Lavington identity Brian Chalmers has dodged a bullet in the coronavirus outbreak after completing a self-imposed quarantine period after returning from a cruise ship holiday in mid-March.
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The long-serving football and service clubs official disembarked the Carnival Spirit in Melbourne on March 14 with more than 2000 other passengers who had travelled to New Zealand as the COVID-19 crisis began to escalate.
Federal government directives for people returning from overseas to self-isolate for 14 days hadn't formally started upon his return.
Mr Chalmers was also curious about the lack of information given to passengers about the virus during the trip.
He said his concerns rose when another ship the Carnival Spirit passed at sea was carrying people suspected to be coronavirus cases with New Zealand authorities subsequently banning passengers from disembarking when they reached port.
"I found it rather strange when the heat was on about the virus situation that nothing had been said or done on the ship," he said.
"The only thing about it was a piece of paper in our cabins when we got on.
"But you only had turn on the news to find everyone talking about the problems associated with it and how quickly it was spreading.
"I couldn't understand when we had about 2300 people onboard that something wasn't said."
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Mr Chalmers said self-isolating when he returned to Albury was the responsible thing to do.
He has also been liaising with NSW Health officials.
"I had taken the positive step as an individual to do something about it," he said.
"I'm no spring chicken anymore and it was older people getting attacked by the virus.
"But I feel as good as gold."
Mr Chalmers has been living alone since his wife Barb died and has been supported by family living locally.
He travelled back to Albury from Melbourne with his son, Stephen.
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