A celebration of courage and resilience

SUPPORTING the city’s individuals of enterprise every day, Commerce Ballarat’s team knows plenty of local legends in business.

A new video series, Local Legends, is part of their #shoutoutballarat initiative, encouraging buyers to see the personalities behind the businesses they’ve known, engaged and shopped with over many years.

Commerce Ballarat CEO, Jodie Gillett said these people are looking for support more than ever.

“Local Legends is about helping the general community, and people who are not in small business, to understand the different affects that COVID has had this year, so far,” she said.

“It’s turning into a celebration of their courage and resilience, and they have lovely stories.”

The ongoing series has been releasing two clips a week. Featured faces have included Ballarat Seafoods’ Phil Maher, Ballarat Engineering Plastics’ Justin Kent, The Underground Movement’s Dylan Lesock and The Foundry’s Liz Green.

“We’re choosing people who are much loved in our community. Maybe they’re the faces you don’t see very often in the media, but so many of us shop or eat there,” Mrs Gillett said.

“Liz’s video shows her quiet strength. All their generosity and ability to just soldier on under incredibly difficult circumstances is something to be celebrated.

“We’ve got an episode this week where an accommodation provider makes a statement about the positives of the COVID period.”

Mrs Green first opened doors to Mair Street’s The Upholstery Gallery, 13 years ago, which has since moved down the hill, becoming The Foundry.

During the pandemic, she’s been mindful of staying positive, perseverant, respectful of others’ space, and patient.

This hasn’t been difficult for her to do, impressed by Ballarat people doing their best to buy local and keep small businesses like her homewares, clothing and coffee shop alive.

“People are not going on holidays, so they’re putting new carpet in, ordering a new couch and buying cushions, a throw or new bed linen,” Mrs Green said.

“They’ve been extraordinary, and very supportive of my business. From what I hear, a lot of people are buying takeaway from restaurants as well, and spreading the love around.

“They need to be congratulated. They’re really focussed on spending their money locally.”