector, and less than the 3.4 per cent and 4 per cent increases awarded by the Tribunal in 2024 and 2023 after salaries stalled during the Covid pandemic. 'In contrast, remuneration increases more generally in the public and private sectors (based on overall March Wage Price Index data from 2016-2025) equate to 25.6 per cent,' the statement said. Politicians are set to get a 2.4 per cent pay rise. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia The 2.4 per cent boost was also lower than the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review which determined a 3.5 per cent above-inflation increase to the minimum wage and Australians on modern award wages. A backbencher will see their salary increase from about $233,660 to $239,267, while Sussan Ley will get a boost of $10,374 to $442,643. Jim Chalmers' annual pay will be boosted to $448,625, a bump of $10,514 while cabinet ministers will receive an uplift of $4065 to $412,735. Politicians are also given an electorate allowance which covers expenses incurred to 'provide services to their constituents' such as travelling, in additional to a private plated vehicle. Senators get a flat rate of $39,700 per year, while MPs are given between $39,700 to $57,100 depending on the size of their electorate.


West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Renumeration Tribunal sets 2.4 per cent pay rise for MPs, Anthony Albanese to pocket extra $14.5k
Anthony Albanese and other politicians are set for a plumped-up pay packed in just weeks, with the Prime Minister's salary jumping from about $607,471-a-year to $622,050. Politicians, department secretaries and other senior public servants will get a 2.4 per cent pay rise from July 1, following the determination of the 2025 Review of Remuneration for Holders of Public Office. The statement issued by the Remuneration Tribunal on Wednesday noted that the total remuneration increases given in the past year have been 'relatively modest,' totalling 18.65 per cent since 2016. While the 2.4 per cent pay bump matched inflation, it is under the 3.4 per cent wage-price index for the public sector, and less than the 3.4 per cent and 4 per cent increases awarded by the Tribunal in 2024 and 2023 after salaries stalled during the Covid pandemic. 'In contrast, remuneration increases more generally in the public and private sectors (based on overall March Wage Price Index data from 2016-2025) equate to 25.6 per cent,' the statement said. The 2.4 per cent boost was also lower than the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review which determined a 3.5 per cent above-inflation increase to the minimum wage and Australians on modern award wages. A backbencher will see their salary increase from about $233,660 to $239,267, while Sussan Ley will get a boost of $10,374 to $442,643. Jim Chalmers' annual pay will be boosted to $448,625, a bump of $10,514 while cabinet ministers will receive an uplift of $4065 to $412,735. Politicians are also given an electorate allowance which covers expenses incurred to 'provide services to their constituents' such as travelling, in additional to a private plated vehicle. Senators get a flat rate of $39,700 per year, while MPs are given between $39,700 to $57,100 depending on the size of their electorate.