"You don't miss what you have until it's gone."
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is a saying that could apply to many things since the COVID-19 pandemic caused many businesses and popular activities to partially shut down or come to a screaming halt.
It is human nature that we take much for granted -social get-togethers, dining out, sport and going to the movies quickly spring to mind.
READ MORE:
- Wingecarribee residents warned about accepting fill from dirt dealers
- Bowral pin oaks planted to mark a royal occasion
- Bowral High students' art expressed on a statewide platform
- Mittagong Preschool gets creative for families through 'challenging time'
- Brigadoon is in need of 'new blood and new ideas' to ensure its future
- Councillor calls for council to take out a loan to progress Mittagong Playhouse, Wingecarribee Animal Shelter
While the easing of government restrictions has resulted in a gradual return to many of these activities one is still missing from the social calendar.
Popcorn, a choc top and a great film on a big screen - who doesn't miss going to the cinema?
On the flip side the owners of the Southern Highlands' one and only cinema is also missing its loyal movie-goers.
But they have given assurances that the Empire will strike back in July. They are just waiting for the official word from the State Government.
Cinema co-owners Gerard Aiken, Dave Graham and Richard Ruhfus never could have imagined a day would come when the doors to their Bowral business would be closed for an extended period.
Established in 1915 the Empire is one of the oldest cinemas on the Australian mainland.
Gerard said it was the first time in the 105 year history of the cinema that it had shut for an extended period.
He is also quick to admit it has been overwhelming and tough for all involved in the business which closed its doors to the public on March 23.
"We lost 100 per cent of our revenue overnight," he said.
"The week prior to closing was also quiet due to the growing concern in the community about Covid."
Those tough times came on the back of less than spectacular trading during the summer school holiday period due to the bushfires.
Both Gerard and Dave agree they were daunted by the impact of the pandemic on their business.
"The sense of the unknown was unsettling," Gerard said.
However, they remained optimistic and are now taking the positives out of the situation.
"We both started seeing the writing on the wall regarding the impact of the virus back in February so we approached our bank early," Gerard said.
"Our landlord Miel Kroon and family have also been very supportive.
"We are so thankful for their support.
"Thank you also to the many people who have checked in on us to see how we are going.
"Some people would regularly go to the movies two to three times a week. This is their social outlet, so the shutdown is a big loss to them as well.
"It is not just a cinema to some people it is a social outlet."
The thought of standing down their 30 staff indefinitely and considering an extended period of no wages for anyone, including themselves, weighed heavy on their hearts.
Fortunately the introduction of JobKeeper eased some of the burden and enabled them to support about half their staff. The restrictions of the JobKeeper program meant that some staff were not eligible.
JobKeeper meant that about half of the Empire Cinema staff could be recalled to work.
Gerard and Dave said those staff have been busy ever since making sure every inch of the four cinemas and public areas have been thoroughly cleaned and maintenance projects have been carried out.
"We have turned the place upside down and put it back together to clean it," Dave said.
The team is now ready to swing in to action as soon as cinemas are given the State Government green light to reopen.
That return will also have its challenges as many of the new movie releases for the year were debuted on Netflix during the Covid shutdown.
"Fortunately some distributors have held back releases," Gerard said.
That is good news for Dave and Gerard, and the audience with plans in the pipeline for a much-awaited premiere of a big name movie.
The two men are keeping the title under their hat for the moment, but assure the audience won't be disappointed.
Art House movies and the screening of some retro films are also on the cards.
"The silver lining of the shutdown is that people are now keen to go to the movies," Gerard said.
"The have exhausted everything on Netflix, and other pay TV options and they want to see something on the big screen."
When that green light is given by the government Dave and Gerard are well aware they will have to ease back into business.
"It will be a soft opening - we are well aware of the health crisis," Dave said.
"We don't want to endanger our staff or the community."
The cinema is expected to run at about 30 per cent capacity based on the 4sqm metre spacing requirement currently in place.
"At capacity we can seat 560 people across the four theatres, but that will drop to between 100 and 200 over four screens to abide with Covid regulations," Gerard said.
"We are following all the Covid Safe advise," Dave added.
"There are hand sanitising stations and extra staff to thoroughly clean theatres between sessions.
"We would normally run 24 movie sessions a day across the four theatres, but we will reduce that to 16 sessions.
"This is so we can have a longer, 45 minute, break between sessions for cleaning and for the changeover of people in the cinema."
The two owners are excited for a return to some sense of normal and they are keen to bring back the showmanship of a movie theatre.
They are excited to open the curtain on the return to "going to the movies."