“IT’S gutting to have your business profitable and busy, and in the space of a week just go to nothing,” Mildura Food Group director Ryan Casey says.
Hundreds of employees are without work across Sunraysia as restaurants, pubs, gyms and indoor sporting centres endured their first day of forced shutdown to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The closure of non-essential businesses has been described as “surreal” by Mr Casey who said he had to let go 40 casual staff across Stefano’s, The Spanish Grill and The Bistro.
“Yesterday just didn’t feel real at all,” he said.
“And it’s nothing we did wrong and all the control and planning you have has been removed … that’s the hardest thing. It’s the most upsetting thing.”
A lifeline for some of Mr Casey’s staff will come in the form of takeaway coffee and food, which has been allowed under the new Federal Government guidelines.
While the restaurant will remain closed, Stefano’s will be open from 8am-1pm with patrons urged to follow the social distancing markers that have been placed inside and outside.
“Having Stefano’s not active after 25 years of being active every day is not a good thing,” Mr Casey said.
“I had a six-point plan, and number six is today which happened within a week.
“Things are changing so quickly … we were planning day-by-day, but now it’s hour-by-hour.”
Mildura’s popular watering hole The Sandbar is another Sunraysia business that has taken the hit of government-imposed shutdowns.
Owner Malcolm Kalms said the shutdown would not be the end for The Sandbar, and he was aware many businesses were in the same position.
“At the end of the day it’s a loss of income, not for me but for the 24 staff I employ,” he said.
“It’s about survival now, not making money – so as long as you survive that’s the main thing.”
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Mr Kalms said he was unclear about when he would be able to open the pub again.
“If it goes over six months we would have to evaluate things but at the end of the day we aren’t going to close,” he said.
“We have been told it will (shut down) until April 13 but it’s not going to be then – it needs to be minimum six weeks.
“They have to shut down everything except for your main things we need going and we need to kick this virus.”
Sad day for Sunraysia gyms
SUNRAYSIA gyms are among the non-essential businesses grappling with the national forced shutdown.
Club Aquarius owner John Hollywood confirmed 30 employees between the Eleventh and Fifteenth street facilities had been “put off” on Monday.
“The messages that have been put out there over the past couple of weeks have made it pretty clear that certain activities like ours was going to be tough to do,” he said.
“It’s a tough time, but everyone has to be safe.”
While the gym facilities remain closed, Mr Hollywood said members would have access to online group classes to take part in from their homes.
Mr Hollywood said 14 members participated in the first audio visual class which was trialed on Sunday.
“It’s something we’ve been playing with over the past couple of months without even planning for this situation,” he said.
“We’ve been taking video footage of classes and sending them out to members who would like to participate from home.”
Members have also been given one month of free gym access to every 12-month membership.
Mildura’s Snap Fitness franchise owner Joel Coates is also coming to terms with what the forced shutdown means for his business.
Mr Coates described the situation as “scary” given how quickly information was changing.
“The thing that’s scary about this is that it’s really above everyone’s head,” he said.
“We’re a global brand and we have a lot of protocols we need to follow through head office.
“You’re getting advice for what to do but you really feel like it’s in the hands of the gods.”
Snap Fitness members will have access to a mobile app which will provide health advice and home workout demonstrations.
“People’s mental states as well as their physical states will be going downhill during this time … if they can keep healthy and happy that’s the best outcome,” Mr Coates said.
“I have my two smiling kids that I love and that’s what makes me happy. That gets me through.”
