From the General Manager

IAN HORNE – AHA|SA GENERAL MANAGER

The Optimism is Tangible!

Yet another commentary on Covid-19! Except this time it’s got a positive bend.

It’s taken a full year from the unexpected forced lockdown on 23 March 2020 but trading conditions are now getting back to something that will allow a level of optimism and a roadmap back to viability.

Of course, I’m talking about the Transitions Committee’s decision to restore capacities to 75% and remove any shackles on dancing.

This decision was made against the recommendations of SA Health, not for the first time, but recognised the significant cost burden of business and its employees as well as the strain on potential mental health risks if restrictions were simply maintained for no good reason.

I have to say, that at the time of writing, I get a real sense of optimism amongst our members. While there is still a way to go in restoring conditions to pre-Covid and some remaining restrictions seem senseless in a Covid-free state like SA, much of the underlying stress and tension that I could sense in every telephone call, every conversation and every communication just 6 months ago has evaporated.

That’s what I experienced at the AHA|SA South East Members Regional Forum the day before the new, relaxed rules came into place. It was a great gathering of members who were joined by many of our corporate partners and there was a fantastic positivity….. a buzz about Easter trading and the months ahead.

While a genuine concern over ‘knee-jerk’ reactions like compulsory shutdowns were never far from discussion, conversation generally centred around ambitions for renovations, considerations of increasing employment or at least more available hours and a jovial interaction not seen for most of 2020.

The same sense of optimism was shared by our corporate partners who attended, and members report a similar, positive outlook from their customer base.

Let’s celebrate every victory, every restoration of trading rights and every new job we create or former job we reinstate.

And congratulations to Police Commissioner Grant Stevens who clearly understands the balance between risk and reward.

Watch Ian Horne's update here: https://youtu.be/ZZV69-JwHCk