Covid, NSW freedom day: Hundreds queue at Kmart and the pub
A pollie knocked back a 9am Workers Club frothy, Kmart lovers have lined up in the midnight rain and pubs opened their doors at 12.01am. Find out how NSW celebrated Freedom Day.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It was a 106 day thirst which needed quenching for many across Sydney, with dozens rushing into Hotel Pennant Hills to celebrate Freedom with a cold beverage.
Bar member Liam Tobin said he was surprised by the number of customers who rushed in from 10am.
“It’s been a lot busier than normal for a Monday,” he said. There were a lot of people that came in at 10am which is not usual. It’s taking off tonight. We’re fully booked.”
Mr Tobin, of Berowra, said it was such a welcome relief to be back at work.
“It was very slow at home and there wasn’t much to do. All you can do is bushwalk and stuff,” Mr Tobin said. “I’ve been lucky to get a few shifts at the bottle shop and to help clean up. It’s good to be back.”
Manager at The Duke of Dural Callum Hampson said it was very exciting having customers back, especially on a rainy Monday.
“It’s lively. Everyone seems happy to be back.”
Over at Rouse Hill, eager punters braved the weather to meet up with their friends over a pint.
Pictures were shared on the pub’s socials of two mates catching up over a beer and bartenders pouring Tooheys on tap.
On Sydney’s northern beaches it was also gloomy and rainy but it didn’t dampen the enjoyment of hundreds of people who took advantage of Freedom Day to visit their favourite cafe or watering hole.
Manly’s famous beachfront Hotel Steyne even ran out of lunchtime chicken schnitzels.
And at one men’s barber shop in Manly, blokes were queuing for about an hour to have their first professional haircut in more than three months
But the cool drizzle did keep the outdoor diners away from the popular cafe and restaurant strip along South Steyne, at the southern end of Manly Beach.
At Hotel Steyne, buddies Sarah Penrose and Rachel Weatherley teamed up for a much anticipated Freedom Day pub “schnitty” with best friend Abbey Cosh, of Dee Why.
Ms Cosh said they had been planning the get-together as soon as they found out the NSW Government was lifting many of the Covid lockdown restrictions.
“We were so excited at getting the chance to go out properly again,” she said.
Ms Weatherley agreed that the chance to socialise had been a long time coming.
“But the pub has run out of schnitzels, so we just had chips instead.”
Nearby, Steyne patrons Patrick Holley, who travelled up from Sylvania this morning to have a drink with his mates, said it great to have a chance to talk to people in person again.
“It’s so good to see people face to face instead of on Zoom,” Mr Holley, who ordered a burger, said.
His mate Sebastian Martinez, from Allambie Heights, was thankful to be able to have a drink in a pub again.
“Better than having a virtual drink on the laptop.”
In a queue of about 10 men outside the M Barber Shop in Darley St, Manly, Ian Jessup, of Queenscliff, said he had been waiting in line for close to an hour, but was next in line for a snip.
“I had my last haircut in May.
“They reckon the queue has been like this since 9am.”
Rafa Galego, of Dee Why, who was second in line, was happy to get his hair cut professionally after his wife had been taking “a little bit off the back” during lockdown.
At the Three Beans Cafe in Manly, chef Lincoln Brazier said a few of the regulars were waiting at the door when it opened at 6am.
“They were so happy to be able to come in and get a seat instead of just have takeaways,” he said.
“We’ve been busy all day, so things are looking up.”
In the city’s west, a pollie downed the first Freedom Day beer at Blacktown Workers Club to celebrate the end of lockdown.
Greenway federal Labor MP Michelle Rowland reached the bar not long after 9am to order a frothy, her beverage of choice being a middy of Furphy.
“That’s what these couple of months have been, a furphy,” she said.
She quickly polished off the beer within a couple of minutes, before ordering a cheeky second off camera.
Blacktown residents have had some of the harshest restrictions, being classified as an LGA of concern for almost the entirety of its lockdown, meaning there were the strictest restrictions in place for its residents.
Freedom Day began early on the Central Coast where barbershop Civitas Terrigal were open from 12.01am for blokes looking to ditch the lockdown locks.
By 5am swimming squads had resumed at Mingara Recreation Club where some unconditioned young bodies were put through their paces.
“At the end I thought I was drowning,” 11-year-old Toni Bentley, of Tumbi Umbi, said.
Erina Fair was a hive of activity with the 4sq m rule leading to queues outside several shops while there were also lines at Tuggerah Westfield for hairdressers.
Wyong’s Royal Hotel welcomed the first patrons through the door at 8am.
Publican Frank Arangio said “lunch was crazy” with about 90 people booked and another capacity crowd expected for dinner.
“It’s been tough for a host of reason, we only just finished renovations in April and in June the lockdown hit,” he said.
