LOCALS were left wondering what happened to Bowen’s Big Mango last week.
The answer has been revealed in a video from cloud accounting platform, Xero.
The video features Gold Logie nominated news presenter Lee Lin Chin revealing that Bowen’s Big Mango has been returned – but only half of it. Along with several other ‘big things’ across Australia.
The stunt was revealed, on Monday, as part of a campaign aimed at highlighting the plight small business owners face, with 50 per cent of invoices paid late, according to a 2022 study commissioned by Xero.
The study found that, on average, small businesses in Australia are paid 6.4 days late, costing small businesses $1.1bn per year, due to payment delays.
The mango was removed and replaced with a temporary ‘half mango’ as part of the campaign by Xero.
Bowen Tourism and Business chair Jenn Honnery said the organisation was proud to support campaigns that supported small businesses.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall said she was proud that the iconic Bowen Big Mango was being used to help highlight the difficulties small businesses faced.
“The Bowen Big Mango temporarily looked like a job half done to draw a focus to the real issues that small businesses face, when their invoices are paid late,” Mayor Hall said.
“Small businesses are the backbone of communities in regional Australia, and we hope this stunt brings about a much-needed change in attitude towards paying invoices on time.”
The original 10-metre Big Mango has now been returned.
While on the ground, Whitsunday Regional Council took the opportunity to install new legs and an internal refurbishment to make it more durable.
Engineers are on-site to continue work on the facelift for the next few weeks.
Bowen Tourism and Business manager Leanne Abernethy said the Big Mango would be a part of Bowen for many years still to come.
“This big thing of ours will be ripe again in time for its 21st birthday, in May, and the makeover will ensure it will be an icon of Bowen’s landscape for many years to come,” she said.
Ms Abernethy confirmed that BTB had been paid by media agency HelloSocial, on behalf of Xero, to take part in the campaign.
The half-mango, valued at $30,000, has also been gifted to Bowen Tourism and Business, for use at future events.
