For football lovers Saturday's AFL decider was a chance to revel, even if in a subdued socially distant manner, but Friday's grand final public holiday turned Thank You Day deserved a true celebration.

Instead of gathering in the streets of Melbourne for the grand final parade, Victorians were instead asked to think of all the sacrifices made by the state and its essential workers.

Every Border organisation has had to transform and adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, but perhaps none more so than Albury Wodonga Health where everyday workers have found themselves on the frontline of a global pandemic.

Whether working at the Wodonga drive through COVID clinic, in the emergency department or cleaning wards, those across the organisation know they are at higher risk of infection. But every day for the past seven months, staff have still turned up to do their vital jobs.

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To mark Thank You Day, The Border Mail shared the experiences of a handful of these essential employees.

A resounding theme in each story was the dedication workers showed to protecting their community, even while knowing they were potentially putting themselves and those they love at risk.

Yesterday marked 100 days since Albury Wodonga Health recorded its last COVID positive test, another reason to celebrate.

That achievement can be traced back to two main factors, the compliance and sacrifices of the community, and the hard work of our frontline staff.

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While yesterday's milestone is welcome news for the community, we should heed warnings to stop complacency before it takes ever hold.

We've seen elsewhere how easily a case or two of COVID-19 can turn into a full blown outbreak of community transmission.

If our essential workers are willing to sacrifice so much for our community, we owe it to them to do our part.

So wash your hands, keep your distance and stay alert. It's the least we can do.