Not only did organisers strike it lucky with Mother Nature, but residents responded in droves to the concept. 

Held as part of the Taste Riverina Festival, Leeton certainly shined on the day thanks to the picturesque surroundings at Mountford Park, but also the promotion of local produce and wares thanks to the many stallholders present. 

Feedback from the event has been more than positive and, considering it was held with limited funding and organised by just two people, it can be deemed a big success. 

While the Chill and Grill initiative was certainly held to entice residents out to enjoy some tasty samples of food grown and produced in the region, it also provided the ideal time to bring visitors to town. 

Leeton shire has plenty going for it. 

We know that as residents that live, work and play here. 

However, it can be difficult trying to spread that message to those outside of the shire. 

Sure, there are many outside of the Leeton shire town signs that know who we are and what we are, but what about further afield? 

Tourism is gold for a place such as Leeton. 

While there’s no one big attraction, agritourism is a burgeoning area for visitors and tourists. 

We need to work to put Leeton on the map as a destination one must be visiting and spending time and money here.

The organisers of Chill and Grill were onto something and it’s a formula that works. 

That’s not to say we should be trotting that event out on a weekly basis, but the trend does be for people to be out and about in a lovely setting enjoying fine food and wine. 

There must be a way Leeton can be packaged as the place to do this, while at the same time taking in our art deco heritage, the serenity of the Murrumbidgee River and perhaps even coming up with that one big drawcard that would attract people to the shire.  

It’s certainly not a new concept to have that one big “thing” that would encourage people to come visit and definitely involves a lot of time and effort. 

People would be spending their money, hopefully taking home a good experience to talk about that would want  others to see what the fuss is all about, and perhaps, even giving the idea of moving to our great shire.