JANUARY 12, 2021 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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A year to never forget YEAR IN REVIEW ... STORY OF THE YEAR 2020 was a year like no other. It’s the year that “staying apart, kept us together”, that words like ‘rona’, ‘iso’ and ‘lockdown’ found their way into everyday language, strangers fought over toilet paper in supermarket aisles and we were shut off not only from the world, but our families, our friends, our neighbours. The coronavirus pandemic dominated headlines as it swept across the world, both dividing and uniting us. It has brought with it undeniable hardship and heartbreak, social and economic ramifications that will be felt for years to come. But it has also highlighted our fighting spirit, our compassion and an inspiring ability to adapt. Australia’s first confirmed case of coronavirus was identified in Victoria on January 25, 2020. At it’s peak, Victoria had 7000 active cases. We look back on how COVID-19 unfolded across the northern and western suburbs. By March 24, a drive-thru coronavirus clinic in Melton West was helping to ease the strain on local health services. More than 350 people were tested in the first two days the clinic was open. Meanwhile, local business groups called on residents to shop local as the impact of the virus hit hard. On March 31, more than a dozen cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Melton, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The figures came as Victoria recorded its first deaths from the virus and stage three restrictions were introduced. By April, Melton and Moorabool councils announced a raft of stimulus measures to help residents though the ongoing pandemic. Melton council put discussions for its draft 2020-21 budget on hold and mayor Lara Carli unveiled a series of support measures for the community. On April 21, the spread of COVID-19 was brought to a virtual standstill across Melton and Moorabool, with only one new case identified. But on May 5, three new cases in Melton served as a reminder that the pandemic
Nurses Tiffany Chuo and Jenny Copes test for COVID-19. (Marco De Luca)
was far from over. On May 12, the Grant Lodge nursing home in Bacchus Marsh went into lockdown after a staff member tested positive, and two McDonald’s restaurants in Melton were among 12 across Melbourne’s north-west to be shut down for deep cleaning on May 19, following a truck driver testing positive. On May 20, Melton council approved an assistance package for residents affected by the pandemic due to loss of income or job, with the new measures to come into effect immediately. It came as Premier Daniel Andrews began to wind back restrictions. In June, the Victorian Football League and Essendon District Football League both announced a start date for their 2020 season. But on July 7, after weeks of low numbers,
active cases in Melton jumped and Albanvale was one of 10 Victorian hotspots back in lockdown. On July 14, while Melton and the rest of metropolitan Melbourne returned to stage three lockdown measures, Moorabool was exempt. Police and ADF personnel monitored a ‘ring of steel’ preventing unauthorised travel from one region to the other. By the end of July, Melton was among the worst affected regions in Melbourne battling the pandemic with 211 active cases. Despite being outside of the lockdown region, Moorabool had a sharp rise in virus cases, with nine cases. On August 4, Mr Andrews declared a ‘State of Disaster’ for Victoria and introducesd a raft of new restrictions, including a curfew and a five kilometre radius. As metropolitan Melbourne
entered strict stage four restrictions. Melton had 583 active cases. Moorabool had 17. Numbers began to stabilise across the state throughout August but the 2020 Djerriwarrh Festival and Lakeside Alive were cancelled. At the end of September the state’s roadmap to COVID recovery was clearer, with a number of restrictions lifted. On-site schooling resumed for VCE, VCAL and primary school students from October 12. On October 27, Mr Andrews delayed a decision on lifting more restrictions while life was slowly returning to normal in Moorabool with more businesses and local services re-opening. On November 3 the ‘ring of steel’ was to be removed, including a police checkpoint on the Calder Freeway that divided Melton from Moorabool for months. 12476326-CG03-21