Though the weather may have put some off making the most of eased restrictions today, businesses and locals were enjoying the new freedoms in a low key way by visiting cafés again or shopping at local retail.  

“Thank you to all of our loyal customers and all the locals who have supported us during the past hard weeks,” says Angela Miller, Owner of My Room in Kiama.

“We’ve had lots of calls of positive encouragement and people walking past just to say hello and checking if we are ok.

“We did lots of click and collect and deliveries over the lockdown so we were very lucky but we are just thrilled to be open now.

“It’s been a nice morning so far and everyone’s showing their double vax certificate so there’s been no drama. I’m allowed six people in the shop and I’m all set up now and ready to go for a fantastic summer.”

Enjoying the first lunch inside for some time at Penny Whistlers

Penny Whistlers’ owner Pete Henderson also welcomes the eased restrictions and is thrilled to be able to have customers dining there again, as well as bringing back live music on Saturdays.

“We are just so excited to be opening and doing what we should be doing as a café,” he says.

“It’s been great so far, and all the locals have been super excited to come in here as well, but I think the hardest part now is trying to find chefs to work because everyone’s trying to do the same for their business.

“We are also starting our live music again from this Saturday which is going to be really good and it will help our local musicians who have struggled for so long now.”

While cold and wet, locals still celebrated the freedoms by getting coffee outside with their friends.

“It is terrific that local businesses are able to open up - I can get a real haircut now,” says Doug Everett.

“It is great being able to sit down at a coffee shop and not having to wander around trying to find a place to sit outside.”

His friend Phil Cox agrees, but adds, “We’re just thankful we can get out of the town and go somewhere else now.”

Some of the brave who ventured out

Other residents we spoke to were keen to travel to other LGAs to visit family and friends once we reach the 80% mark for double dose vaccinations.

“When we can, being able to go to visit our family in Wollongong is going to be really good as we haven’t seen them for months,” says Tony Abela.

With businesses starting to open again, the Kiama and District Business Chamber has launched a campaign called the ‘COVID-19 Compassion campaign’.

It aims to support local businesses by reminding customers to be kind and compassionate during the phasing in of the new system, which requires vaccination status to be checked before entry.

They have developed signage to go at business fronts which asks everyone to do what is requested to enter the premises, be safe and courteous and follow Public Health Orders and be compassionate as local businesses and the local community need support.

To find out more about current restrictions, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules