Business owners question
post lockdown drill
by Maryann Jenkins
Businesses are not meant to be de-facto police officers , said MP Victor Dominello when asked by Hawkesbury businesses how ‘ opening up ’ after lockdown will work for vaxed and non-vaxed customers at the Getting Back to Business online forum .
Hosted by Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston , questions were raised directly to panel guests the Hon Damien Tudehope MLC , Minister for Finance and Small Business , and the Hon Mr Dominello , Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service .
How staff will be protected if entry is challenged by non-vaccinated customers once restrictions lift , as well as digital vaccine passports , QR codes and reopening assistance topped the list .
“ People [ customers ] are responsible for themselves , you [ businesses ] are not police officers , we are working on what is reasonable … you fulfill your obligations as a business if you , or your signage say we follow the Public Health Orders ,” Mr Dominello explained .
Ms Preston said business focus “ should be on delivering a great customer experience ” not being expected to act as police .
“ Both Ministers talked about the small business kit that NSW Government is assembling . It will be announced soon and will have guidelines on reopening and equipping businesses on how to deal with customers and staff , post lockdown ,” Ms Preston told the Independent .
The idea of the government supporting a ‘ Love Local ’ digital discount voucher scheme was well received .
“ Hawkesbury has a reputation for its loyalty in supporting local businesses , so if a promotion like this can bolster that support for our businesses , then that ’ s worth doing ,” Ms Preston said .
“ Minister Dominello really liked that suggestion and will further explore that opportunity .”
The forum was the result of Ms Preston talking individually with businesses about their concerns and issues during the pandemic .
“ It was important that local businesses got to engage first-hand with the Ministers dealing directly with the problems that small businesses face .”
She said it was evident businesses wanted answers and better support .
“ Businesses want a clear framework post lockdown and posed questions about their rights , their staff ’ s rights and the rights of their customers ,” Ms Preston said .
“ We are going to be doing business differently , but I know that our small businesses just want to get out there and get back to doing what they do best and we as a government need to support them every way we can .”
Businesses can expect a State Government ‘ tool kit ’ of help in the coming days .
Vale Peter Speet , AFSM
Regarded in the highest esteem by all who knew him , hundreds of people have paid their respects to Peter Vaughan Speet AFSM , who passed away on 12 September .
Mr Speet , 79 , retired captain of Oakville Rural Fire Service , was farewelled by a small group of family at Pitt Town Anglican Church on 18 September . His funeral procession through Oakville and Pitt Town was escorted by two Oakville fire trucks . Members of the RFS , National Parks and Wildlife Service and friends lined the streets to honour a well loved and admired man .
A memorial service is being planned in Mr Speet ’ s honour at Scheyville National Park once COVID-19 restrictions ease to allow large gatherings .
One minute ’ s silence was observed at last month ’ s Hawkesbury City Council meeting as councillors paid tribute to the former Oakville RFS captain and Hawkesbury RFS group captain . Councillor Nathan Zamprogno , member of Oakville RFS and longtime friend , said he was “ tremendously saddened ” to hear of Mr Speet ’ s passing and hoped council could honour his 60-plus years ’ service to the community publicly .
“ He was , in every sense ‘ Mr Oakville ’. No one better exemplified the kind of broad , laconic , no-nonsense commonsense that gets stuff done that only farmers can produce ,” Cr Zamprogno said .
“ My teens were spent on the back of the Studebaker , Oakville 1 , rolling from burn off to bushfire . By Peter ’ s side I learned to admire his self-sacrifice , and about serving the community .
“ I remember … he would talk about the importance of giving back , and of how it isn ’ t the government that makes good communities ; it ’ s people , pulling together . The lesson stuck . “ Peter gave me my first paying job , weeding his strawberry fields at
Oakville and at Dutch ’ s farm up at Mountain Lagoon . “ But Peter also gave over 60 years of service to the Hawkesbury , and mentored many other young people , as Oakville ’ s standing at the RFS championships year after year attests . That , and the presence of Oakville RFS as one of the largest and most active brigades in the district , if not the State . “ Peter rose to become Captain , Group Captain and recently Emeritus Captain of the Brigade .
“ I joined dignitaries only last November to honour Peter in receiving an extraordinary 4th clasp to his National Medal .”
4 ISSUE 137 // OCTOBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT