Alive and kicking: How footy and tourism have helped breathe life back into a border town after almost two years of restrictions

A business owner in a border community has hailed tourists and sport as the key factors for breathing life back into the town after almost two years of border restrictions. 

Next week marks six months since travel restrictions between South Australia and Victoria lifted entirely.

Casterton lies about 40 kilometres from the border on the Victorian side.

Residents were heavily affected by border restrictions, at times being unable to cross for work or school, medical appointments, or to access groceries or fuel.

Owner of Element Cafe and Larder in Casterton Troy Robbins said the border restrictions had been “challenging”.

“It was very hard for us to get over the border with the restrictions that were in place, especially for an essential business to try and get supplies,” Mr Robbins said.

Mr Robbins said positivity in the town was coming back as travellers returned.

“It has been pretty busy,” he said.

“We get a bit of traffic for coffee.

“It’s more consistent now than what it was 12 months ago and what it was six months ago.”

‘Footy brings out the best in people’

Casterton is the only Victorian club to play in the Western Border Football and Netball League.

The teams are now able to travel into South Australia for games after two disrupted seasons.

Mr Robbins said locals missed community sport during the height of the pandemic.

“Footy brings out the best in people,” he said.

“Every second week, there’s a team from over the border [that] comes here.

“We get a lot of support from them.

Pat Gill from Casterton Farm Supplies said business was booming.

“We’re getting good prices … Business is good,” he said.

Changed habits

Glenelg Shire Councillor Karen Stephens said the community had “always been very resilient”.

She said many businesses had learnt to change tact to survive throughout COVID.

“I’ve seen quite a few of the businesses redesign themselves and focus on how they can improve their services because of COVID,” Ms Stephens said.

“The retail sector did it extremely tough.

“The first 12 months was tough enough, but the second 12 months was even tougher for them.”

“I think they’re so brave to continue on and now get back on their feet.”

Ms Stephens said the community was bouncing back but many people have “changed their patterns”.

“Maybe they don’t zip across the border as quickly as they used to,” she said.

“There are still some things that remain unresolved.

“I think [border restrictions] broke down some family networks because you weren’t able to see them.

“Families are now regrouping and able to have a lot more freedom to cross the border and actually spend valuable time together.”

Ms Stephens said it was “fantastic” to see tourists supporting the town once again.

“As soon as the borders opened…we had an incredible amount of people in caravans and campers just out exploring,” she said.

“It was fantastic to see so many families here during the three weeks of the holidays – two weeks of the Victorian [holidays] and then the extended week for the South Australians as well.

“Just to see them at the bakeries and eating in the street, and at the skate parks and the pump track and all of those sorts of things around Casterton.”

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