In this episode we hear from three very different Bega Valley businesses, and while these stories can’t fully capture the breadth of enterprises in the shire — because, like so many places, the nature of business in the Bega Valley is just so diverse — this episode does give valuable insights into how community goals can co-exist alongside financial targets.

What COVID uncovered for many local businesses was conflict: between employees and employers, between customers and the business itself, between keeping people safe and keeping the business viable, and between the business and the different levels of government. By making conflict visible — in some cases for the first time — the divides between how individuals perceived and reacted to the pandemic, and the consequences this had for making everyday decisions were profound. For small communities, the question of conflict most often centres around trust and respect, needs and expectations, common ground and mutual benefits. Working through conflicting views and values can — in the best cases — help us to better understand ourselves, grow our empathy and compassion, and build skills fundamental to community resilience.

The story of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are rural stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected. We explore the complexities and nuances of how people in a single rural shire prepared for, confronted and lived through the pandemic. 

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© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024

Acknowledgement of Country

Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.

Help if you need

Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511

Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au

Acknowledgement of funding

The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.

Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.

All music

“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp

“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound

“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound

“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound 

“Rainbow” Borrtex: Epidemic Sound

"Hibernation" Hushed: Epidemic Sound

Image Credits

Series

Episodes

Further Audio:

Podcasts

Website design

Natalie Martin-Remmert

Project Officer

Craig Garrett

Project Lead & Management:

Linda Albertson

Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)

Podcast production:

Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)

Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)

Oral Histories production

Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)

The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue

Interview transcription

Jo Oastler

Alexander Mercieca

Trish Dive

Janet Reynolds

SeedPod Audio Collective

Shona Hawkes

Craig Garrett

Anita Coakley

Pamela Cleo Goddard

Lisa Herbert

Stephen Bayliss

Oral Histories extra organisation

Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.

Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.