GEELONG LETS HAIR DOWN FOR WEEKEND
GEELONG residents made the most of their new-found freedom at the weekend to catch up on post-lockdown errands.
Salon Meraki Colour Specialists owner Vicky Polyzos said she’d extended hours and added opening days just to keep up with huge demand.
“As soon as the end of our lockdown was announced I had clients messaging me at that very moment,” she said.
“We’re booked up for the next four or five weeks.”
Ms Polyzos said the community support throughout the lockdown and in the business’s reopening with socialdistancing requirements had been amazing.
“Everyone is so excited to be back getting their haircut,” she said.
“One of my clients brought us a cake to say congratulations on being back, and that was just the sweetest thing.”
Masked crowds were also seen along Eastern Beach, the city centre and suburban shopping centres as retail reopened.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes across the city also welcomed patrons across the city, subject to density limits and visitor caps.
Geelong Bellarine Tourism executive director Brett Ince described the weekend’s opening as “cautious” for tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors.
“There certainly has been pent-up demand from regional Victorians to visit the regions, and we’ve had a number of bookings with accommodation providers,” he said.
“But it’s quite hard for hospitality to reopen because of the challenging restrictions in place.
“As a result, some businesses haven’t reopened.”