“Ninety-nine per cent of people have been really good with their Covid vaccination certificates. There’s still a bit of misunderstanding and we’ve had people, particularly some of the older patrons, walking in with their doctor’s certificates.”
Mr Arangio said a few regulars had returned along with a few new faces given it was “a special day”.
“When you shut down for nearly four months it takes a real effort to get back up and running again,” he said.
It comes as millions across NSW woke up to their first day of freedom after Covid plunged the state into a 106-day lockdown with pubs, restaurants, salons and retail stores throwing open their doors once the clock struck midnight.
However many chose not to sleep and ventured out at 12.01am to taste their first hit of freedom, with eager shoppers lining up outside 24/7 Kmart stores for a bargain.
The crowd favourite hosted opening specials with products as cheap as $2 to celebrate the end of lockdown.
Images and videos taken outside Kmart stores at Blacktown and Penrith show diligent shoppers in queues snaking around the building, eager to make their first post-lockdown purchase.
Dozens of shoppers can be seen lining up before midnight in the lines, which stretched up to 100m from the entrance of the stores.
Kmart Penrith is packed at midnight. Half an hour wait to get in. Even busier at the checkouts. Covid cases are about to 📈 #COVID19nsw#lockdownpic.twitter.com/tS8WlzxGqs
— Yasmina Rifai (@yasminabanana) October 10, 2021
Yasmina Rifai took to Twitter with videos of the long queues at Kmart in Penrith, saying the store was “packed”.
“Half-an-hour wait to get in. Even busier at the check-outs,” Ms Rifai said.
“Freedom day is well and truly underway!”
Footage shows shoppers with trolleys and baskets packed to the brim of clothes, appliances, home decor and other bargain goods.
#Freedomday is well and truly underway at Kmart Penrith. This is the checkouts at 12:30am! #COVID19nswpic.twitter.com/7sR0dzWngg
— Yasmina Rifai (@yasminabanana) October 10, 2021
Shoppers can be seen waiting in long queues for the checkout.
Twitter users expressed their exasperation over the queues, questioning why people would go out in the rain rather than wait until Monday.
Similar scenes were at Kmart in Blacktown, with a TikTok video showing the queues, with hundreds of comments slamming the decision to trek out in the rain.
“What could you possibly want from Kmart at midnight?” one user asked.
Queues at the local Kmart just minutes before midnight. #FreedomDaypic.twitter.com/b7UVixIHxP
— Liam Gilleland (@GillelandLiam) October 10, 2021
“Don’t any of these people have work in the morning?” another said.
Kmart CEO John Gualtieri said Monday‘s opening was like “the light at the end of the tunnel”.
“The past two years have been (for lack of a better word) … tough,” he said.
“We‘re ecstatic to be reopening our doors on Monday.
“We know this wouldn‘t be possible without everyone’s commitment to community.”
Mr Gualteri said Kmart was implementing a range of measures to ensure customers and workers remain safe.
Customers will need to show proof they are fully vaccinated, wear a mask and check-in to the store on arrival.
There will also be Covid marshals and sanitisation stations for customers.
Retail stores, restaurants, pubs, hair salons, gyms and bars are expected to look much the same from Monday as Sydneysiders finally emerge from lockdown.
NSW smashed the 70 per cent vaccination target on October 6, allowing most businesses to trade from 12.01am Monday.
Friends and family also cut off from each other will now be reunited as the 5km bubble is scrapped and 10 people can visit homes, while 30 can gather outdoors.
At Toongabbie Sports Club, chief executive officer Andrew Lauridsen likened the atmosphere to Anzac Day after about 250 punters rocked up for a drink or three.
Teens who just turned 18 celebrated with their first drink, senior bowlers enjoyed beers and another patron’s flutter paid off.
“One of our members got lucky and won $22,000 on the pokies,’’ Mr Lauridsen said.
“It was like Anzac Day with the buzz in the building. That’s our biggest trading day.
“The queue was down the carpark.’’
Management was kept even busier signing up new members and while the club only opened for drinks on midnight, the cash registers are expected to go into overdrive when the eateries reopen throughout Monday as the venue resumes normal trading hours for the remainder of the week.
“I’m expecting all day to be busy,’’ Mr Lauridsen said.
Rain and chilly temperatures did not stop more than one hundred people lining up outside the Steelers Club in Wollongong on Sunday night, waiting for schooner at the pub after more than 100 days.
With last year’s New Years Eve plans sent into disarray after a local Covid outbreak, the club’s manager Sharon Arrow said Freedom Day was the “eve of a brand new year”.
And the buzz, much like New Year’s Eve was palpable, as thirsty locals prepared to order a beer at the bar and finally catch up with their mates.
“We had a countdown like on New Year’s Eve and everyone was just so excited,” she said.
There was a mix of the club’s regulars and uni students, and Ms Arrow said the best part about the night was seeing people from all different ages and backgrounds interacting.
