STAYING sunsafe also means looking good for Kempsey Shire Council staff with the new branded Akubras handed out to staff last week.
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A key initiative of council's sun safety awareness campaign came to fruition at a yard meeting of outdoor staff at the council depot early Thursday morning when employees were presented with new Akubra Cattleman hats.
Kempsey Shire Council general manager Craig Milburn said the Akubra hats represented a perfect example of a positive local partnership.
"Akubra hats are made right here in Kempsey so we're delighted to be supporting local business, and just as delighted to have local business working so well with us," Craig said.
"Our staff can wear these Australian icons with that much more pride knowing they're also a Kempsey product."
The new hats, which proudly display the Kempsey Shire Council brand, are now the standard issue sun safe component of the outdoor uniform.
Akubra has provided 130 hats to council based on an order made during last year's coronavirus crisis and the new bran-coloured hats have been well received by staff.
"I love it - comfortable, lightweight and with the good wide brim they'll be excellent protection from the sun," a council employee said.
Akubra managing director and Kempsey local, Stephen Keir, attended the toolbox talk to deliver the 100 per cent Kempsey-made Akubra Cattlemans.
"As a small family business who moved up here in 1974, we've gone in the past five years from 85 employees to 130," Stephen said.
"It's orders like the one council has placed that keep us going."
Stephen is the fourth generation of the Keir family, and has worked with the company for more than 20 years and is chairman of the board of directors.
Akubra hats are used by a number of councils around Australia as part of their outdoor gear.
