Thank you, Victoria
Today, I’m teary. A man is looking at me, exhausted, heavy eyed, gulping down his own emotion. A man who has stood before a vicious press pack for 111 days. Repeat – one hundred and eleven days, day after day, no let up, no excuses.
He’s done an impossible job with clear-eyed determination, proving that a State, a community, CAN make a difference. I don’t live in Victoria, but know without doubt, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. They say, ‘from little things, big things grow’. Well, it works both ways, whether the ‘thing’ is good or bad. Where would our nation be without his leadership and grit? A little here, a leak of cases there, a trail of infection north, south, east and west. You don’t have to look far beyond our shores to see the contrasts.
And you, Victorians, I raise a glass and salute your willingness to endure what was asked of you, especially knowing the relative freedoms enjoyed by other States. We know nothing of your sacrifice, here in Queensland. But, you know what? If any State struggles again, can you imagine the example you’ve set for us all? You are true legends to be celebrated and remembered for years to come. You are the modern-day equivalent of the villagers of Eyam, Derbyshire. They didn’t understand their plague, but logically and stoically self-isolated to stop the spread.
Shortly after the second lockdown took effect, a man posted a letter on Facebook. It went viral. It was raw and true. He said a second lockdown was nothing like the first. The awesome feeling of a community giving its all, wasn’t there this time around. The prospect of prolonged isolation from friends, family, work and play, with no clear end point, brought such crushing loss he felt winded, betrayed. He railed against the insinuation that Victorians had been cavalier, quoting statistics about their previous and collective covid-safe behaviours and attitudes. It was unfair, he said, but what could he do? I doubt he was alone.
And from such a place of sadness and disappointment, he did it, you all did it, together. Is that man outside now, playing with his child? I hope so. Is he smiling and feeling proud? He should. In that one letter, he put paid to the folly of thinking any of us are above this thing, and getting out of the mess is a collective responsibility.
So … Dan, the Man … have that drink from the top shelf. Have two. Then get some sleep, please.
And to everyone in the Garden State, a huge and heartfelt thank you!
You can read more about the story of Eyam, here: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/eyam-derbyshire-coronavirus-self-isolate-1665-plague