October 1, 2021
Seniors feature PAGE 17
(Louisa Jones) 252010_13
Local kids get crafty Siblings Toby and Abigail joined hundreds of local kids getting creative in central Geelong this week as lockdown ended and school holiday activities resumed. “It was so cute,” their mum Tash Gower said. “They were making fairy potions and little fairies with recycled materials. They had an absolute ball. “They were super excited to be out and about and hanging out with other children again.” Tash said she and her kids were regulars at the school holiday activities and attended multiple events this week. “We were shattered [because of lockdown during] the first week of school holidays, but we were happy to support some local businesses this week. The whole thing is such good incentive to bring people back into central Geelong.” Activities including pop-up craft workshops, neon installations and selfie competitions are set to continue today and over the weekend in Geelong. Details: centralgeelong.com.au/ school-holiday. Luke Voogt
TOBY AND ABIGAIL
Perplexed over trial snub By Luke Voog Geelong and the Surf Coast’s exclusion from planned vaccine economy trials has left proprietors “perplexed” with local commerce groups calling for the region’s inclusion. Torquay Commerce vice president Robert Skehan described the Surf Coast as ideal for the trial given its low number of cases and high vaccination rate, due to hit 70 per cent fully-immunised in a few days. “The ... hospitality businesses I have spoken to are wondering why we’re not part of the trial,” he said. “Our first jabs are above 95 per cent, our
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second jabs are [second] best in the state and our case numbers seem to be well under control.” The Surf Coast recorded no new cases on Wednesday, with a total of just five active in the shire. But state government excluded the Surf Coast and Geelong when announcing plans for 20 new vaccine economy trials beginning October 11. The government confirmed Bass Coast, Greater Bendigo, Pyrenees, Warrnambool, Buloke and East Gippsland would be the first municipalities eligible to participate in the trial due to high vaccination rates and
low or no COVID-19 cases. The trials will allow local businesses, venues and events to have higher patron numbers, if all are fully-vaccinated, prior to the entire state hitting the 70 per cent mark, expected on October 26. “It’s probably an opportunity missed, because [the Surf Coast has] a vibrant hospitality community and it would be fantastic to open up that community again,” Mr Skehan said. He acknowledged the Surf Coast Shire’s population and proximity to Melbourne could increase the risk of COVID-19 spreading compared to some of the confirmed municipalities.
But higher vaccination rates and practice at applying current restrictions in refusing service to Melburnians would help negate this, he said. Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ben Flynn reiterated calls for state government to include Geelong, given the city’s relatively high vaccination rates. “We think it’s a terrific idea and we’d love to be part of the pilot,” he said. “Businesses across Geelong feel like they’re languishing. “With high vaccination rates across the whole region, Geelong is the perfect place to trial the processes and systems to get this right.”
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