I HAVE three granddaughters aged in their 20s. One worked in a travel agency, one in retail and one in preschool care. I say worked because this week all lost their jobs.
Are these closures mainly aimed at saving older lives? I am 76 and do not consider the total disruption to the lives of thousands and our economy is in the best interests. We'll lose more to depression and hopelessness unless shops, theatres, clubs and pubs, playgrounds and pools reopen quickly. Those that want can venture forth and others can lock down until life returns to normal.
Let those who do not have the COVID-19 checker on their phone be the ones to be sent home from the parks and beaches. That may make an easier follow up. This app can only help. Get it.
Betsy Watson, Swansea
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES
I WRITE in support of Greg Fenwick (Letters, 25/4), who is disappointed at the negative attitudes of some of our community towards the isolation measures in place to restrain the COVID-19 virus. Perhaps these people opposed to the restrictions could take a little time to think about this new life differently.
Quite apart from the fact that Australia is doing extremely well in containing the virus, which validates the management of it by the government, there are many more positive aspects to be considered in our current situation. We are living in a history-making time. Our children's children and grandchildren will learn about the 2020 pandemic that shut the whole world down at once.
It is a time when we had to look at other ways to live our life; a time when we started to think creatively, talk to our neighbours, care for people who need assistance and realise the value of a hug.
This period will help us understand ourselves more and those we hold dear; to help our children deal with this very strange time when they can't go to school and give them the explanation they need and tools to deal with it.
As we here in our wonderful country appear to be coming out the other side of this period of isolation we could perhaps stop and reflect. Never again should we take life for granted but instead we must know and feel what it would be like without our freedom. Embrace the opportunity we have been given through adversity and turn a negative situation into a positive one.
Bev O'Hara, Hamilton
EXAMINATION REMAINS VITAL
MY apologies to Greg Fenwick (Letters, 25/4) for disappointing him regarding my questions on the current isolation procedures. I am gratified that Mr Fenwick has read my questions even if he doesn't agree. There will always be a number of people who disagree with any specific view or theorem.
I told my doctor that growing old is no good, and he responded that it's better than the alternative. I asked how he knew, and whether he had tried it.
Why didn't anyone question the efficacy of thalidomide before it destroyed so many lives? Why didn't someone warn the public of the dangers of smoking before millions of lives were cut short? How did one ambitious scientist turn most of the world obese by insisting sugar be substituted for fat? Can we continue to increase the Earth's population forever?
In Australia in past years we've averaged between 1500 and 3000 deaths every year from influenza. The government has decided to take extraordinary steps to minimise coronavirus with commendable results. Will they do the same next year? When will these current stringent controls be relaxed, if ever? Can we expect the present restrictions again next year? Will the proposed coronavirus jab be properly tested before subjecting it to human testing?
Let's hope expediency doesn't bypass common sense. There are many questions yet to be answered; but we must never stop asking.
George Paris, Rathmines
NOT A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
IT would appear rugby league management is confident that their game will be played again before any full recovery from this devastating virus.
The government warnings in regards to close contact seem to be on the verge of being ignored in this pursuit of gaining interest from an isolated public on a sport which has a somewhat limited and diminishing following.
Will this decision allow for lawn bowls and croquet to be played given they have no spectators ever and keep more than two metres between players except for the chook presentation? All that is missing from these two sports is an interest from local and international TV.
Larry Loades, Newcastle
TAKE HEART FROM WARMTH
AMIDST all the disastrous social and personal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anzac Day 2020 provided a glimmer of hope. With marches, church services and gatherings all abolished, some thoughtful and obviously influential people promulgated the idea of simple individual and local celebration of this emotionally and socially significant day.
And so it was that in my quiet outer suburban street a miracle took place at 6am on April 25, 2020.
In the pre-dawn darkness people stood silently with lighted candles in their driveways or on the street reverently observing the one minute silence, listening as an old transistor radio quietly played The Last Post, the Reveille and The Ode as broadcast from the Canberra war memorial. Then, as the dawn broke neared, neighbours who rarely see each other exchanged greetings.
This, to me, was far more poignant than all the highly organised marches, martial band music and serious sermons of hitherto traditional Anzac Day observance. Indeed, I recalled the last time I went to a dawn service. Pitch black, so tightly crowded that if one fainted it would not have been possible to fall down, barely audible speakers droning on with oft-repeated clichés.
I don't know who had the idea of such a simple ceremony to observe and preserve the sacredness of this day or who managed to promulgate it throughout the media, but I'm so glad they did and so impressed that the community embraced it so warmly.
My fervent hope is that this change brought about by social isolation will remain embedded in our society becoming the norm in future years.
Jim Wright, Fassifern
OUT ON THE EDGE OF SPACE
I FOUND it bad enough before the pandemic with people walking in or tiptoeing on the edge close to my personal space, but I now regret I'll have to stay at home. Sorry Dad, no more walks or exercising.
That is, of course, unless we utilise our pool cues, sorry Balabushkas, and we exercise side by side or in single file walking like Jesus on the cross and a scarecrow.
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
SHORT TAKES
AFTER Googling if I can go fishing in NSW the police have stated that it's okay as long as you abide by social distancing rules, yet other reports are you cannot as all beaches are closed. Come on, make up your minds; it's yes or no. Simple as that, stop the BS. Give me some clarity.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
PERHAPS Barnaby should talk to Donald to figure out what else they can do to save the human race. Once people have listened to the scientific opinion (read facts) I believe they will realise that trusting either of these characters with anything outside of Disneyland would be a grave error.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
GREAT news that the NRL plans to starting to play football on May 28. Does this mean we can all go to the beach, visit our grandchildren and go to restaurants from that date? Fantastic, I can't wait.
Col Page, Adamstown
PHIL Hatch (Short Takes, 25/4) a bigger issue is too many motorists are not aware, or don't care, the NSW road rules for cyclists state "you may ride two abreast, but not more than 1.5 metres apart" and "you may overtake two other bicycle riders who are riding side-by-side."
Richard Mallaby, Wangi Wangi
REPORTS reveal State of Origin could be played at the end of the season this year due to coronavirus. This should always be the case as the various clubs are disadvantaged by the loss of the best players during the normal playing season. There is also the possibility of injury to the players during the State of Origin series, which would also disadvantage the various clubs.
Terrence Chedzey, Glendale
I CANNOT agree more with Dick McGuigan (Letters, 25/4). The word hero gets thrown around far too much. Even when some people just survive a disaster, the media will call them heroes. Leave the description hero to those who deserve it, such as the people Mr McGuigan mentioned.
Kevin Miller, Windale
WHAT a shame that self-obsessed contrarian and iconoclastic oddball Jeff Corbett's mother didn't simply tell him to wash his bloody hands ('Shaking dirty custom', Opinion 25/4).
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
I COULDN'T agree more with the letter from Greg Fenwick regarding isolation (Letters, 25/4). Anybody would think that they had to stay indoors forever. They may think differently if a member of their family or close friend died of it.
David Harris, Belmont North
JOHN Bradford (Short Takes, 22/4) occasionally complains about government charges imposed on caravans. Well, it is not improving. I recently received from Services NSW the registration renewal for my caravan, and an inspection is required. I enquired back to Services NSW whether, with current travel restrictions in place, it is okay for me to tow my caravan to a place for this inspection. Their reply was that I should seek legal advice on this matter.
