Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • OPINION

might never have had the time previously.
We made pasta from scratch and
cinnamon buns and we got chickens and
marvelled in the excitement of getting
fresh eggs. I was home in the afternoon
before it got dark. We ordered takeaway
from our favourite restaurants who
had never previously offered takeaway.
However, it felt like time had stopped, like
we were all on pause, just waiting for life
to go back to normal.
Imagine being a small business owner
during this time. Through no fault of your
own, your business has been shut down
overnight. The locals and travellers whom
you once sold your coffees or lunches,
your reef tickets, your ice creams and
vegetables; they all simply vanished. It
was for many Far North Queensland
businesses – and still is – a difficult
A business-led The morning coffee at my favourite time. Queensland has begun navigating
life back in the community with social
café turned instead to jumping on
recovery the #whippedcoffee bandwagon at distancing and hand sanitiser, but there
are still many businesses out there doing
home and posting it on socials with a
#covidphotodiaries hashtag. Weekends it tough.
COLUMN
out with friends and family turned into a This is going to be a business-led recovery,
National Australia Bank’s frenzy of organising the linen cupboard and as Australia’s leading business bank,
it’s our job to help customers prosper by
Far North Queensland leader and veggie gardening. I didn’t know making business easier.
tomatoes could taste so good until I grew
Elisha-Vi Raso reflects on the them in my garden. I pressure cleaned I am positive about the future, and the
year that’s been. every single square inch of my property opportunities for businesses in the
and I threatened to pressure clean the Far North. I look forward to Australia’s
Do you remember during lockdown, kids if they stayed still too long. borders opening in a safe way and
walking down the streets of Cairns and welcoming domestic tourism back to our
seeing no one? region again. To see sunburnt tourists
No coffee shops or restaurants, no chatter heading in and out of the inlet on reef
or laughs or clinking glasses. No tourists boats and hear the chatter and clinking
sporting sunburn and backpacks. Empty This is going of glasses at capacity in our restaurants
car parks in front of closed shops. No kids to be a and hotels. Our city bouncing back to
playing in the park or throwing a tantrum the incredibly vibrant place it’s always
about not getting an ice-cream. business-led been. The best way to do this right now,
Rusty’s was no longer the bustling recovery and it’s our is for locals to go out and support local
melting pot of culture and flavour we all businesses and get the economy thriving
adore. The Red Arrow became one way. job to help customers again. We know many customers are
There were no planes. There was nothing. prosper by making still doing it tough. If you’re struggling
It was eerie and it was heartbreaking. financially, please call us and we can help
It was a stark contrast to the Cairns I’ve business easier you work through it.
spent most of my life in. The vibrant city The team at NAB in Far North
we all know and love, simply stopped. Elisha-Vi Queensland have always been there
Oh, how we missed the things we Raso to provide advice and support to our
took for granted; the afternoon walks customers, and with the largest banking
along the Esplanade; taking the kids to Let’s just say of my many skills, home presence in Far North Queensland,
Muddy’s; grabbing a coffee before work schooling is not one of them. I’m a much we have never been better placed to
and a friendly chat with our local barista; better banker. provide this support in a post-COVID
having lunch on the waterfront while While it was challenging, we embraced environment.
watching the reef boats head in and out, other opportunities. I took my kids on
or weekends exploring the national parks bike rides and we saw so much more of MORE: nab.com.au
with their many creeks and waterfalls. our neighbourhood on walks, when we

27 • tropicnow.com.au