Stitch PR & Communications Bathurst and the Central West

25/08/2026

Ever wondered how long it takes to get your business known in the community? 🤔

Short answer: it depends what you're after.

A single story in the local paper can happen fast — sometimes just two to four weeks once we've found the right angle. One of our clients was on the front page within three weeks.

But being genuinely known (the kind of reputation where people already trust your name before they've even met you) takes longer. Usually three to six months of steady coverage: radio spots, newspaper stories, word getting around town.

Stick with it past six months and it really pays off. One Bathurst business ended up with over 40 minutes of radio time across five months — not from one lucky break, but from consistent groundwork.

We've written a bit more about why this takes time (and why that's actually a good thing) here →

A single placement can land in weeks. Real visibility compounds over months. An honest breakdown of what to expect, and why, from Stitch PR & Communications.

30/07/2026

At an ABC media-literacy workshop in Bathurst last month, a room in which about two thirds of people already use AI tools scored roughly chance level on identifying AI-generated images.

Research puts that in context. A 2024 study across four Australian universities found 97% of adults have poor or limited ability to verify information online.

A new article on the Stitch Insights page draws the commercial conclusion. When an audience cannot verify a claim, they delegate the checking to a source they already trust. Verification becomes something a business imports rather than asserts, which is precisely what earned media has always been, and why the alternatives are getting weaker.

Read it:

A room of regular AI users scored about 51% spotting AI images. Jessica Conway on what Australia's verification gap means for any business that must be believed.

04/06/2026

Relationships matter in any community. The same has always been true in media — but the rules have shifted.

New research found that 78% of journalists trust a PR source less after receiving an AI-written pitch.

For local businesses trying to get coverage in the Western Advocate or on ABC Central West, that number matters.

Regional newsrooms are small, and journalists know when a pitch wasn't written with their community in mind.

The businesses getting consistent coverage aren't doing more outreach. They're doing it better.

We've written about what this means — and how to get it right.
Are you getting the coverage your business deserves? Drop a comment — we'd love to hear what's working for you locally.

78% of journalists say AI-written pitches lower their trust in the sender. Stitch PR explains what this means for businesses seeking media coverage.

13/05/2026

Proud to share some lovely coverage for our client Dr Janine Kinahan at Function to Flow Chiropractic in Bathurst 💙

The Western Advocate ran a feature on Janine's practice this week — describing her work as "clinical excellence, holistic heart."

It's a beautiful summary of what she brings to the Bathurst community through her specialisation in women's health, children, nervous system care, and pregnancy.

This is what happens when the right story finds the right audience.

Congratulations, Janine — well deserved!

Function to Flow Chiropractics is located in Executive Suites.

26/03/2026

A library. Some screens. A dining table. And one very good question.

That’s how St Vincent’s Care Toowoomba built what’s being called a world-first: a permanent virtual reality train carriage inside their aged care home, where residents can travel through 10 countries, hear an AI guide in their own language, and share Swiss chocolate or Chinese dumplings while panoramic windows roll past Alpine peaks.

No new technology was invented. The idea started when a care manager saw a mobile VR project and asked: what if this could be a permanent place?

University of Queensland researchers have since confirmed what residents already knew: it works. Measurable emotional uplift, social connection, and anticipation, especially for those living with dementia.

The biggest ideas often start that way. Not with a new invention, but with a familiar tool and a better question.

We think about that a lot in our work. The best communications rarely starts with “what’s the newest thing?” It starts with “who are we talking to, and what actually matters to them?”

Same tools. Better question. Better result.

https://www.escape.com.au/experiences/rail/inside-the-virtual-reality-train-giving-aged-care-residents-a-new-adventure/news-story/1e7955150ba376a7120e54bc06981a63?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQyd51leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEee2AOLsbx1oCdCcuNdgeaRQKz49GTugFtDNLzuGT8Ef4y2y0srxFKawXCK0U_aem_Dmo00-o4hKvQ6MGCTWOClQ

A permanent immersive travel experience replicating a fine dine rail carriage has been opened at St Vincent’s Care facility in Toowoomba.

06/03/2026

Regional women are gathering this International Women's Day weekend across the Central West.

This Saturday and Sunday, communities from Bathurst to Orange, Parkes, Cowra, and Lithgow are celebrating women through film, music, fundraising, and connection.

