8 September 2021

Online shopping is helping Yass Valley community survive lockdown

| Sally Hopman
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Rowena Abbey

Yass Valley Council Mayor Rowena Abbey has applauded local businesses and the community for helping each other to work through the COVID-19 crisis. Photo: Supplied.

If you live in the Yass Valley and can’t get into town, the best of town can now come to you.Yass Valley Council has just launched an online business and services directory which shows locals what’s available and what it costs while being COVID-19 safe at the same time.

The new Yass Valley Local Business Directory features a diverse range of services, all of which have adapted their operations to fit these unique times, be it delivering a hot roast dinner to your door, computer repairs, wine orders or design and printing services.

Not only do these mostly contactless services ensure you don’t go without during lockdown, they also help local businesses stay afloat.

Yass Valley Council Mayor Rowena Abbey said now is the perfect time to provide the online business directory to Yass Valley residents, many of who have not been able to travel to Canberra or Sydney because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

“This is a tough time for everyone, but I am encouraging anyone with a steady income or with the financial means to spend in local businesses during this time,” she said. “By giving a little now, we give businesses the best chance to keep their doors open when life returns to normal.

“Plus, with restrictions limiting our movements, now is a great time to discover businesses available on our doorstep. You might be surprised by what you find.”

Not only are businesses changing how they operate, they are showing their most charitable sides, with many of them – and their customers – donating special treats to frontline staff at the Yass COVID-19 vaccination centre at Walker Park.

One of the town’s most popular wholefood cafes, Trader & Co, is doing just that, and it has written a heart-warming thank-you message to the community on its front window: “Thanks for all your support Yass! You really make our hearts sing! Big love! The Trader Team!”

Thank-you message written on front window of Trader and Co in Yass

A thank-you message written on the front window of Trader & Co in Yass. Photo: Sally Hopman.

While we all have different descriptions of what constitutes essential items, most of the region’s cold-climate wineries have signed up to the online directory, ensuring their prize drops are available by delivery or cellar door pick-up.

By doing what they can to keep themselves operating and provide what the community needs, many of the businesses are suggesting locals use the lockdown time to get things done that they might have been putting off, such as getting dings in the side of your car fixed or installing solar power.

The new online directory is full of locals offering services such as car repairs, signage design and printing, purchase of whitegoods, onsite heavy vehicle repairs, and computer repair.

You can even click-and-collect cars, but it is best to check them out online first.

READ ALSO Yass community to benefit from $3.5m new road funds

You can get a plumber, tee up an online butcher to come to your place to do his pasture-to-plate thing with your livestock, or collect farm fresh eggs, veggies and manure from various farm gates from Sutton to Murrumbateman.

The directory also includes some quiet little success stories, such as the general store at Binalong which is selling everything from pet food and fencing wire, to drenches and vaccines – no, not COVID-19 ones.

Pharmacies are also going beyond the call, offering click-and-collect and free home delivery if you live in Yass.

If you’re in need of a little spoiling, you can also buy some scented soy candles, have flowers delivered, and get click-and-collect homewares and original craft. You can even have a poem written for you on commission.

The new Yass Valley Local Business Directory is available here.

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