It is not the continuing threat of lockdowns and home schooling that has spurred the border community into action, but the fear of not being able to do the things they love - like going out for a pub meal.
Speaking from her riverside hotel, which is only able to do take away meals and bottle shop service, she said not being able to go to the pub for a meal, or go to a wedding, or even attend a music festival, was the spark people needed to get vaccinated.
“They are the things are important to people. And the message from the NSW Government is coming through loud and clear,” Ms Daly said.
“As soon as we hit the vaccination rate we can open up again.
“On the other side of the river it is about reducing case numbers.”
Half of the Murray River Council’s population have received their second vaccination dose, almost 15 per cent better than the Campaspe side of the river.
Mrs Daly said she hoped both states would “get on the same” page when it came to the message they were delivering to the public.
“I hope both our states work together and it results in us opening up,” she said.
“Gladys (Berejiklian) has got it spot on when she says, ‘you guys can do whatever you want if you go and get vaccinated’,” Mrs Daly said.
The positive outlook of the hotelier seems strange as NSW case numbers blow through the 1200 mark (a tick over 1100 yesterday), but the promise of people being given back their freedom is a huge incentive for vaccination.
Mrs Daly said the different messaging from the two premiers was, in some way, an explanation of the response to the "call to arms’’ for vaccination.
“On one side of the border we hear, ‘get vaccinated or we won’t open up’ and on the other it is ‘as soon as we hit the vaccination target we will open again’,” she said
Mrs Daly said despite the comments being very similar, the vaccination numbers had spoken volumes about how the message had been received.
“In simple terms she (Mrs Berejiklian) is telling people go out and get vaccinated, then you can go to the pub for tea,” Mrs Daly said.
The Border Inn has been closed since August 14.
Regional NSW is due to come out of lockdown at 11.59 pm on Friday, September 10.
Mrs Daly said hitting the vaccination targets would at least mean life for the border community could return to some normality.
“The rest of the country may stay closed to us, but as a border community we could get back up and running.”
The recent government suggestions that unvaccinated people would not be able to enjoy a meal at a restaurant or hotel has caused further concern for people looking forward to being released from lockdown.
“The hospitality industry is desperate to open up, that’s probably why these suggestions are being made,” Ms Daly said.
“But where does it stop, if I walk into a shoe shop do I need to prove I am vaccinated?”
Mrs Daly said she had not had anything official from the Australian Hoteliers Association in regard to any regulations they would need to abide by for COVID-safe dining.
“Originally, when we had the zoom meeting, there was some suggestion of going in that direction,” she said.
“I don’t really understand how that is going to work.
“It’s an act desperation, and why wouldn’t they be desperate, we all are.”
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