Seamstresses have been flooded with orders for face masks, following the Victorian government's announcement they would be mandatory across that state from midnight on Sunday.
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On Thursday, The Sewing Shop owner Helen Dillon began fielding calls from people who were keen to keep themselves and others safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We've already had some people in Victoria ringing around looking for masks, and we've been sending them to family and friends in affected areas as well," she said.
Ms Dillon said she has been busy producing around 70 to 100 masks per week, with each one custom made by her to fit within the government's coronavirus guidelines. She said the mask sales had been keeping her business going, after a rough few months under lockdown.
"Since COVID, the business has been fairly quiet and we only had enough work to be open for two and a half days a week," Ms Dillon said.
"Now that we're making masks we're back to five days a week."
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Another seamstress, Anne Fewson, has also been receiving mask orders from Victorians stuck on that side of the border.
Ms Fewson said demand for masks was also at an all-time high in Wagga, even though it was not yet compulsory in NSW.
She has been making masks for local businesses and delivery drivers who needed to cross the border to deliver cargo.
"I've got a constant supply of people wanting to have them on hand, and I've already received several phone calls from people I know in Victoria," Ms Fewson said.
"More and more people seem to be taking that proactive approach to masks in Wagga, even if we haven't been told to."
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association union is urging city-dwellers to wear face masks when travelling to regional NSW.
SDA NSW secretary Bernie Smith said regional retailers were at risk by the "irresponsibility" of certain people who refused to wear masks.
In an SDA poll, 23 per cent of respondents insisted it was an "infringement on their personal freedom" if they were forced to wear a mask.
"We're asking anyone travelling from Sydney to a regional community to wear a mask before entering a shop - to protect not just retail workers, but our wider community," Mr Smith said.
"A COVID-19 outbreak has the potential to seriously devastate regional towns. Not to mention that regional communities are still recovering from the bushfire crisis. If you're a traveller from Sydney, particularly a hotspot area, please wear a mask before entering a shop in regional NSW."
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
