The announcement of the NSW state-wide lockdown last Saturday is the latest blow to Corowa business owners who have been dealing with 18-months of harsh border restrictions.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the snap 7-day state-wide lockdown late Saturday afternoon following the escalating COVID-19 situation across the state.
“To minimise movement and protect our communities from the evolving COVID situation in Sydney, stay-at-home orders will be introduced for all of Regional NSW from 5pm tonight,” he said.
“Reasonable excuses to leave your home include shopping for essentials, medical care, caregiving, outdoor exercise with a member of your household or one other person, and work, if you cannot work from home. Schooling will be conducted from home.
Corowa RSL Club CEO Peter Norris said the lockdown was hard to accept, with fears it could be extended beyond the seven days.
“With less than three hours-notice and preparations underway for a busy night with functions and bistro bookings, the wastage and losses will be significant,” he told The Free Press.
“The Corowa RSL Club is in complete closure and at this stage we have a handful of staff working to ensure our entire team are looked after through this tough period.
Mr Norris said the club would look at ways in which they could help support the community. In 2020 the club assisted vulnerable elderly residents with fresh meals delivered to their doorstep.
“First and foremost, the health and wellbeing of our staff will be our priority before we then look at ways, we can again support our community through another lockdown,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to all businesses who will no doubt struggle through this lockdown, we are hoping it is only for a short period however, we are making preparations in the event it possibly lasts as long as the ten-week lockdown in 2020.
“A club in small town such as Corowa holds incredible significance as a meeting place for family and friends, a haven for those living alone to socialise and interact with other people, and of course, for staff to come together and perform meaningful work for our great little community.
“We very-much look forward to seeing everyone back at their local club sooner than later and our thoughts go out to everyone during this lockdown period.”
Managing Director of Corowa Whisky and Chocolate Dean Druce made the decision to close the café and retail side of the business for the week rather than offer takeaway meals.
“This week we have purely focused on the whisky making, and the online sales of whisky and chocolate,” Dean said.
“We are fortunate to have those other streams of income and we hope that people who might have considered coming here will support other small hospitality businesses in town.”
Last year Corowa Whisky and Chocolate was able to pivot during lockdown and mass produce hand sanitiser which staff across the board were able to assist with thanks to the Federal Government’s JobKeeper package.
“This time around our retail, café and events staff aren’t working through this lockdown and so they will have to apply for government assistance themselves. We do wish JobKeeper was still around as that was a much simpler process to help our staff,” Dean said.
Corowa Business Chamber president Stuart Whisson said the NSW lockdown was another hit for border businesses already struggling with cross-border restrictions.
“For some businesses in our community, the last 18 months have been catastrophic with the different level of restrictions imposed,” he said.
“Chamber is really encouraging locals to support local any way they can with this lockdown. Whether it’s purchasing a takeaway meal or making a purchase online with any of our local retail businesses.
“It’s important that our community comes together now more than ever to get through this difficult time.”
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke expressed his confidence in the local community and applauded residents for their resilience displayed following the state-wide lockdown.
Mayor Bourke said he was confident residents would rise once again to face the challenges associated with the Delta strain of COVID-19 remarking that the Federation community has shown how adaptable they are.
“We have been dealing with adverse situations such as this well before COVID,” he said.
“As a community, we battled our way through years of drought, before the tide finally changed in the last season.
“I continue to be in awe of our community, for the way in which we come together and support one another during challenging times. We prove ourselves time and time again.”
Mayor Bourke also said the last 20 months have undoubtedly been hard for not only the Federation community, but communities’ right across Australia.
“Border communities have done it extremely tough, with restrictions and decisions made on both sides of the river affecting the way in which our communities’ function immensely,” he said.
“Through strong advocacy efforts we will continue to bring issues to the forefront and assure the community that we will keep pushing all levels of government for common sense approach decisions, especially when it comes to public health and economic decisions.
“Now more than ever, we must look out for the most vulnerable in our community and think locally in every decision we make,” he said.