After spending five years making jams and meat rubs in Horsham, the next thing Bindi Rollinson is looking to preserve is her business.
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A sole trader with Farmgirl Produce, Ms Rollinson says she is finding it hard to get by on JobKeeper alone.
She is supporting growing calls for the Victorian government to expand its COVID-19 Business Support Fund to cover business owners like her.
"I don't know how long I can keep holding on to this little business," she said.
"I make, label, market and sell the product. It's very difficult at the best of times, because I'm only one person.
"I haven't had outlets since basically March to sell my product.
"I've been told by the council there are no events being held in this region until March 2021. I have ten stockists throughout Victoria, and nine have closed or minimised their business to adapt. Most of them are wineries."
The program provides $5,000 for businesses that employ staff in regional local government areas. Applications close September 14.
"Sole traders and partnerships must employ other than themselves to be eligible," the latest guidelines read.
Ms Rollinson is receiving JobKeeper, but says there is little left of this for her to live on after she pays her business overheads.
"I still have public liability insurance, product insurance, council registration, bills," she said. "I'm home-based, but I still have to live. I'm running a full-blown business with no income, so it's been difficult."
She said having access to the Business Support Fund would take more pressure off, and allow her to continue producing.
"I would be ready to hit the ground running when events start up again," she said.
"Hopefully we have a Christmas trade. If I don't have that, I don't have a good outlook for Farmgirl Produce, to be honest. October to December are my main income months. I live off them for the following six months until the events start again."
Ms Rollinson's home-based shop is open by appointment. She is hoping for good Father's Day trade to help turns things around.
"I'm such a creative person, so to not have that drive to get out of bed to create what I love doing... It's like cutting off my hands," she said. "It's not just a product to me, it's my soul.
"I also live alone, so being isolated, I don't have anybody at home to talk to. I've relied on my close friends, and the other support I have really appreciated are my stockists, who have picked up the phone to see how I'm travelling.
Ms Rollinson said other home-based businesses in Horsham had helped her greatly during this time.
"We've been calling each other and sharing posts on social media. I don't have the money to support them and vice-vera, but I had Tanya Stanley form Beetanical drop off honey. Little gestures like that (are so important), we are like family."
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said she had received many calls from sole traders concerned no help was available.
"It is inequitable and unjust that Victorian sole traders are being denied access to COVID-19 business support," Ms Kealy said.
"Troublingly, the stories are all similar; each is juggling family, work and business financial commitments and their ability to generate income has been taken away due to no fault of their own.
"Daniel Andrews must immediately extend the Victoria's Business Support Program and provide COVID-19 support to include sole traders."
Wimmera Development Association head Chris Sounness said his organisation had also been pushing the government to make this change.
In the meantime, Ms Rollinson said other home-based businesses in Horsham had helped her greatly during this time.
"We've been calling each other and sharing posts on social media. I don't have the money to support them and vice-vera, but I had Tanya Stanley form Beetanical drop off honey. Little gesutres like that (are so important), we are like family."
The Mail-Times has contacted Employment and Small Business Minister and Western Victorian MP Jaala Pulford for comment.
State of the region
At its meeting on Monday, Horsham Rural City Council considered its latest economic development report.
"Department of Treasury Data suggests that over 400 businesses have taken up JobKeeper in the municipality," this read in part.
"Remplan have also recently released modelling for the uptake of JobKeeper across Australia which demonstrates the economic impact has been very region and industry specific with an estimate of 23% of businesses in our municipality taking up JobKeeper whilst many government and agricultural jobs appear to have been unaffected."
Council staff reported its Business Support Team has had "direct contact with over 300 businesses" in the past four months. Director of Community Wellbeing Kevin O'Brien said businesses were focusing on adjusting back to stage three.
"We must be mindful of any support we provide, and especially the (financial hardship) grants. Though these have been well-responded to, businesses are focusing on making those adjustments," he said.
The Remplan data also shows West Wimmera and Yarriambiack Shires have the lowest proportions of businesses that applied for JobKeeper support of anywhere in Victoria.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
