COVID-19 CRISIS MEMBER STORIES

The year 2020 will forever be defined by events relating to the new coronavirus and COVID-19 disease. At first, we in Australia, just looked on as the unnamed disease gripped the Wuhan Provence in China and soaring daily death tolls were reported. After all, Australians were just breathing a collective sigh of relief as it started raining and extinguished the devastating bushfires we had suffered over the preceding few months. But then, and it seemed as though it was overnight, we were all corralled into our homes, shops were closed, businesses were shut down, while sporting fixtures and festivals were cancelled. We heard a daily tally of each new COVID-19 case as it was broadcast on every media platform 24/7. When we could get to the shops there was fighting in the aisles and not a roll of toilet paper to be had. All doom and gloom so far. Well, they say every cloud has a silver lining, so let’s have a look at some of the good things to emerge from our enforced hibernation. During a time of crisis good neighbours and good friends come to the fore and we saw this with the establishment of the Queensland Care Army, where volunteers were encouraged to support the elderly and vulnerable by doing their shopping and keeping an eye on them to keep them safe at home. Hand hygiene has never been so good as we all learnt to wash our hands ‘properly’, cough into our elbow and of course, keep our distance, especially when coughing. One of the by-products of restrictions on gatherings was an 80% reduction in the number of reported cases of influenza compared to the same period in 2019. With so many people at home all day Queensland Police reported a drop in opportunistic break and enter crime rates in some parts of the State as criminals avoided confronting residents. Peak hour traffic just disappeared and, as travel restrictions remained in place, the need for petrol plummeted along with the price. This really was ‘back to the future’ People learnt new skills as the uptake of new technology soared, and ‘Zoom’ meetings became an everyday occurrence.

We asked you to tell us your stories about how you have been coping during enforced hibernation. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us your stories. Unfortunately, we are unable to print all of your contributions in full. Instead, we have chosen some comments to reflect the mood and spirit of our members. While some lament the loss of social contact with family and friends, there is definitely a mood of optimism and resilience. That volunteer spirit has not been dampened by this virus.

Some told us about their ‘home improvements’ to accommodate social distancing and hygiene precautions. I conduct the signing in my carport, adhering to social distancing, I manage this by using my car bonnet to maintain distance between the client and myself. AG Considering the QJA advice regarding Witnessing at Home, I set up an area on my rear deck where visitors requiring JP assistance might sit and conform with social distancing requirements. Hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes at the ready. PV I follow the following Protocol - meeting at my home and sitting on my front veranda 1.5 metres apart. I pre-advise the client that I have to wear gloves and a mask although I have tested negative for Covid-19, everyone is very accepting and often relieved at this. A few people come wearing masks as well. They also have to bring their own black pen and of course ID.

The social distancing as such is not a great problem for me. Regular hand washing is part of my work. Disposable gloves are in the car. GF Rather than attending to JP duties from my office, this work has merely relocated to the home situation, albeit in smaller numbers. Social distancing measures were relatively easy to comply with as the home environment was set up to facilitate compliance and safety. While social distancing measures at the office were implemented through a closure of the office to members of the public, my self-isolation allowed me to minimise any risks. PV Since the signing centres have stopped operating, I have had seven clients call on me at home. I have set up in my garage and am able to maintain social distancing. GL

Geoff Lapthorne JP (Qual) in his garage signing centre.

Some report that adopting new technology has become the new normal. We have become completely dependent on computers and social media. Committee meetings for the many organisations we are involved with are now conducted by Zoom. Attendance is up because no one has an excuse for not tuning in. Our church is live streaming the Sunday service. GL

I have become a proficient Zoom user, but my new technology skills were stretched when I tried online shopping for the first time. I thought I had ordered a kilo of potatoes, so you can image my surprise when the order arrived with only 1 single potato! JL We have our church on line. LW

Occupying enforced stay at home time saw some take up new hobbies while others refreshed their knowledge. I have taken the chance to participate in QJA on-line professional development and training activities. Some topics refreshed my knowledge while others covered aspects, I had not experienced in my practical JP role. PV I have also been able to further some projects my QJA Branch is working on, the major one being planning for a JP / C.Dec course for later in the year. While some arrangements have commenced, this project seeks to attract expressions of interest in the course so that post-COVID-19 we may have a viable number to run a course. PV I also used the time to do the QJA Professional series 1 and 2 courses on line. Was interesting and it kept me thinking. GF I keep busy by setting tasks, when I am not working from home. Gardening projects, cooking up biscuits, fruit mince pies and giving them to the wonderful people at the coffee club that still serve my coffee. TF Gardening, reading and working on projects for a social group keeps me occupied. GF

Many told us about the social isolation they were experiencing and how much they missed their colleagues at the signing centres and mixing with family and friends The worst thing is not being able to hug our grandchildren. However, I also feel bad about the people who ring for me to sign something because of the shopping centre signing stations being closed. LW It seems most around this area are staying home, so quiet. People needing my services always knew where I would be. I hope we are soon able to pick up some of the pieces of our way of life. I miss the interaction with people, life gets a bit lonely for now. PD

As a newly appointed JP (appointed 4 March 2020) I never really expected to be as busy as what I have been. JW Since the signing sites have been closed, I have been getting about 2 calls per week from the general public. As a new JP I am seeing a lot of different documents. Fortunately, the QJA has been able to support me with any queries I have had. NM

About every 2 weeks I travel the 4.5 hour trip in each direction from Goondiwindi to Brisbane to attend a meeting often arriving back home late at night. The lockdown has proven a bonus in that meetings locally, Brisbane and some Nationally has taken pressure off, my car which has racked up 320K in 10 years has hardly moved for weeks. Enormous savings. PM

I had a phone call from an RSPCA person asking if I can sign their arrest warrants as the courts are closed. I understand that this is a very complicated legal procedure as a summons may suffice. I declined for the moment as I needed time to totally understand this procedure and requested them to ask again if needed. AH

Everyone is looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality and our members are no different as these comments suggest. I am looking forward to the chance to socialise with friends, to travel to visit family members, and to plan some overseas travel, perhaps not by cruise liner. PV I am looking forward to going to have a steak and chips in the local club/pub with a view of the beach. TF

Former QJA Vice President, Marian Vierveyzer, muses on life west of the great divide during the pandemic. A big thank you everyone who didn’t travel out to the country over the last 4 months, and those that did for sticking to the hygiene protocols set down by government. Almost the entire region west of the Great Dividing Range continues to be virus free, with a couple of exceptions. I have been watching the news and keeping up to date with the figures, not just out of interest but also due to my paid employment. While others were slowing down, working from home or losing their jobs, my work exploded into another universe. My world was about getting the correct information from the right sources and developing communications, instructions and advising on what was best for the workforce as well as the community. From the beginning, I continued to say this was the reset we needed to have. Life had been speeding up at an alarming rate and someone had to press the pause button. For some of us it hit hard on finances and others on family or friend connections. It has been very sad to see people lose loved ones through all of this, but if there is a positive side to that, the number of lives were comparatively low and, in the main, children’s health was not affected. News readers didn’t use their usual exaggerations and extreme adjectives to describe the virus such as “the worst rain we’ve seen in 2 weeks”. Politicians pulled together to manage issues for the entire country. Wasn’t that refreshing? But through all of this most of us are still trying to understand “why toilet paper”. For our friends who live on properties who