OUR SAY: Grace under pressure needed as border closure tightens

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges since March, but this month's border closure upped the ante significantly for our region.

With permit conditions to be tightened from midnight Tuesday, businesses and residents are bracing themselves for another round of uncertainty, delays and hastily-arranged contingency plans.

The NSW and Victorian governments are juggling health and economic impacts and scrambling to keep on top of the logistics needed to enforce their directives.

It's an unenviable task and whether the short-term pain leads to long-term gain will only be assessed with hindsight.

But putting the authorities to one side, some individual reactions we've seen recently are telling.

Last week Sydney police officers spoke glowingly of the patience and generosity they encountered from people at the border checkpoints.

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Unfortunately some at the crossings have behaved quite differently, trying to conceal drug or alcohol use or simply refusing to comply.

On Monday magistrate Richard Funston rebuked one offender in court, saying the man was "doing yourself no favours" with his attitude.

Others on the border have been using their time more productively, whether they're advocating for businesses, trying to improve conditions for essential workers or preparing to support those affected by domestic violence.

And then you have the Byrnes family, dealing with not only 14-year-old Kateri's serious illness but the separation forced upon them by coronavirus restrictions during her treatment.

James Byrnes admits it's the hardest thing the large Jindera family has been through, but still pays tribute to his daughter's strength and their community's support.

"There's always people worse off than us," he said.

"I know it's tough what we've been through, but we've got a lot of blessings."

Let us all remember those words today, tomorrow and through whatever difficult days still lie ahead.