Campaign aims for jobs to Belong in Geelong

Jessica Benton
A new campaign plans to drum up business and outside interest in Geelong through marketing and social networking on the internet.
Belong in Geelong campaign creator Jonathan Crabtree has begun a personal crusade to spread his message about the city.
Mr Crabtree said the campaign aimed to stimulate employment and investment.
“The community has been hard hit by job losses, so we need to get the message out to help make jobs belong in Geelong,” he said.
“I’m a sea-changer who has moved to the area and adopted Geelong as my home. I’m really focused on trying to contribute to the local area.
“A lot of people support Geelong through the football club but I see Geelong as my home and want to do more.”
Mr Crabtree said he planned to distribute Belong in Geelong bumper stickers to businesses so they could spread the campaign message.
He had set up www.gogeelong.org to supply “Geelongites” with tools to help drive the campaign.
Mr Crabtree said the website included local news, business information, blogs, photo and video galleries and a membership sign-up.
He hoped the campaign would create a “movement” for change in Geelong.
“We could do something in Geelong that has never been done anywhere in the world,” he said.
“It’s about supporting local jobs, businesses and the Geelong community and doing our best to look out for each other.”
Geelong Traders Association’s Hayden Spurling backed the campaign.
“Anything that promotes business in Geelong would be well and truly supported by local traders and hopefully shoppers, too,” he said.