A new project sharing stories of how COVID-19 has impacted South Australians has uplifted the voices of some Fleurieu locals.

The SA 100 project is an initiative of the newly formed South Australian Heal & Hustle Council.

A total of 104 people responded to the council’s callout on social media asking for people to share their experiences of the current pandemic.

The project, according to the council, was a way for people to debrief, process and begin to heal, which they feel is required before we can move towards any sense of normality. The council also hopes the stories will inform decision making by policymakers.

Fleurieu App founder Susie Williams contributed her story, reminding everyone not to forget to smell the roses.

“Nurture your loved ones and your business - collectively they make you what you are,” Susie shared.

Although she described feeling exhausted, unsettled, loved, emotional and grateful, Susie shared that a silver lining of the isolation during Covid was more time at home with her husband and three daughters.

Fleurieu based owner-operator in a trade business, John, said he was feeling let down by our governments, and hoped that our reliance on China would be one thing we leave behind from before the pandemic hit.

Em, a business owner from Port Willunga, said not having family members spread so far apart during the week, not spending so much time commuting and getting to know people in her street for the first time in six years were welcome pandemic side effects. 

There are also Fleurieu Peninsula links in the Heal & Hustle Council itself, with some of its founders including Fleurieu residents Carolyn Jeffrey, a Victor Harbor business woman who also founded the Women in Business Regional Network; Becky Hirst, a community engagement specialist from Blewitt Springs; and Moira Were AM, a social entrepreneur based in Sellicks Beach.

“As a state, we need to debrief on what happened,” Ms Were said.

“We need to reflect on how we managed it and what we could have done better; take a stocktake of where we’re at now and what is needed to move forward and rebuild our community.”

The council is auspiced by Collab4Good, a social enterprise that focuses on learning and collaboration opportunities to accelerate the growth of purpose-driven enterprises in South Australia.

The council believes it’s important that people in South Australia also realise that they’re not alone and that there are others around the state who share their feelings and experiences of the pandemic.

Although some people chose to keep their stories anonymous, or didn’t wish to have them shared publicly, most of the stories can be read at https://www.southaustralia100.com/ .