Cairns business: Back-to-school shopping blitz picks up pace

Students gained an extra two weeks’ holidays when a return to school was delayed due to Covid, but that hasn’t stopped families hitting the shops to prepare.

CAIRNS school supplies stores are gearing up for a shopping blitz as families make their preparations repair for a delayed return to classrooms.

Students expecting to return to school on January 24 gained an extra two weeks on holidays as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pushed back the start date for school year to February 7, designed to avoid the predicted peak of Omicron cases.

Harleys Educational owner Jenny Austin expects the coming weeks to be busy at the Manunda school supplies store.

“We have delivered a lot, people are scared to come out because they are worried about Covid, we have done hundreds of orders, but we expect people to start coming at the end of next week,” Mrs Austin said.

Ariya Buckley, 3, of Bentley Park, casts her inquisitive eyes over some books at Harleys Educational Superstore in Manunda. She will attend Child's World daycare at Bentley Park while her 7-year-old brother Darius will attend St Therese's School. Picture: Brendan Radke

At Officeworks Cairns, replenishment co-ordinator Nathan Couchman said it was hectic at the shop.

“Back to school is our busiest time of the year, it’s flat out,” Mr Couchman said.

“We have a lot of families coming in, and with school pushed back, people have more time to prepare as well.”

Centacare FNQ’s School Savvy pop-up shops, which aim to provide school uniforms and supplies for disadvantaged families, are operating at Raintrees Shopping Centre weekdays from 10am to 2pm to January 25, and at Innisfail Shire Hall on January 19 and 20 from 10am to 2pm.

Ariya Buckley, 3, of Bentley Park, casts her inquisitive eyes over some books at Harleys Educational Superstore in Manunda. Picture: Brendan Radke

Most items can be bought for a gold coin, with proceeds invested into more school supplies.

Centacare FNQ executive director Anita Veivers said donations of good quality second hand or new school uniforms and supplies would be accepted throughout January, along with financial donations to buy more expensive items such as dictionaries and calculators.

“Covid has affected many people in our community, and we expect School Savvy will continue to play an important role,” Ms Veivers said.

“Christmas and the summer months are expensive for all families – the need to purchase new school uniforms, textbooks and school supplies can be an extra stress.”

Originally published as Cairns business: Back-to-school shopping blitz picks up pace