Coronavirus in Ballarat: Avoca winery nod to COVID-19 health heroes

The nurse had been working long days, often up to 12-hour shifts with little time off, and living in isolation from her family to keep them safe amid the pandemic.

She happened to mention how she wanted to relax with wine to a Blue Pyrenees staff member and this sparked the Avoca winery's Healthcare Hero campaign.

Blue Pyrenees put out the call via its social media channels for people to nominate a hardworking healthcare professional they would like to surprise with their favourite wine amid the pandemic.

Within four days, the winery received 60 nominations from across the region, Ballarat, Melbourne and a few interstate. So, Blue Pyrenees decided to surprise them all.

Blue Pyrenees' Tess Astbury said Healthcare Heroes was about encouraging acts of kindness amid the pandemic.

"A large number of recipients contacted us directly telling us that their surprise gift had brightened a very challenging time," Ms Astbury said.

"That was our aim - to make those working hard for our community feel appreciated and to return some of the kindness that they have been giving to others."

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and support workers, including some directly working with coronavirus patients, were among those to receive wine.

The pandemic's blow to tourism had been particularly tough for regional wineries, Blue Pyrenees chief Andrew Koerner told The Courier late last month. He said his team was instead focusing on what it could do.

Winemakers across the Grampians say the best way to support them was to think local and buy direct amid tough season.

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