Election’s empty promises … Albury florist Renee Williams, 39, says she never thought she’d be on the brink of giving up but questions what Farrer’s by-election result will actually deliver for small businesses. Photo: Supplied.
I first met Renee Williams 12 years ago in a mothers’ group at a Thurgoona community centre.
We were both fresh-faced new mums (Renee more so than I, given she’s 12 years my junior) of our first-born daughters. The dewy glow of motherhood had yet to be dimmed by the reality of sleepless nights, breastfeeding struggles, and inevitable exhaustion you can never truly prepare for as a first-time parent.
Renee has always been sunny by nature, quick to smile, with an open heart and ready ear.
It seemed apt to me, somehow, that she was a florist … wrapping human kindness and care into beautifully curated bouquets of love.
Over the years, I’d run into her from time to time, we’d marvel at how each other’s daughters had blossomed and share a few snippets of our lives.
When I heard she’d taken her floristry dream from the kitchen table to a physical shopfront and cafe in Albury’s CBD, I made a point of dropping in for a coffee or to pick up a bunch of flowers as an occasion warranted.
We’d hug, chat, laugh and occasionally cry over the challenges of single motherhood; she’s even shared with me the story of her disastrous foray into online dating.
The 39-year-old mum of two is no stranger to helping others. She’s donated flowers and funds to charities, danced for cancer, earned business awards, helped lead local business groups and mentored colleagues and close friends.
I began following her on social media, quietly marvelling at her energy and ever-evolving initiatives to boost business (the latest a self-love hamper for women) coupled with a huge capacity for life and unwavering passion for her craft … all while juggling the mother load.
She’s survived (just) the trials and tribulations of COVID and resolutely ridden the roller-coaster ride that is running a small business.
But in the lead-up to last Saturday’s (8 May) Farrer by-election, Renee found herself faltering as she agonised over where she would cast her vote “despite being personally close to some of the candidates”.
In a frank interview with a Sydney newspaper, she said she wasn’t confident any of the candidates had any policies to support small businesses even though so many were staring down the barrel of insolvency.
She revealed her sales had gone down 64 per cent due to rising fuel costs and inflation.
That she’s gone from making $1000 a day to $300 a day. It won’t pay the rent on her shop, it won’t pay the bills or her staff, let alone herself … and it certainly won’t pay the rent at home or put food on the table, she said.
Panic has begun to set in.
During a raw and emotional video shared to social media on Wednesday (13 May), Renee fought back tears as she admitted she is so sick with worry she sleeps with a bucket by her bed and cries every time she looks at her children.
Renee Williams fights back tears during a post on social media about the challenges facing small business owners, and her fight to stay afloat. Photo: Screenshot.
“I am working my friggin’ arse off and my kids are seeing me in a state that they do not need to see me in,” she said, her skin visibly pale and her eyes red with strain.
“I’m doing everything I can to make sure that I can support them but in doing that they’re not getting the best of me as a parent.
“I never thought there would be a moment where I might want to give up on this (her voice breaking) because I love what I do … so much.”
While Mother’s Day delivered a welcome shot in the arm, Renee said it wouldn’t be enough to keep going in the hard times, adding she’d seen a recent report that 660 small businesses had closed down in the past week alone.
When she suggested to a local businessman recently that the economy was out of her control, he advised her to “think outside the square and work harder”.
“I don’t know how many squares I’ve thought outside of,” Renee said. “As small business owners, we are among the hardest working people in our communities.
“But at some point in time when do you stop flogging a dead horse?”
Even at her lowest point, Renee was quick to urge others to reach out to her and provided a list of helplines in her post.
The normally bubbly mum has pleaded with this community and online followers “to support local in everything you do, because we want to be here for you”.
If only it was as simple as that, but it’s not a bad place to start is it?
I think it’s high time I called in again for coffee, a catch-up and maybe even a little bit of self-love … in the form of a big bunch of flowers!
