Very early last Wednesday morning, in the pitch black of the pre-dawn, I had a premonition about my father. I somehow found myself at his front door, him holding it open. Whether it was a dream or that sort of in-limbo state, it was short and somewhat odd as we have not spoken for a very long time.

Yesterday afternoon, the Reserve Bank Governor, Dr Philip Lowe, gave his sober assessment of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the Australian economy:

As we head into our third week of Australia being mostly shut, it has me reflecting on the big and small things in my life that I’m grateful for right now that, previously, I may have taken for granted, or not given enough thought to.

We’re now two weeks into this period of lockdown in Australia. When it was first mentioned by the New South Wales and Victorian Premiers as a possibility on Sunday 22nd March, 2020, I can honestly say I was both shocked and concerned for the many family businesses across the country.

As Australia moves into a situation that the Prime Minister and Treasurer are referring to as Economic Hibernation, and as my own state, New South Wales, moves to restricting movement outside the home to very limited circumstances, the effects of the COVID 19 virus continue to be felt far and wide.

As the COVID 19 situation continues to unfold, family business owners and managers are having to adapt quickly. The Prime Minister’s announcement last night about further enforced shutdowns means you need to be prepared to make quick decisions – and, unfortunately, change them quickly.

Right now, we’re in a completely fluid situation in terms of the COVID 19 outbreak. Companies are having to make rapid decisions to deal with what, in essence, seems like a war situation.