Gidgegram May 2020
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Published by the Gidgegannup Agricultural Society (Inc) May 2020 Established 1978 POSTAGE Email: Secretary: [email protected] or Show Committee: [email protected] PAID AUSTRALIA All quiet in the village on Anzac Day Carol Salt on Anzac Day 2020. Photo: Peter Harms. At 6am on a dark and rainy morning, local resident Carol Salt held a lonely Anzac Day dawn service. After saying the Ode, Coffee, Cakes Sandwiches, Carol took her Bugle to perform the Last Post, followed by Burgers freshly made to go! the traditional one minute’s silence and then the Rouse. Gidgegannup village was deserted except for the Gidge Bakery where the baker was hard at work. GIDGE Carol is an Instrumental music teacher and a proud member ? of Canning City Brass. Thanks to Carol for your remembrance, and thanks to the unknown person who left ONE the wreath at the site (pictured above on the left). STOP Sandra Harms Gidgegannup Agricultural Society Your local supplier of STOCKFEED & Pet Food We are working in the belief that the major effects of the pandemic will be past and in October the 74th Gidgegannup Agricultural Show will proceed. Best time to start planning and working on your projects is GARDEN PRODUCTS now! Fruit Trees, Seedlings Become a member of the Agricultural Society and take part in and Ornamentals making this year a vibrant event. Membership Form page 10. Plus household essentials, bread, milk and vegies [email protected] Although every effort to remain totally impartial, the Editor and the individual members 2507 Toodyay Rd Gidgegannup 6083 9578 3784 of the Gidgegannup Agricultural Society (The Publisher) cannot be made responsible for comments and opinions voiced in letters received. 2 May 2020 Gidgegram June 2020: Deadline Thursday 21st May 2020 - Distribution 27th May 2020 Email: [email protected] OR hand it in to Gidge Newsagency to put in box for collection. PO Box 22, Gidgegannup CLASSIFIEDS Advertisers please note! Need an experienced As printing and distribution costs have increased over the past years the Gidgegram advertising prices have to hardworking reliable gardener? be adjusted this year, thank you for your continued support. Call Jim 9574 7166 Cost per edition 2020 1/8 page ...............................................................$25.00 1/4 page............................................................... $50.00 STRAW Huge 8ft x 4ft Bales 1/2 page ...............................................................$95.00 Full Page ............................................................$180.00 equivalent to 35 small bales. Classifieds (Text Only)........................................ $11.00 Garden Mulch, water saving and weed suppression Also some suitable for animal bedding, Horse etc. Lawn and Garden Services $70 pick up - Delivery extra. Giving you a healthy yard for Phone 9572 9066 or Mobile 0417 991 302 a happy home Mowing, Edging, Pruning, Planting, Weeding, Spraying for weeds, Pests, Fertilising and Garden clean-ups Kristen Billinghurst 0459 693 650 [email protected] Organic Olive Oil Sales Functions / weddings / picnic hampers NEW MENU Modern Australian A-la-Carte Gold Plate Chef Bookings Op 9574en 6424 for BYO Take- Aways Lot 122 Mayo Road Phone Opening Hours (near Noble Falls) 9574 6 Sat 9am - 9pm Gidgegannup 424 Sun 9am - 4pm www.cherithgrove.com.au May 2020 3 Local business adapts to Covid-19 changes By Ieva Tomsons Local businesses in Gidgegannup have stepped up to adapt to national health directives which have, in most cases, reduced customer patronage and the ability to trade freely. At Tim Eva's Nursery vegetable seedlings and seed potatoes have been walking out the door. “Customers have more time now and they are getting back into gardening so hopefully they will keep it up,” said Tim. Prior to the Covid-19 lockdown the nursery's retail side was slow but new customers are coming in to learn how to be more self- sufficient. “They enjoy the visit as it gives them a valid reason to get out,” according to Tim. Ann Williams and Alan Edge have closed their newsagency on Craig Chappell with Matthew Wickins at Gidge One Stop. Craig opened the Saturdays as a direct result of the pandemic. business only a month before the pandemic set in. Photo: Peter Harms. There have also been interruptions to mail and parcel freight deliveries from the eastern states due to the suspension of Social distancing is 'encouraged' at the counter where a binding interstate passenger planes. twine barrier at the counter sports a 'warning/electric fence' “More people want to pay by Eftpos which is sometimes a which gets a laugh. problem as it shares the line with the phone,” said Alan who is expecting even more parcel deliveries due to online shopping. At Gidgegannup Produce and Saddlery Lyn and Bob Stevens say