Home

Masks reintroduced into South West Harvey and Peel region, some customers not happy with new rules

Headshot of Kasper Johansen
Kasper JohansenHarvey-Waroona Reporter
Ron Sackville, Yarloop General Store owner Phillip Garside and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke.
Camera IconRon Sackville, Yarloop General Store owner Phillip Garside and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke. Credit: Kasper Johansen/Harvey-Waroona R

Harvey and Waroona residents have embraced the “new normal” and donned their masks after it was reintroduced this week, but business owners say it has not been all smooth sailing since the rule came back in place.

Premier Mark McGowan made masks compulsory again last week after a series of COVID-19 exposure sites across the State, with the South West entering the mask mandate on January 17.

The Peel town of Waroona had already been wearing the face coverings the day prior on Sunday, January 16.

And while a majority of locals and tourists were seen following the rule, several businesses the Harvey-Waroona Reporter spoke to said they had faced verbal abuse from those refusing the mandate.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Yarloop General Store owner Phillip Garside said he has had to ask around 5 per cent of his customers to put a mask on before entering his business but most of the time shoppers are happy to oblige.

“A lot of them are tradies that jump out their vehicles, get to the door, see our sign and go back to their car to get one (a mask),” he said.

“Post-Christmas we had a gentleman who refused to wear a mask and caused some trouble but that attitude is not needed.

“As shopkeepers we’re basically asking people to keep a mask on for our health, the mask is for us, just as much as it is for you.”

Bliss Nutrition owner Andrea Picks, Montana Holly, Caprice Franco and Carter Robb, 2.
Camera IconBliss Nutrition owner Andrea Picks, Montana Holly, Caprice Franco and Carter Robb, 2. Credit: Kasper Johansen/Harvey-Waroona R

Harvey’s Bliss Nutrition owner Andrea Picks said her business has been “lucky” with discontented customers and she will not put up with bullying or harassment of any kind.

“If you come into our shops with attitude like that you might as well just walk straight out and come back when you’re feeling better,” she said.

“We’ve been pretty lucky but I’ve heard a couple of businesses have had a few issues locally and in town, with people coming in and being angry they have to wear a mask.”

Yarloop Community Resource Centre Manager Julie-Ann Ford said staff at the centre faced verbal abuse from a customer who refused to follow the new mask rules.

It’s really just the start of it and people need to be a bit courteous and respectful of other people.

Julie-Ann Ford

“These few people are really going to impact on the community and the ability to keep services going over this time, which is already putting us all under strain.”

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said the mandate is in place to protect the community and in the grand scheme of things the sacrifice is minimal.

“I’m delivering some disposable masks to Harvey CRC today and I’ve given some to the general store in Yarloop because obviously the South West hasn’t been mandated up until now,” she said.

“The fact remains that you can still be a carrier of COVID-19 without even knowing it and if you are not masked up and you come in contact with someone who is immune-compromised or unvaccinated and you pass that virus on, do you want that on your head?”

“I’m delivering some disposable masks to Harvey Community Resource Centre as well as some to the general store in Yarloop because obviously the South West hasn’t been mandated up until now.”

The list of exposure sites continued to grow last week across Perth, Peel and the South West with seven new cases, including four mystery cases and three connected to previously reported cases.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails