A moment for us all to adapt

THERE is nothing good about this coronavirus pandemic, but there are positives to be found amid the hard times we are facing.

Wayne Avison was without a job and living out of his car in Cairns with his two young kids. The Cairns Post told his story and the big-hearted people of the Far North came forward with offers of work, accommodation and support.

A letter writer shared his story of a breakdown north of Cairns and the kindness of strangers who literally went the extra mile to keep him safe, fed and watered by the roadside.

This knight in shining ute expected no reward.

And now, with Victoria’s strict lockdown restrictions hitting the national distribution network, local businesses have an opportunity to succeed. We, as local consumers, can show our support.

Campaigns like Keep it in Cairns have urged us to get behind small shops, eateries and other businesses that really depend on our trade. Not every venture will survive these hard times but the smallest traders, with little cash reserves, will find it most difficult to stay afloat.

There is a chance for businesses to innovate and make the most of their individuality. Customers who cannot find what they are looking for might well find answers and specialist knowledge with local retailers, who are not so locked into a national corporate network.

We are already fortunate that just about all of the best things you can eat and drink are grown here or produced here.

It is the way of the world in 2020, that not everything is manufactured here — or even in Australia. But our best natural resources could yet prove to be resilience and innovation.