Here's what's on:

Saturday 7 March:
Film screening "Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story" at Bathurst Library, 12:30pm

Sunday 8 March:
• Film screening "Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story" at Bathurst Library, 12:30pm
• Que Club IWD Luncheon at Parkes Services Club, 12pm
• "In Her Voice" choral concert at Orange Regional Conservatorium, 2pm
• "Give to Gain" celebration at Club Cowra, 2pm
• Endometriosis Fundraiser at Lithgow City Bowling Club, 1:30pm

Have we missed something? Add the details in the comments below.

Check your local council events pages for tickets and full details.

03/03/2026

We saw this story in the local paper today, and it caught our eye. The owners of an award-winning business hanging up their aprons and chef's hats. "Madness!" we thought.

But then we read on, and thought again.

Not every award-winning business should scale. Orange Pie Company knows when to stop.

Ben Coster and Mitchell Brown built something special here in Orange. A hobby became a business. That business won Best Gourmet Sausage Roll in Australia. National recognition followed.

But somewhere along the way, it stopped being fun.

"It's no longer about making pies, it's about running a business," Ben said. "There's a point where you're working every weekend, working every day and going 'what am I doing this for?'"

So they're selling. And they're honest about why.

"How much further can we go? There isn't much further."

This isn't a story about giving up. It's about knowing what you built, knowing what it needs next, and making the right call for you.

Not every regional business needs to franchise. Not every success story requires endless scale. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is pass your business to someone who wants what you don't.

Small, excellent, and community-focused is still excellent.

We see this more than people talk about it. Success creates expectations. Awards create pressure. And suddenly founders are running a business they never wanted to run.

If you're thinking about what's next for your business, we'd love to talk.

📸 Riley Krause/Central Western Daily

'How much further can we go ... there isn't much further.'

18/02/2026

When local business comes together, good things happen.

Last night, Jessica and the Stitch team joined the Bathurst Business Chamber at the After Hours event.

We connected with Paul Toole MP , Laura from his office, Erin from Bathurst Council, and Toni from Triple M, alongside so many dedicated Central West professionals.

These are the moments that remind us why we do this work.

Stitch exists to help regional innovators, economic development organisations, and mission-driven leaders tell their stories with clarity and impact.

We're proud to be part of this community, and grateful for the networks, relationships, and conversations that make Central West NSW such a dynamic place to work.

If your organisation needs strategic communications support, media engagement, or help cutting through the noise, we'd love to chat.

16/02/2026

Not every business is ready for PR.

And that's okay.

Over the years, I've watched strong businesses pause PR campaigns mid-flight. Not because their idea wasn't brilliant. But because the systems behind it weren't quite there yet.
- Their supply chain couldn't keep up.
- Their website was still showing version 1.0.
- They didn't have the capacity to handle the enquiries.
- Their messaging was still evolving.

Here's the thing: PR drives attention. That's the point.

But if your business can't handle what comes next, that attention creates problems instead of opportunities.

Before you invest in PR, ask yourself:
✅ Can my operations handle increased demand?
✅ Does my website reflect where we are now?
✅ Do I have the team to respond to enquiries properly?
✅ Can I explain what makes us different, clearly?

If you're not quite there yet, you're not behind. You just need to fix the foundations first.

Because PR works best when it amplifies a system that's already working.

I've written about the 7 warning signs you're not ready for PR yet (and what to fix first).

Link in comments 👇

05/02/2026

Yesterday, a client said: "I've been talking about my business for 5 years and this is the first time I feel like I can explain it clearly."

This is why I do this work.

As a former journalist, I spent years watching brilliant people, with amazing stories and worthwhile ideas stumble through interviews. Not because they weren't experts - but because they were so deep in their expertise they couldn't step back and translate it for everyday audiences.

Here's what that moment reminded me: Clarity isn't dumbing down. It's skilled translation.

It takes someone who understands both the complexity AND the audience to bridge that gap. Someone who can ask "but what does that actually mean for people?" until we get to the real story.

That's the work I love most at Stitch. Not just media placement or stakeholder comms - but helping regional innovators, councils, and deep tech companies find their clearest, most powerful voice.

Because the best ideas shouldn't stay trapped in jargon.

What's the hardest thing about explaining what you do?