Signs of the times: 'Dear customers due to COVID we are unable to get any staff'

A notice on a bakery’s closed shopfront.

Businesses make best of awful situation

Mandates have caused major disruptions to local businesses which are struggling to cope with staffing issues and financial losses while trying to obey and police the rules.

Some cafe owners chose to close their dining areas and revert to takeaway-only to avoid discriminating against patrons. 

Several shops adopted tongue-in-cheek compliance plans, while others, particularly retail and hospitality – had no option but to close their doors for lack of staff. Others are taking a light-hearted approach to the situation.  

The restrictions have had serious repercussions in what, for many, is the busiest trade time of the year.

The total number of known infections on the Coast was 20,103 on Monday (January 24). The region had recorded eight deaths from the virus by Monday, a rate of .04 percent deaths to total known cases.

Shopfront Signs of the Times

Message on shopfront posters  around the hinterland included:

Nambour Cafe: “In order to include everyone, we have moved to takeaway options only in line with current health guidelines.”

Notice on a closed bakery shopfront: “To our dear customers, due to COVID we are unable to get any staff. We thank you so much for your support.”

Another Bakery: “We are currently short of staff. Some of our products may be temporarily unavailable. Thanks you for your patience and understanding.”

Nambour charity:  “Due to the mandates requiring volunteers and students to check vaccine status and contact police if faced with refusal to comply, we have chosen to close our store. Our chaity refuses to discriminate.”

Clothing retailer: “Dear customers, to support the government’s direction making face masks compulsory, and to keep our team and other customers safe, wearing a face mask is a condition of entry to this store. If you are not wearing a face mask, we will politely ask you to shop elsewhere.” 

Other’s took a light-hearted approach and chose not to enforce the mandates.

Retailer: “We value your Privacy. We have been mandated (which is an offer) to ask if you are vaccinated. However, it would be in breach of your privacy to ask you to disclose your medical information. We are not a medical practitioner, so if you choose to keep this information private, we will respect your right to privacy. All welcome. Thank you for your patronage.”

Local cafe: “The government wants you to: 1. Check in on arrival or when you sit down at the table. 2. Let the waiter or front of house staff know your vaccine status when you order,” said a cafe sign. “If we are in the business of asking inappropriate questions to people, here are some more if you’d like to answer them just for a laugh: 1. Is you hair secretly ginger. 2. Did you lie about question1? 3. Are you on Santas’ Naughty or Nice list this year?”

Local cafe: “Welcome All. The Queensland Government has mandated that you be vaccinated to dine at this premises. It is your responsibility to check in, and by enterting it will be implied that you have done so.”

Charities: Nambour’s Lifeline and St Vinnies also posted signs last week announcing unforseen closures and workarounds. 

Seniors, businesses bunker down and charity helps people doing it tough ...

The Sunshine Coast could hit the peak of the Omicron wave as early as next week, in news that will be welcomed by businesses, individuals and charities struggling under the restrictions. Here is what some of them said.

St Vincent de Paul Society Nambour

St Vincent de Paul Society Nambour Conference President Teresa Forrest said many families were doing it tough. “Homelessness and high rents continues to be a big issue here on the Sunshine Coast and elsewhere. 

“At Vinnies Support Centre, we are working from the office but not seeing companions face-to-face.  We were advised to try and work from home as much as possible by St Vincent de Paul during January so we opted for some members who are comfortable to do so, to come into the office and take phone interviews.

 “We are able to provide food, pay bills, send vouchers while companions wait outside in their car or at a distance outside the doors.  

“It seems to be working.  This means we can continue to give them the help they need.” 

Yandina retailer

Yandina’s Dennis Sutton of Feather’s Nest Creations, Bead Supplies Australia and The Girls’ Paper Cave said turnover was down 50 percent on last year’s monthly average across his three businesses. 

“When Covid first hit the Government provided Sole Trader relief of $750 a fortnight when turnover was down by 35%. 

“This helped us to keep trading but in a reduced capacity and pay our bills. 

“This relief is no longer available. 

“I know that there is a limit to the Government’s ability to keep funding small business during this crisis but Queensland has only been affected since the borders were opened.”

Nambour Retailer

“My shop was going much better just before Christmas. Then, all of a sudden, masks are back on and yet again I have hit another great big  brick  wall. Last  week  and this one were worse than during lockdowns periods of the last two years and I suspect all the tourists will go home again soon.”

Nambour Show

Sunshine Coast Show Manager Penny Walsh said organisers were optimistically working towards holding the Show from 10-12 June. 

“We realise that the goal posts may keep moving but we have to look on the positive side of things and hopefully we will bring some joy to the community if we do pull off a Show.  

“There are a few shows who were due to be held in the next few weeks but have decided to postpone due to the number of positive cases going around the state at the moment.  

“Stanthorpe is the first show on the show calendar and they made the decision to postpone until later in the year.”

Maleny Golf Club

“Apart from the occasional lockdown and the odd cancelled round, the Club has managed to withstand the dramatic impacts we have seen in other business sectors,” said President Stephen Porter. “We are indeed fortunate that golf is essentially a socially-distant outdoor leisure activity and subject to fewer restrictions.

“Notwithstanding, we do mandate the wearing of masks indoors and restrict access to our social gathering areas (to double vaccinated members, guests, and visitors) - to help protect our patrons, staff, and the business.” 

Seniors

Nambour’s Don McGlusky and his wife are both 85 so they say they only venture out when necessary.  “We have had our three vaccinations and I think Covid will probably finish up the same as the flu with probably a yearly shot,” Don said. “Unfortunately there is too much conflicting information circulating at present regarding vaccination which is unhelpful.”

Another senior said he and his wife had cut their travel and socialising in half.  

“Since last December we have cut that meagre amount of socialising to the absolute minimum, in order to minimise the risk of catching COVID or passing it on.  

“If we ever had an invitation from friends or rellies, we would consider it and might accept, unless it came from known anti-vax rellies. 

“It seems our friends and rellies are also bunkering down as well though. 

“While we are both triple vaccinated, the financial and health risks are still considerable and it is easier to lie low and stay home.  We occasionally go out to shop, mainly for groceries, but we get in and get out as quickly as possible.”