AUSTRALIA

STEPH SMITH MHS BOARDING ADMINISTRATOR 2017-2020 MELBOURNE – OCTOBER 2020

Australia as a whole initially coped with the pandemic very well, quickly moving to close international and internal borders, alongside mandatory hotel quarantine for returning travellers and bringing in nationwide restrictions – which collectively have been widely regarded as the key elements of its success.

Mass testing with quick tracing was quickly implemented. Melbourne’s state, Victoria, however suffered a sizeable second wave from June due to the mismanagement of hotel quarantine through the use of private security guards.

Had this been different, the outlook of Victoria would have been massively different, and Australia as a whole would have appeared to fair almost as well as New Zealand.

Upon my arrival in Melbourne in March, I spent two weeks in home quarantine before hotel quarantine was introduced. During this time I tested positive to the virus, having contracted it on my journey. Thankfully my symptoms were mild and my recovery swift.

Whilst the first lockdown was significant, life in Melbourne since June has been classified as the longest, most extensive, lockdown in the world. An 8pm curfew, 5km travel restriction, one-hour exercise allowance, mandatory mask wearing every time you leave the house, and full closures of all shops, businesses, retail and education; has made for significant reductions on freedoms. We have had daily press conferences for over 100 days detailing all relevant information. Slow and steady changes are now being made, with a view to “covid normal” by the end of November.

My life was already scheduled to flip upside down through my planned move from London to Melbourne in April. I spent a long time waiting on a partner visa, as many of my former colleagues will know, and we had big plans and hopes for the move. Bringing this moving date forward to avoid the closure of the Australian border, meant that I had to pack up Mill Hill life much more quickly than anticipated. I was already preparing for a huge life change, so in many ways the lockdown in Melbourne was just a new version of normality I quickly settled in to. The biggest impact on my life has been leaving Mill Hill, which was undoubtedly one of the most difficult decisions of my life.

The Victorian Premier regularly discusses the concept of a ‘new normal.’ At this stage, after so long without much freedom, I don’t remember much about my old perception of ‘normal.’ As time has passed, I’ve come to realise that life this way is here to stay with us for a while: not a good time, but a long time. Accepting the changes and making the very best of them, has brought with it a sense of calm which escaped me at the beginning of the pandemic. Life will feel a bit more ‘normal’ to me once I can leave my face mask inside when I go on a walk or take out the bins!

My lifestyle has changed beyond recognition. Life in London was fast-paced and hectic, training as a counsellor whilst working full-time in the boarding life of the school. I knew I needed to take a breather, but I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this much of a breath! Never have I exercised so much over the last few months, and at absolutely no cost. Utilising online platforms for social interaction, especially when my friends and family are spread all over the world, is brilliant. I am able to take time to do things I never have before – even simple changes, like being able to finally try that recipe I’ve wanted to.

My outlook has changed completely – I realise I don’t need to sprint my way through life at 500 miles per hour constantly accomplishing things. If all I do in a day is go for a walk close to home and pay attention to the world moving around me: that’s enough. Because every day, the world is still moving around me. Remembering that has been grounding.

My years at MHS have been the happiest of my life, because of the real sense of family I felt every time I walked through the door. The people, and the sense of community they collectively create. I often felt MHS to be ‘a bubble’ – and thinking of it from afar, it was a bubble I’d have loved to have been locked down within, and one I’ve missed every day since I left. Though our wedding plans are slightly on hold given travel restrictions, there is absolutely nowhere on earth that means as much to myself and my fiancé Steve (Cover Supervisor, 2018-2020) as Mill Hill. We long for the day we can celebrate our marriage there.

I’ve often heard the phrase during this pandemic: “we may be in the same storm, but we’re not all in the same boat.” I have found it difficult through our severe lockdown to avoid creating comparisons to other states or countries; and have felt envious when I’ve seen what others can do (but we can’t). I’ve found our ‘boat’ really rubbish at points and felt it’s pretty much sinking. But then I remember, it’s not about what we “can’t” do, it’s about opening your eyes to what you can. I’m part of a research programme having had the virus and I see it as a privilege to harness something useful out of my experience. For those heading into further lockdowns, ironically as Melbourne very gradually eases out of ours, be sure to the time each day to remind yourself what you’re able to do, rather than what you can’t (for now).