Shop locally and help Surf Coast Shire’s small businesses

DURING the necessary self-isolation due to coronavirus, if you are looking for ways to get “no contact” takeaway and home delivered goods, as well as online services from small local businesses, Surf Coast Shire has created a website to help. Buy Surf Coast – www.buysurfcoast.com.au – is a free online directory where residents can find out how to get a broad range of goods and services from local companies in each of the shire’s towns and localities.

Set up two weeks ago by Surf Coast Shire Council, the new website’s main aims are to help small local businesses keep their doors open and to make it easy for local residents to find out about their services.

The website already features more than 200 business listings, which are updated daily.

One local business which has quickly changed the way they work to make it easier for residents to access fresh food is Gentle Annie Berry Gardens.

For residents of the Deans Marsh community and surrounding areas, Gentle Annie Berry Gardens has become a central “no contact” pick-up point for local produce and basic supplies. They offer a variety of fresh locally-sourced meats, milk, butter, eggs, fruit and vegetables, as well as delicious heat-and-serve meals created from fresh local produce and wood-fired pizzas.

Owned and operated by husband and wife Doug and Leanne Campbell, with invaluable help from their chef Sion Hardwood, they are keen to offer more local produce too.

So if you are a local grower wanting to sell locally, or if you are looking for a great takeaway meal or wanting to stock up on some fresh foods, call Gentle Annie on 5236 3391. Check their website www.gentleannie.net.au for full details of their current offering, including the precautions they are taking.

Another business which has adapted, by boosting their home delivery service is M & J Nolan Dairy.

The dairy distribution business is owned and operated by Matt and Jessica Nolan, a young couple with an eight-week-old daughter and two-year-old son. Started by Matt’s father in 1989, the business mainly delivers dairy products to cafes and restaurants along the Surf Coast and in Geelong, but are also offering home milk delivery to residents in both areas.

After taking over in the business 2016, Matt and Jessica added Geelong-made fresh cheeses and fruit juices, and alternative milk products to their range. With the coronavirus affecting their normal customer base in the past fortnight, the couple are determined to get through “to the other side”, as Matt said.

Whether you are a family at home, a café, takeaway shop or restaurant, you can have fresh dairy products and fruit juice delivered to your door by contacting Matt and Jessica on 0405 258 497, or via facebook.com/Sungold-Milk-M-J-Nolan.