Albury-Wodonga has long prided itself on being a regional events capital.
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Sporting, cultural and community events have drawn people to the twin cities for decades and in turn provided a massive economic stimulus through the border economy.
Moteliers are among the biggest beneficiaries of large scale events.
But as the tentacles of COVID-19 continue to spread at an accelerated pace as witnessed by the historic decision last week to shut the Victorian-NSW border those same motels have hit difficult times.
Further afield the Deni Ute Muster was the latest big event to fall victim to coronavirus and came soon after the Henty Machinery Field Days cancellation.
The NSW school holidays were due to provide a timely fillip for motels which have been under strain since bushfires broke out in the Upper Murray at the start of the year.
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Arrival of coronavirus on our shores in March was another major setback with events such as the Albury Gold Cup and Man From Snowy River Bush Festival falling by the wayside.
But the border closure maybe the tipping point for some.
Their short-term plight also isn't helped by missing out on becoming the temporary homes for the many police officers to converge on Albury-Wodonga to patrol the two local checkpoints.
Worryingly the border closure could be in place for as long as the Melbourne-wide lockdown has its desired impact in driving coronavirus case numbers down.
If there has been one positive in a constant stream of doom and gloom it is the fact there has been no evidence of COVID-19 community transmission locally during the Victorian school holidays.
We are winning the health response to the pandemic here, but a monumental battle is being waged on the economic front.
The border closure must end as soon as practically possible for businesses to successfully come out the other side.