SMALL villages are the heart of our shire.
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There is something homely and comforting about a village with a few hundred people who all know each other.
Villages often have cafes or stores which are the hub of that village, the place where people meet, shop and socialise.
These hubs are imperative to the sustainability of the village and the heart of its community.
They are often the one of the only places for social contact for residents and one of few places in town to buy essential needs.
Without these hubs, residents venture into nearby towns for groceries and a spot for a social outlet.
While this helps other towns grow and increase profit, it can be detrimental to the sustainability of the smaller villages.
The closing down of Lauren's Cafe in Penrose is an example of this.
As I interviewed Lauren Sperzel and Alex Watanabe of Lauren's Cafe on their last day of trading, regular customers flooded into the quirky cafe, sat with me and gave their two cents about the closure of the cafe.
It was an emotional experience. People were in tears as they told me how much the cafe meant to them and to the Penrose community.
It was made very clear to me just how much the people of Penrose relied on this popular spot for so much more than just coffee.
It was a place to meet, to laugh, to shop, to learn, to grow and to be a part of a community.
Small businesses such as Lauren's Cafe have a special place in the Highlands.
These small businesses distinguish our shire from city counterparts and they are one of the many reasons Highlanders enjoy coming home.