Social distancing regulations have stopped bar and restaurant it's business as usual, including delays to specialised horse feed service at the Noble Falls Tavern which continues to provide a which occurred regularly before the pandemic. takeaway service of food and beverages from 4-8pm. “There is no shortage of hay and chaff but gas sales have definitely increased as more people stay home,” said Lyn. Sharon and Brian Wickins have encouraged their staff to take “Toilet paper is king,” laughs Gidgegannup IGA Xpress annual leave and a returning chef will trial takeaway deliveries proprietor John Pellegrini. within a 10km radius of the tavern. “Tissues are still a problem and flour and pasta are in short Keg deliveries have been suspended but 'growlers' (flagon beer) supply as the warehouse suppliers can't keep up with demand,” will be available until stocks run out. he said. “We couldn't get hand sanitiser for our customers, so we started Early panic buying of stockfeed was reported by Gidgegannup making our own.” Produce and Saddlery, Gidge Rural and Gidge One Stop Even with low fuel prices income from the Vibe bowsers is lower (Pullela's). with fewer people being able to travel across the intra-state border at Morangup and Toodyay Roads. “There were a lot of new faces for the first few weeks looking for dog food and kitty litter,” said Helen Martin-Smith from Gidge Pharmacist Jana Practico at Gidgegannup Pharmacy is well Rural which also supplies soil and building materials. placed to deal with the hand sanitiser shortage and also makes Soil for veggie gardens and pine posts are in demand as her own. customers with more spare time build cubby houses and Even before the Federal Government banned the issue of playground equipment for their housebound kids. multiple prescriptions Jana had acted to ensure no one was left Gidge Rural has fast-tracked a web-ordering system and pre- without their medication due to hoarding. prepares orders for older customers who can remain in their cars “There is a shortage of Level 3 medication and no choice in while the goods are loaded. brands allocated at the wholesale level. We're in a pandemic and people have to understand that,” said Jana. 4 May 2020 Jana and her staff were shocked at the abuse they received from family-size pies and some takeaway meals. an established customer who berated them for closing on Proprietor Antje Buurman is happy to provide leftover bread, Saturdays which Jana said was necessary to give staff the chance pastry items and meals to the local Country Women's to shop for their groceries in depleted stores. Association. “They do a wonderful job distributing to families in need.” Hairdresser Angie Gray from Gidge Hair Salon was another Cherith Grove Restaurant chef Richard Mehl now provides pre- service provider who made up her own mind about how she ordered takeaway meals on Friday and Saturday nights and would operate during the pandemic. hopes to reopen when spacing regulations are eased and he can While she is entitled to keep working she shut up shop due to re-employ his four casual staff. concerns for her older and vulnerable clients. The restaurant produces its own olive oil but this year because “The government directives were very confusing and the fruit is hand-picked and processed there was no production. contradictory so I did what I thought was right for my customers and will reopen when it feels right to do so. The way things are Local computer specialist Glen Bailes says his business GB's PCs going , that will now be on Tuesday May 12.” is always unpredictable but has noticed an increase in recommissioning old computers as more people are working Bev Kerr at Gidge Takeaway has reduced her opening hours and from home and children are being home schooled. now delivers orders to drivers who can stay in their cars and pay Gidge One Stop lessee Craig Chappell had only been in business by Eftpos. Inside seating is still available but chairs are placed 2m a month when the pandemic struck. apart. “We can't get hake and vegetables have increased from $50 to $80 Apart from an initial run on stockfeed the lack of passing traffic dollars but we are wearing the costs and not handing them on to has severely impacted the new business which also sells coffee, customers.” snacks and a wide variety of plants. Gidge Grog manager Bec Thomson is trading as normal within “The local community has made us feel very welcome,” said the limitations of government restrictions on the amounts of Craig who may see an upturn in trade now that the Morangup alcohol people can buy. community can once again patronise Gidgegannup now that the “At the start trade was a bit slower and (after the restrictions) confusion of the border community's travel rights has been some 2-litre casks were out of stock but prices remain the same,” resolved. Bec said.