By Romy Stephens
As events are cancelled and businesses close due to Covid-19, some are trying to make the most of a difficult situation.
Yarra Ranges businesses are thinking of new ways to keep functioning, despite having to close doors and lay off staff, while events are creating unique ways to still go ahead.
Organisers of the Yarra Valley Writers Festival announced on 18 March that the event will still take place but through live stream.
The inaugural event was set to run in Healesville from 8-10 May.
Instead, it will now feature a full day of streamed talks, conversations and performances on 9 May.
Programmed by playwright Hannie Rayson, the festival will present contemporary authors but in a digital format.
“The way audiences experience art, culture and conversations has changed. For now,” she said.
“This is the time to be supporting Australian authors and celebrate writers who are prepared to challenge, enlarge and humanise our experience of the world.”
Current ticket holders will be contacted by Yarra Ranges Council to refund purchases while there will still be a small charge for the online viewing to help pay authors, technicians and performers.
Grants on Sherbrooke cafe in Kallista is also attempting new ways to gain customers after a triple whammy hit the business early this year.
The cafe and souvenir shop was forced to reduce staff hours after visitor numbers decreased due to a ban on bird feeding at Grants Picnic Ground, recent bushfires and now the coronavirus.
However, the business has now created a take away menu and is looking to deliver meals and offer drive-through coffee.
Cafe manager Robyn Whittington said the changes have been created to not only keep staff working but to also help the local community.
She said the idea is to provide ready-cooked meals so people can avoid the current “mayhem” at supermarkets.
“We had this idea and thought it would help some of the staff to have a job but also to help people out there as well, we don’t want to make a profit we’re just keeping the food as budget level as we can,” she said.
“It’s actually quite traumatic going out, seeing shops, it’s like living in a war zone, there’s hardly anything on the shelves.
“We will prepare it, it can be frozen, delivered frozen, they can put it in the freezer or have it fresh.”
If customers can’t pick up meals, the cafe said it is happy to deliver free of charge, especially to people in self-isolation.
Cafe owner Cheryl Campbell said Grants on Sherbrooke was one of many local businesses struggling but trying to keep involved in helping the community.
“In some way, we’re hoping that if the message gets out there, especially, the elderly around this area will feel more secure plus it helps gives us income as well,” she said.
“We’re like every other business hurting and we’re trying to find ways where we can help the community by offering services.”
Premier Daniel Andrews announced that all non-essential activity across the state will shut down by 24 March to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Businesses that will close due to the Stage 1 shutdown include pubs, clubs, nightclubs, Crown Casino, and licensed venues in hotels and pubs.
It also includes gyms, indoor sporting venues, places of worship, cinemas and entertainment venues.
Restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to provide home delivery or takeaway services.
The State Government also announced a $1.7 billion economic survival and jobs package on 21 March which is set to help businesses and workers survive the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Government will inject a further $66 billion into the economy to help cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus, on top of its initial economic stimulus package of $17.6 billion.
To view Grants on Sherbrooke’s take away menu, head to the cafe’s Facebook page.
