ONE local business owner is doing her bit to help restaurants and cafes forced to do takeaway only during COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Sonia Anthony, owner of Masons of Bendigo has compiled a list of takeaway options and is urging people to continue to support local.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post on Saturday Ms Anthony wrote, \u201cLet me know in the comments below if YOUR favourite local hospitality business is open for takeaway and be in the running to win a $200 voucher to a venue of your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The post received over 400 comments and Ms Anthony\u2019s live Google Spreadsheet has over 100 businesses listed.<\/p>\n
She said the idea was to encourage people to find new places for food and help hospitality businesses like her own, affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of did it a few lockdowns ago, and I don\u2019t even know which one,\u201d she said. \u201cFor me I feel a strong connection with our industry, local hospitality industry and the City of Gastronomy I want to see all of us come out of this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have so much variety and there\u2019s so many amazing businesses out there that offer such a wide range of different foods and cuisines and styles of products and to lose any of that would take away from that immense diversity that we have.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s some little thing that I can do and that\u2019s creating a list for people, then I\u2019m happy to do that and I think it works for me as well because there\u2019s all these places that I never knew about that I\u2019ll be checking out as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The recipient of the $200 voucher was owner of Soul M8\u2019s Takeaway Chantal White and Ms Anthony said that while Soul M8\u2019s is a consistent takeaway restaurant, cancellations of local sport have seen their trade struggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to hear that and small business owners work so hard all the time and it\u2019s really difficult when situations are out of your control,\u201d Ms Anthony said.<\/p>\n
Ms Anthony said customers spending in local restaurants makes a \u201cmassive difference\u201d and is hopeful that her list will help businesses support each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople generally do want to support and be given a little bit of direction or offer their ideas or suggestions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really nice as a business owner to see people going yeah, I love going to this place and I love going here because they make this amazing dish.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it keeps you going through the times that aren\u2019t so great. I\u2019m hoping that those little messages that people put out there will have a positive impact as well.\u201d<\/p>\n