NEWS DESK
COVID outbreak bad for business By Liz Bell
Nippers event swept away by COVID PORTSEA Surf Life Saving Club’s Nippers Program due to finish last Thursday and Friday (6 and 7 January) became the latest victim of COVID cancellations on Wednesday. The club announced that the last two days of the Nippers program would not go ahead because many families and volunteers had been impacted by the rapid rise in COVID infections across the Mornington Peninsula. A spokesperson said the “tough” decision was made to cancel the rest of the seven-day program because all available volunteers would be required for beach patrol, and some had already been forced to isolate due to positive cases, either in the family or friendship groups. Fears are running high that more community events will suffer the same fate as the virus continues to spread. On Wednesday, a record 401 new
COVID cases were recorded across the peninsula, bringing the number of cases to 3862, of which 1087 were active. More than 600 youngsters had signed up to take to the water at the Quarantine Station at Point Nepean National Park and at the Portsea back beach. The club’s Nippers program teaches beach safety and live-saving skills and is the biggest Nippers program in the state. Club captain Jess Lamb said water safety was paramount for children and water safety had never been more important given the disruption to swimming lessons and restrictions on accessing pools and waterways. “With large crowds expected at the beach over summer and water play and swimming lessons curbed by 18 months of lockdowns, this week’s
Nippers program was more important than ever,” she said. “It’s disappointing that the final session of our Nipper program was not able to go ahead due to the rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases, however we are so pleased that the majority of the program was able to be completed in these unprecedented times. “We were able to deliver vital surf safety lessons to over 600 Nippers at the start of the program. In addition, the impact the program has had on the mental well-being of all involved has been phenomenal.” The program introduces children aged six to 13 to lifesaving skills through a range of safe and organised water and land activities, teaching them how to be confident, proficient in the surf and build the skills required to become the next generation of volunteer lifesavers.
MORNINGTON Peninsula and bayside businesses are experiencing the fallout from increasing COVID-19 infections, with some having to close at their busiest time of the year due to staff shortages. Hotel Sorrento closed its restaurant and bar on New Year’s Eve “due to health and safety reasons” and will not open until 7 January. The hotel was impacted due to a positive COVID-19 case on Thursday, December 30. Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club has suffered a similar fate, with nine staff testing positive, along with several members. However, instead of closing the club will reduce its restaurant operations and has halted sailing lessons. Most hospitality businesses are experiencing severe staff shortages as a result of people becoming close contacts or being infected but are striving to stay open. They are also facing new density limits announced on Wednesday. New rules mean a limit of one person per two square metres indoors, which could significantly impact the ability of many venues to remain profitable. Kera Zaltsberg, of Mornington
Happy New Year from
Orwil Street Community House
Orwil Street Community House is committed to enhancing the quality of life within its local community, through learning activities, wellbeing programs, self-help groups and personal growth for all ages. In 2022 we look forward to welcoming the community back into the house with a range of our usual programs and some new activities which will include: Playgroups
Low-Cost Counselling
Seasonal Cooking Classes Card Making Sound Healing Women’s Shed
BeConnected Computer Classes for people 50+
Walking Group
Yoga
Meditation
Soulful Creative Sewing
Men’s Support Groups Gardening Group
Belly Dancing
Boogie and Movement
Women’s Support Groups Women’s Art Jam
Reiki
Mindfulness
Transformational Dance
For more information and to book, please go to our website www.orwilst.org.au
16 Orwil St, Frankston 3199 Ph: 9783 5073 email: info@orwilst.org.au www.orwilst.org.au Follow us on PAGE 10
Frankston Times
11 January 2022
*10% OFF RRP ON PRESENTATION OF THIS AD. ENDS 5TH FEBRUARY 2022
Peninsula Beachside Tourism, said all hospitality businesses would be feeling the pinch of staff shortages as well as cancellations. “Lots of people are cancelling bookings, which impacts businesses, and then we have staff shortages, just like everyone else in Victoria and New South Wales is experiencing,” she said. Ms Zaltsberg said it was important to remind the community to “be kind” when having to wait for service or products. “Businesses are doing their best in a really difficult situation, so I’d just like to get the message out there for people to be patient and understanding.” Many businesses are posting messages on their social media sites to urge patrons to be patient and “kind” to staff who are under extreme pressure. Mornington Hotel’s Facebook page has a note to thank and remind patrons that “these are challenging times” where businesses are having to adjust operations at short notice to cope with staff shortages. Like most venues on the peninsula, it has needed staff since before Christmas with the current COVID outbreak exacerbating shortages.