Fuzion Cafe owner Veronica Berg and Bryants Buds’ Sarah Bryant teamed up to brighten the days of local residents with a selection of roses and sweets.
A blackboard with the message, "If COVID-19 has affected your mental health, take one", greeted locals walking by the Hare St businesses, referring to the flowers and lollies.
“Sarah from Bryant's Buds and I are business friends,” Ms Berg said.
“I spoke to her about it on Tuesday, and we thought we'd do flowers and lollies, so the kids can have something as well.”
Ms Bryant expressed support for residents who were struggling at this time.
“Personally, I have several members of my family with mental health issues, and are suffering even more so at the moment,” Ms Bryant said.
“It's just something that we can give back, because the community's been excellent supporting us.”
“Flowers make people happy, and a single rose has value for people more than other smaller flowers.”
Ms Berg also spoke about her experiences on different sides of the pandemic response as a nurse.
“I'm also a nurse at the hospital, so I've been doing the COVID clinics,” Ms Berg said.
Ms Berg was inspired through her work, both at the hospital and at her business, to share some joy with the community that has strongly supported small businesses over the course of the pandemic.
“It's not about us, it's about trying to say thanks to the community,” Ms Berg said.
“Echuca and Moama got right behind small business during all this.
“I know we're divided by a river, but we're still one community.”
Ms Berg has seen the pandemic through multiple lenses, and understands the consequences for locals’ mental health.
“Unluckily, I have had a child do Year 12 last year, so I've seen what (COVID) did to Year 12 students; as a nurse putting on protective equipment is so physically and mentally draining, but it's what we do; and as a business owner, it's probably one of the toughest journeys we've ever been on.
“I think I'm lucky to have seen it from so many different angles, and I'm just so passionate about keeping our community safe.
“Everyone's tired, and everyone's mental health has taken such a beating — it's hard, COVID is hard.
“People are COVID fatigued, and everyone knows how hard it's been on people's mental health. It's just about being kind.
“I just think if you can do something to brighten someone's day, why wouldn't you?
“I hope that it made someone's day.”
