That sentiment was expressed to The Border Mail by a letter writer from Melbourne.

Life is particularly hard in Victoria's capital city just now, so anyone experiencing that could be forgiven for feeling a little bitter. But the incredulity in that statement indicates, once again, those in metropolitan cities really have a poor understanding of our border community.

Long before Two Cities, One Community became a formal agreement between councils, Albury and Wodonga residents moved freely across the state line for work, school, shopping and leisure.

But this shared history appeared to mean nothing last month when the NSW border closed initially and then the permit requirements tightened again, cutting off families, employees and patients from their loved ones, livelihoods and health care.

This may, perhaps understandably, seem minor to a Melburnian locked down in stage four restrictions, but our northern neighbours deserve less benefit of the doubt.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Putting aside the regional Victorian restrictions now in place, the border closure has imposed limits on residents of Albury, Corowa and Mulwala unknown to people in Sydney, despite living in the same state and having far fewer COVID-19 cases.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian acknowledged this week the situation had angered people, saying "if you ask the border communities, they think I'm being too tough".

But with respect, Premier, how would you know? When have you asked?

Some federal policies have also disregarded the close links between Albury-Wodonga. Additional Medicare subsidised psychology sessions seem to exclude NSW cross-border residents, concerning psychologists who say the closure has impacted people on both sides of the river.

So, yes, we know we live in a wonderful place in a great country, but circumstances, some government-imposed, have brought considerable hardship to our community. Even in the best of times, which this is not, mental health needs to be supported.