Bent on Food and Bent on Life proprietor Donna Carrier is looking forward to COVID-19 restrictions easing in future months, not just for business reasons, and not just for personal reasons.
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"It will just be nice to see people who haven't been able to go out. I'm thinking people are going to be so happy and grateful because they're out," Donna says.
"Because we lost the things we took for granted for so long. Especially in Sydney and Melbourne. And now they can come out and visit again.
"A lot of people that live down there have got family up here, and they haven't been able to visit their families. So that is going to be lovely as well."
Like other businesses in the Manning Valley, Donna has found trade much quieter than usual since lockdown lifted on October 11 and health orders placed restrictions on all people who are not double vaccinated.
She reports that during the week it is very quiet for the café, with the result of having to send staff home and shut earlier than normal. Weekends have been a little better with visitors from out of Wingham coming to the café.
Things are even worse for her homewares store, Bent on Life.
"Our retail store has been terrible - really quiet. We have got lots of beautiful new stock that we've been piling on to the shelves while we've had no customers, so we're ready for people to come in and have a look at our new goods," Donna says.
I just don't feel like small business should be blamed for having to do a job that we've been asked to by the government that is a health order.
- Donna Carrier, Bent on Food
Donna puts the downturn in trade down to two things: people being cautious about going out because of the daily increase of COVID cases in the area, and the requirement for people to be double vaccinated before entering a premises.
"The day before October 11, we could serve anyone, then when the rules came in, even people that were waiting on their second vaccination couldn't be served," she says.
During lockdown and prior to re-opening, Donna says her mental health took a tumble as she anticipated problems that could occur as a result of unvaccinated people not being able to sit and eat in the café, or shop in Bent on Life.
"I felt bad that I would have to turn people away. I just don't feel like small business should be blamed for having to do a job that we've been asked to by the government that is a health order."
She says she even got angry because she had seen talk on social media about unvaccinated people boycotting businesses adhering to the health orders, and not supporting local business.
However her fears about a backlash from unvaccinated people didn't come to fruition.
"I'm so surprised. We had so much pushback with QR codes when we had to bring them in.
"Now most people just walk up to where we go to seat them and they show us (their vaccination certificate). And if they aren't vaccinated, if they do come, they generally just order a takeaway."
Live music returning to Bent on Food is something Donna is particularly excited about. A stage is currently being built in the backyard and plans are underway.
"As soon as we can do live music again we will be," Donna says.
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