“There was a lot of elbow bumping and genuine concern for each other and staff at how they’ve been managing the past few months,” she said.
“Everyone was so happy to be in the moment, there was a real air of vibrancy and excitement but in a very calm and measured away.”
While staff were somewhat worried about the checking of QR codes and vaccine passports, Ms Arrow said everything went off without a hitch, with patrons remaining calm and respectful.
By 2am, almost 250 people had passed through the doors, with lines and a busy bar expected for days to come.
“It’s going to be big, but we are ready,” Ms Arrow said.
In the Hunter, one of Newcastle’s major shopping centres Charlestown Square was a hive of activity for some retail outlets as fully vaccinated customers were welcomed back to browse until their heart was content.
Clearly top of the list was a haircut and tidy up, with a line up at Barber Industries continuing throughout the day.
Barbers working overtime to fit in large numbers of customers and the backlog of people wanted to look their best post lockdown.
Husband and wife team Tara and Nic Poelaert were just glad to be back trading again, after a long lockdown break forced them to close down
The Hunter couple who run kiosk style cafe Choux Patisserie at Charlestown Square said it’s been great to finally welcome back their customers.
“It’s been nice, slower than expected, but we really didn’t know what to expect,” Ms Poelaert said.
“A lot of our customers are the employees of the shops around so to see customers who are friends after so long, it just feels great to have a purpose again.”
“I do love what I do and there is something very satisfying, because it is our business, that we can share it with people again.”
But the return to trade will be extremely busy for the pair who will have to put in the extra hours, now on the hunt for staff.
“We have no extra staff to rely on for coming weeks, that’s been the complication of many hospitality businesses especially cafes, they are all advertising for staff,” she said.
“Staffing is difficult in hospitality businesses around the availability, the competition for the jobs and maybe people that have tried to use this time as an opportunity to change careers.”
As one of the online hubs across the state, Big W in Charlestown has been super busy fulfilling hundreds of orders from customers each week throughout the lockdown.
But despite this, customers still flocked to the store on Monday morning to get their face-to-face retail fix, with a line of around 100 people eager to get in and start browsing.
The store situated in Charlestown Square reported toys, appliances and apparel were a big hit for its reopening.
“There was such great energy throughout our NSW stores today, as our teams welcomed many excited customers back through our doors to shop safely with us,” a Big W spokesperson said.
In western NSW, Just Cuts Dubbo Square owner Sam Brown said locals eager to get their lockdown locks cut off were lined up outside her businesses door from 6:45am.
“We started at 7am this morning and haven’t stopped, I’m just hoping we can get through everybody and make everybody feel good,” she said.
“We’re all very excited to be back. Everyone’s just glad to be back doing what we love.”
Retired couple Dorothy and Gilbert Geerts said they had their first AstraZeneca vaccines on June 1 and were desperate to catch reap the benefits of being fully jabbed.
They ventured out to the Dubbo RSL Club to enjoy their favourite prawn dish.
“We usually go out for lunch when we go out for shopping once a fortnight and meet up with our daughter,” Mrs Geerts said.
“I’m not scared.”
Mr Geerts hopes the end of lockdown will trigger an end to domestic border closures which have prevented him from seeing family members in other states, including his brother who has battled cancer.
“I’ve got a son in Canberra and a son in Melbourne, and a brother in Geelong and I haven’t seen him for two years now,” Mr Geerts said.
“We’ve missed out on seeing all the grandkids too.”
For Adelaide Moon, the end of lockdown marked the start of the Christmas shopping period and a chance to buy clothes for her children who had grown a lot while restrictions were in place.
“Today I’m very happy to be out with my kids, I’m very happy we’ve reopened,” she said.
“I just want to go the hairdresser, especially for my kids.”
At Westfield Miranda in Sydney’s south, shoppers were queued up at department stores including Davd Jones, Myer and Kmart to be first in the door for some real life retail therapy.
Hours after opening a queue remained at Kmart, which remained at capacity for much of the morning.
Diners also returned to coffee shops including Cafe Kazu to sit down for that first blissful cappuccino - in a mug instead of a paper cup.
Some shops did not survive the lengthy lockdown, with Sunburn, Dollhouse and MySize all closed and their stores left vacant.
However, customers can now gear up for some major brands taking their place - with cult skincare brand Aesop taking over the former Gorman shop front and international activewear brand Lululemon set to occupy a huge space previously held by Victoria’s Secret and Fossil.
More Coverage
Originally published as Covid, NSW freedom day: Hundreds queue at Kmart and the pub
Sutton dragged into legal fight on cancelled Robbie Williams gig
A war of words has broken out about former Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s involvement in the decision to pull the pin on Robbie Williams’ Grand Prix concert.
Read more
Melbourne lockdown protesters sue over cops’ ‘unjustified violence’
Protesters are taking legal action after a judge ruled Victoria Police used “unlawful” and “unjustified violence” the day of their arrests during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more