AUTUMN 2026 | Mid-Western Living | 11 Growing Carefully, With Purpose Mid-2025 marked an important step, with Cindy joining the magazine a few hours a week to support production. It was a small but meaningful evolution - allowing the magazine to grow while still staying true to its roots. The introduction of our HOME flip section in Issue 7 was another intentional decision. We didn’t want to be only about hospitality, wine and shopping. HOME has opened the door for more local businesses to connect with locals in a way that feels practical, relevant and grounded in everyday life. Every quarter, each issue is hand-delivered across the region and beyond, with magazine stands at Club Mudgee, Mudgee Golf Course, The Property Shop, Coles, Aldi, Kandos IGA and Gulgong IGA ensuring strong visibility across the community. And through close partnerships with accommodation providers, the magazine is also placed where visitors stay - inspiring locals and tourists to explore what’s on their doorstep. Supported by Those Who Believe in Community Over the past 12 months, sponsorship from Peabody has enabled us to keep rates accessible and affordable for small businesses while allowing us to increase our print run from 4,000 to 6,000 copies per quarter with ambitions to grow even further. Ongoing support from Squadron Energy, ACEN Australia and ACEREZ has helped fund community pages, local storytelling and not-for-profit coverage that might otherwise go unheard. Their support doesn’t just sit on a page - it ripples through the region. Ongoing partnerships with mining and renewable energy organisations allow us to strengthen our community focus, ensuring our pages continue to support local stories, organisations and initiatives that matter. Supporting Businesses Beyond the Page As the magazine has grown, so too has the way we support local businesses. In late 2025, we introduced the MWL Biz Club, launching with 10 founding members who were looking for more than just visibility. The Biz Club was created to offer ongoing support through monthly online masterclasses, shared learning and consistent exposure across our platforms - a way to back small businesses not just in print, but behind the scenes as well. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch those founding members grow in confidence, clarity and connection, and to see the Biz Club become another layer of support within the Mid-Western Living ecosystem. Biz Club is open to any business across our region, learn more at: midwesternliving.com.au/bizclub. Looking Ahead As Mid-Western Living moves into its next chapter, our focus remains the same - to keep telling local stories well, and to continue growing in ways that genuinely support our region. Alongside our regular quarterly issues, I’m excited to share that we’ll be launching an annual Wedding Magazine, dedicated to celebrating the region’s wedding industry and the incredible businesses, venues and creatives who bring those moments to life. I’m grateful to the community that continues to back this publication - by reading it, sharing it, advertising in it and believing in the power of local storytelling. If you’ve ever thought about being part of these pages, I’d love to welcome you. This magazine exists because of community - and it grows because of it. Bringing the Community Together, In Real Life Connection has always sat at the heart of Mid-Western Living, which is why our quarterly launch parties have become such an important part of the magazine’s rhythm. Held in venues across the region, these events bring together contributors, advertisers, supporters and locals to celebrate each new issue. They’ve grown into relaxed, welcoming networking events - an opportunity to connect face-to-face, build relationships and celebrate the businesses and stories featured in our pages.
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