‘Shackies’ race back for long weekend as restrictions ease

Hundreds of “shackies” have raced back to the East Coast as COVID-19 restrictions eased in time for the June long weekend, but concerns are lingering the townships could face ongoing economic woes.

Shack owners Ellie and Tim McConnon at Orford. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

IT’S HARD to believe that only a few weeks ago, Orford resembled more of a ghost town than a bustling holiday village replete with tail-wagging dogs, laughing children and four-wheel drives.

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions arriving in perfect time for this June long weekend, hundreds of “shackies” have dramatically reanimated the waterfront township after it lulled through more than two months of dormancy.

With businesses hit by a 70 per cent drop compared to last autumn, and an older population that struggled with the isolation, fewer could be happier about the easing of rules than Glamorgan Spring Bay mayor Debbie Wisby.

Glamorgan Spring Bay mayor Debbie Wisby at Orford. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

But this weekend’s fresh shot of energy at Orford – and at surrounding towns like Bicheno, Coles Bay, Swansea and Triabunna – hasn’t completely wiped the worry from Cr Wisby’s mind.

She’s anxious the township may struggle as the COVID-19 fallout becomes more apparent over time with a possible increase in shack sales, job losses or business closures.

“There’s a lot of unknowns,” she said.

“The streets were really quiet, particularly quiet this autumn.

“It’s hard to predict what will happen. Jobs will be impacted but I reckon the businesses will probably survive. But it’s going to be tough because so many rely on the people travelling through and staying.”

But Cr Wisby said Orford and its surrounding townships had dedicated local and transient communities that would help see them through.

“The shackies and the locals, you’re here for the same reason — because you love the place,” she said.

“I don’t think we’ll become ghost towns, I think we’ll come through it. But I think they’ll be significantly-impacted towns.”

On top of the potential economic woes, Cr Wisby said without the pub open for regular catch-ups and an older population that found itself stuck at home, Orford’s mental health had also been impacted during the lockdown.

However, she said in a township where everyone knew each other, residents had been checking up on each other and knocking on doors.

“People struggled with the isolation,” she said.

“But everyone looks out for each other.

“Hopefully no-one’s slipped through the gaps. It’s sometimes hard to tell, and this lockdown’s affected everyone.”

Gary Taylor, who has owned Orford’s IGA supermarket for 11 years, was confident the township would have a strong post-COVID recovery.

“There are a lot of shacks here, and they don’t just come up during the holidays, most weekends they’ll come up. We have missed them, but I think things will get back to normal pretty quickly,” he said.

Ellie and Tim McConnon, joined by thrilled shetland sheepdog Dimi, were just two of the hundreds of Hobart shack-owners who raced back to their home-away-from-home this weekend.

Usually they visit their Orford shack every three weeks, so as soon as they heard news that Tasmania would enter stage 2 of its recovery “roadmap” early this weekend, the excited couple quickly bought supplies and bundled Dimi into the car.

Mrs McConnon said the June long weekend usually attracted about half of Orford’s shack owners, but this weekend was far busier than usual for this time of year.

“Probably 80 per cent of people who have shacks would be here,” she said.