Coronavirus in Ballarat: Cafes hold out hope for return to COVID-normal
The tense wait for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' announcement about COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday has the hospitality industry on edge.
Twisted Halo Cafe owner Virginia Fraser and Millie Williams-Kane. Picture: Lachlan Bence.
Ballarat cafes, big and small, will be waiting to find out critical information that could potentially sink or save businesses.
Twisted Halo owner Virginia Fraser knows this feeling all too well, as her business very nearly folded under the pressure of the pandemic.
Now, she just hopes that some sort of positive change is coming to the hospitality industry.
I think any change at this point will be welcome.
Twisted Halo owner Virginia Fraser
"We're just really hoping that we can start to get some people for in-house and footpath dining - if not this week, then the following week," she said.
"That would help stimulate things within the business community, which is what a lot of cafes like us really need... I think it's what we're all hoping for.
"What happens over the next two weeks means everything. Now that we've had our second stint in lockdown, a lot of businesses are in a position where they're just hanging on."
Twisted Halo on Sturt Street almost never saw the light of day. The family business was set to close for good during the first lockdown, however ultimately stayed, leading to a complete rebrand and renovation.
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After a lengthy process, the old moniker of Cafe 921 was gone and the Twisted Halo Cafe was born.
"We closed during the first lockdown. Our lease was due to be up in June, so we made the decision that we wouldn't re-open, it was all too difficult," Mrs Fraser continued.
"It was only after our landlord asked us to come back that we changed our minds. We turned around and completely re-branded, renovated and have been back open for four weeks.
"So many people have been saying 'we can't wait to come eat in' and we feel the exact same way."
While the Tin Roof Cafe in Soldiers Hill didn't go through quite the same transformation or crisis as Mrs Fraser's cafe, owner Jessie Fu said they are also holding out hope things may return to how they were prior to the second lockdown.
"We are hoping to at least be able to get back to dining operations, similar to what we had before the second lockdown," she said.
"Limited numbers inside and out will still be much better than the take-away mode we are currently in."
While Mrs Fu is remaining positive, she added her and her staff remain prepared for the possibility Sunday's announcement may bring an extension to the current lockdown in regional Victoria.
"At this stage it's very hard to see things getting back to normal," she continued.
"If the restrictions last longer than expected, that's just something we will have to adjust to. The number of cases in Victoria keeps going up and down... we're preparing for anything."
While her desire is to see customers back seated at the Tin Roof, Mrs Fu made it clear the safety of the community should continue to come before any decision is made to help the hospitality industry recover.
"Community safety is the number one priority. It doesn't matter how keen we are to see our customers and get back to normal, ultimately we want the whole pandemic to finish, we don't want it to drag out," she said.
"It's creating a lot of stress within the community... ending the virus is on top of everything else.
"We just have to do our best to comply with what the government is saying is best for our society. It's definitely not easy, but it's not easy for anyone, everyone is in the same boat, everyone is doing their bit to get us to the end."
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