Published in The Ararat Advocate, Ararat's weekly newspaper published by West Vic News Pty Ltd.
ARARAT business owners are mentally exhausted and hurting financially as they endure a fifth lockdown in 18 months.
As Daniel Andrews faced the media on Tuesday morning to announce a 7-day extension, Ararat Motor Inn operator, Michael Patel, was in an all too familiar position.
“Today was a shock, we were not expecting a seven-day extension,” he said.
“We were hoping maybe three days and we could have a normal weekend but that didn't happen, so it is a setback, again.”
It was going to be a positive weekend of trade for Mr Patel who had a fully booked Motor Inn this Saturday night.
“As soon it got announced that the lockdown was extended for one week, we lost all of them,” he said.
“It's taking its toll. It's stop, start, stop, start. Not just financially, mentally it's affecting everybody - how long can you keep doing it? We don't know.”
Mr Patel said he feels “helpless” as a business owner with five staff who are left with no work and bills that must be paid without an income.
The Ararat Motor Inn is expecting a handful of bookings from corporate and construction clients who are permitted essential, but their stay will only be a drop in the ocean.
“When you have some occupancy, it keeps you going but when you've got nothing, one room or two rooms, you start thinking how you are going to manage this month,” Mr Patal said.
In Ararat’s central business district, the owner of Foragers Café, Sarah Ramsey, has a more adaptable business model that has allowed her to pivot back to takeaway options.
“The first lockdown we closed, and I found it really hard to get back open and get that momentum going again,” she said.
“We have now set our business up so that we can adapt to the change at the moment, so we just switched straight to takeaway on Friday.”
Mrs Ramsey said lockdown trade would not be possible if it wasn’t for the continued support of the Ararat community.
“I feel like our community just gets behind and supports everyone. It's just the times we're in, we must roll with it as much as we can.”
She admits it comes with its stresses, trying to maintain hours for staff and finances for wages, but at the end of the day, Mrs Ramsey is determined to survive as she has done four times before.
Mr Patel reciprocated that optimism, hopeful his business will bounce back again.