Marketing community and democracy: Rural Rochdale co‐operatives in Australia

Abstract

The Riverina region of New South Wales has a history of co‐operative forms of production and consumption. This paper focuses on three Rochdale rural consumer co‐operatives in this region. While the paper argues that marketing the co‐operatives in terms of their community links and democratic structure was important to their success over many years, it was not sufficient to ensure survival. Co‐operatives found it necessary to highlight their competitive prices and the quality of their goods. They were vulnerable to changes in the rural economy that led to a decline in the local population. Their survival also depended on the quality of their management, with poor investment decisions and recruitment practices undermining profitability. Generous credit policies also undermined the co‐operatives financially. By comparing the three co‐operatives and their communities, this paper aims to develop a more sophisticated approach to explaining the survival and demise of Rochdale consumer co‐operatives in rural Australia.

Keywords:

• Rochdale co‐operatives
• rural
• community
• retailing
• consumer

Notes

1. File titled Griffith Co‐operative Society, Griffith City Library, H334.5 Gri.

2. File titled Griffith Co‐operative Society, Griffith City Library, H334.5 Gri.

3. Coolamon Co‐operative Society directors meeting minutes, 6 July 1967, 6 May 1968, 12 June 1972, 3 April 1973, 12 June 1973.

4. Interview with Col Patterson, former manager and employee of Coolamon co‐op. Interviewed by G. Patmore, 6 July 2008.

5. File 14; Griffith Co‐operative Society members register, 1961, file 264; copies of annual returns for the Registrar of Co‐operative Societies, 1925–81 file 24. Griffith Co‐operative Society Archives, Charles Sturt University Archives, Wagga Wagga.

6. Coolamon Co‐operative Society, correspondence to client from chairman, 7 November 1972; Coolamon Co‐operative Society, directors meeting minutes, 1972–79.

7. Griffith Co‐operative Society, “Directors 65^th Annual Report,” File 24; letter from L. Dalton to general manager, 15 January 1988, File 39; letter from K.A. Day to R.A. Vagg, 15 August 1984, File 44; press release, 7 September 1984, File 40. Griffith Co‐operative Society Archives, Charles Sturt University Archives, Wagga Wagga.

8. Griffith Co‐operative Society, “Notice of Annual General Meeting: Seventy‐First Annual Directors’ Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 30^th June 1987,” Griffith; interview with Brian Rosengreen, former supermarket manager, Griffith, 29 March 2006; letter from N.A. Joseph to R. Warne, 23 April 1987, File 67; letter from A. Bugge to K.A. Day, 3 February 1983, File 44; letter from R.Warne to K.A. Day, 17 September 1984, File 63; letter from W.A. Muirhead to R. Warne, 29 June 1987, File 30; letter from V. Wong See to F.S. Howard, 3 November 1982, File 47; Griffith Co‐operative Society, special message, 1 October 1984, File 57. Griffith Co‐operative Society Archives, Charles Sturt University Archives, Wagga Wagga.