There has been plenty to celebrate recently - doughnut days, the announcement of the border re-opening - but the past couple of days have been a sobering reminder that the pandemic is still causing pain and will for some time to come.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW-Victoria border has been closed for six months now, that is six months of struggles for many who had a valid reason to cross.
As hard as they were, problems in the exemptions system were not unexpected in the early days. But they really should be sorted out by now.
It was heartbreaking to hear the story of Loretta Mannix-Fell, who was 270 kilometres away when her mum died in a Tocumwal nursing home last week, and was contacted by the NSW government the day that occurred to ask for more information about her application.
"I said 'it's too late mum's died'," she said.
It is clear that government departments have a lot going on at the moment, but in the case of a dying family member, especially just a couple of weeks before the border reopens, speed is so important.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Some of the other good news recently has been businesses reopening after lockdown.
Despite this, there are still people who are rely on JobSeeker to survive - a JobSeeker payment that is going to keep getting smaller.
Indi MP Helen Haines has revealed 7347 people in the electorate receive the payment including 1602 in Wodonga and 1427 in Wangaratta.
She said this week's announcement of $100 per fortnight cut in January then another cut in March will mean $1.5 million less spending money in Indi.
It is a reminder that there is still pain to come.
Tourism campaigns to bring visitors from Melbourne and Sydney to the Border in the coming months will be important, as their spending money is very much needed, but that is only one part of what is needed.
We also need the people who are here everyday to keep spending and for that to happen, some will need to be supported financially.
