Lorne & COVID-19 Finding some Positives

Just as we thought that life was going to take a step towards normal again, the Victorian Premier announces that the planned easing of restrictions scheduled to come into force on Monday 22 June would not happen and the State of Emergency will remain in place until July 19.

One can’t help but feel sympathy for the hospitality businesses in Lorne, most of whom have innovated and provided take away services and then opened their doors for limited numbers of patrons. It can’t have been easy and probably not profitable and then, just as it seemed the restrictions were to be eased; they are dealt another blow.

It seems that we are living in an era of real uncertainty. We have all had to adapt our lives to the environment and restrictions in which we find ourselves. Retail and hospitality in Lorne have been hit hard and yet in other sectors; trades and services, business has been booming. Lorne Foodworks for example, has experienced an increase in business in March-May over the same period last year.

Something is happening in Lorne.

The Committee for Lorne has spoken for some years about a strategy for affordable accommodation in Lorne and the desire to see the population increase particularly through an increase in young people and families. We would like to see the population grow and provide a more sustainable base year-round for the businesses in Lorne. Well, it seems that, as a result of COVID-19, that “lift” has happened.

There are many people with homes in Lorne who would normally be heading north at this time of the year, but border restrictions have prevented that. A number of families who decided to relocate from Melbourne to their holiday homes in this region, because they felt this location offered a better environment for working from home and remote schooling. For some, the experience has been so positive that the children are now attending Lorne P-12 College and the families have decided to relocate permanently. There have been many stories of people deciding that they could work just as productively from their home in Lorne as they could from their home in Melbourne or wherever. So, Lorne has experienced a growth in its population base during this period. It’s interesting to note that it has taken such a negative “trigger” as COVID-19 to provide the impetus for people to spend time in Lorne. For many, it’s been more time than they would spend in the whole year and they’ve had time to experience what Lorne and the region has to offer.

Social media has been a great forum to observe how people have engaged in experiences in and around Lorne and how they have reacted. There have been countless photographs published of Lorne sunrises, beach views, flowers, birds, waterfalls etc. There have been so many photographs of the Redwoods near Beech Forest to suggest that people are taking the time to travel end enjoy. There have been many comments about people finding a balance between working from a remote location and having, and taking, time to enjoy the location. Folks living permanently in Lorne understand it; from children getting out of school and ten minutes later, heading to the beach in their wetsuit with board under arm, to adults taking time in the day for a walk on the beach, a surf or a walk in the bush. So, it seems that for a lot of those people who decided to “lock down” in Lorne, the experience has been very positive.

This strange era has also, it seems, led to an interest in, and maybe a hankering for, the times of yesteryear. There have been so many historic photos of Lorne and surrounds, groups making the trek to waterfalls and enjoying a picnic, old photographs of football and netball teams, and all leading to responses starting with, “I remember…”. Maybe these difficult times have prompted recollection of simpler times because we have had to simplify our lives and in doing so, perhaps reflect upon whether, through creeping complexity, our lives pre-COVID had just got so busy that we lost sight of taking the time to enjoy the little things and find balance in our lives. A few weeks ago, Lorne had one of the highest tides in years. It was amazing to see so many people on the foreshore just watching the waves and the surge and the surfers.

So, in summary, maybe there are some real positives that will endure post-COVID. People opting for a simpler lifestyle in Lorne without the burden of traffic and the other negative aspects of big cities yet realising that work can still be productive. Lorne has so much to offer; good education facilities, a hospital, police, fire, ambulance services, good restaurants and an amazing natural environment. With an increased focus on the Lorne of old, will, hopefully, come an awareness and appreciation of the importance of maintaining the environment and ambience of Lorne, and that in turn, provides for a new, more balanced lifestyle for those who dare to make the move.  

Peter Spring
Committee for Lorne