Tourists are starting to filter back into the High Country with COVID-19 restrictions slowly being lifted.
Over the long weekend Omeo was inundated with people getting out for the first time in a long while.
The Crazy Cow Café’ & Bakery reported, brisk trade for all three days of the Queens Birthday break.
Proprietor, Kellie Hodson, told the Advertiser “it was insanely busy, a huge three days”.
She said most people arriving in Omeo were people in four-wheel drives who had arrived in the High Country to go camping.
“I think people were just happy to be able to get out and about again,” she said.
Ms Hodson had anticipated the weekend rush and had prepared well in advance.
The local milk bar also reported steady trade, even while the restrictions were in place.
Employee, Melinda Armstrong, said those popping into the milk bar were predominantly contractors or locals, but also those who didn’t want to abide by the rules.
Ms Armstrong anticipates a cold winter will continue to deliver them customers.
“They reckon it will be a good snow season, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.
Ollie Pearse, who works at Omeo Ski Hire and Service Station, said Omeo had resembled a ghost town during lockdown, but trade had been slowly picking up this month.
“We’d normally rely on trade over the Christmas break but the bushfires stole that from us and we lost Easter to the virus, so we’re hoping the early snow falls are a good sign,” Mr Pearse said.
He said there was uncertainty at one point whether the snow season would go ahead, but it’s now been given the green light by the State Government.
The weekend’s tourists provided encouragement and dose of positivity to businesses in the town, which have done it tough since the start of 2020.
The Switch Recycling Boutique has kept its doors open throughout the coronavirus crisis providing a focal point for people to drop in for a chat.
The store also offers snow chain hire for those visiting the snow with additional chain drop off points on the mountain and at Harrietville.
Hoys also offers a fitting service between Hotham and Harrietville.
While the sunny winter weather has enticed sightseers back to Omeo, the local hardware store has been virtually non-stop all year.
Damian Pendergast told the Advertiser last week, “we’re just flat out, we haven’t stopped”.
Mr Pendergast said it had been busy since Boxing Day with bushfire recovery activities ensuring the business kept ticking over.
“I’m one of the fortunate ones,” he said. Farmers purchasing fencing materials as well as last minute end of financial year spending have kept his doors open.
“There’s also a bit of building going on in the area too,” Mr Pendergast said.
“We’re usually pretty consistent anyway, but the past six months has been busy. The rural sector is still pretty good.”
Foodworks in Omeo has felt the strain of a downturn in business.
Proprietor, Kumar Somireddy, said the fires and COVID had impacted two of the usually busy holiday periods.
“That has impacted our takings by 20 per cent, but we’re still being supported by the locals. That’s how we’ve been able to sustain ourselves,” Mr Somireddy said.
To add to Foodworks’ woes, the local football club has also cancelled the rest of its playing season putting a lid on the usual spend it would do in the supermarket.
“They’re usually a big customer,” Mr Somireddy said.
“The last time we were busy was Melbourne Cup weekend, that was our last busy period.”
The Omeo Caravan Park said it managed to survive thanks to the Australian Defence Force checking in during Operation Bushfire Assist.
However, last weekend saw most cabins and vans booked, heralding a return to normality.
“We’ve been knocking people back, so that’s a good sign,” Lou Beltrame said.
IMAGE: Ollie Pearse, from Omeo Ski Hire & Service Station, says Omeo resembled a ghost town during lockdown, but tourists are now returning to the High Country. K303-6245
