NOW, MORE THAN EVER, SUPPORT LOCAL
THE snap lockdown came as a shock to Gold Coasters and the chaos at the supermarkets in a brief period showed that our lifestyle can change quickly with little notice.
Nobody was prepared and yet it has made us rethink our status quo and realise that we can never take anything for granted, especially our freedom.
We have enjoyed the past 12 months relatively Covidand lockdown-free while the rest of the world and our neighbouring states have endured lengthy periods of isolation and restrictions.
We can only hope and pray that we emerge quickly from this sudden change to life as we know it, accelerate our vaccinations and realise that the way forward requires co-operation and understanding from us all.
Meanwhile, this quiet break in our life also brings our attention to what is important as many of us reshape our thinking, either in preparation for another potential lockdown, or for how we navigate a new world that predisposes us to viruses and restrictions.
We saw how Covid last year created a platform for two millennials who created
Afterpay to reap the bounty of a booming demand for buying online.
Clever or just lucky and timely? I feel it’s a combination.
Which makes me think about what other genius ideas can emerge from the abundance of creative minds around our city as we rethink business opportunities and contemplate new ventures recognising that our future is changing, and we need to adapt and evolve.
Sadly, many small businesses will be trapped by this quick downturn in business activity and may not survive the flow-on effect, yet as locals we must play our role in supporting local businesses to help them get through these challenging and heartbreaking times.
Maybe instead of buying everything online we consider supporting homegrown, homemade and local to keep these businesses afloat.
Our city flourishes when we have a vibrant retail, tourism and leisure industry, yet these are often the first areas to suffer when the borders close and the tap is turned off overnight.
So when we emerge from lockdown, let’s play tourist in our own city, let’s treat our families to mini breaks by holidaying in our local hotels and visit the smaller retail precincts to purchase our local produce.
Meanwhile, make the most of these quieter moments to reflect and take the time to rethink, reset, add unimagined colour to ideas and create magic out of the ordinary.
Throughout the short history of the Gold Coast we have had many pioneers and entrepreneurs with their innovative creations putting the city on the world map.
So, as frustrating as the current moment may feel, there will be numerous lessons learned from this latest lockdown as we embark on a turning point in history.