It took 92-year-old Verna Pickford more than two months to be able to cuddle her newest great-granddaughter, Harper, due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
The Stawell stalwart - known universally around town as "Gran" - had been eagerly awaiting the arrival through the long months of being house-bound.
Harper, the daughter of Jordy and Jade Ralph, was "snuck" into Mrs Pickford's house as a surprise.
"Her reaction was just priceless," said Trish Ralph, Mrs Pickford's daughter and Harper's grandmother.
"I came around so that I could video it and take photos. They just snuck in the door with her. She had the hands out for a hold before Jordy even got to her."
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"It was excruciating," Mrs Ralph said. "Even when we did get to see them, you couldn't hug Jordy. It was hard."
The family had kept up-to-date via social media with the latest on the new arrival - who, according to Mrs Pickford, was "growing like a weed" - but it was no substitute for face-to-face.
Mrs Ralph said she also was unable to visit the Ararat hospital when Harper was born and had to wait until restrictions eased before getting to know her first grandchild.
" After Harper was born we'd Facetime and send photos, but it's not the same," Mrs Ralph said. "Even though [Verna] has other great grandchildren - and loves them all - with this one the anticipation was a bit more. The pregnancy was so long awaited - because she was isolated at home it was always 'any news, any news'.
Mrs Pickford - who has 12 great-grandchildren - has been in Stawell since 1947 and continues to live at home, with support from family and community groups.
The first lockdown was hard on the die-hard Swifts fan.
"She went to day centre, but that stopped," Mrs Ralph said. " We would often go up the street with kids and grandkids and have lunch. She missed all that. She really does miss the social support group three days a week."
Mrs Ralph praised the work of the community group who "rang five days a week during isolation". Its bus service has previously allowed Mrs Pickford to run errands and catch up with friends around Stawell
"When they were allowed a bit more contact they would bring an activity pack with crosswords - she loves those," she said. "It's a wonderful programme. She really needs to be back doing those things."
Mrs Pickford said she had no plans of moving into a nursing home.
"No way," she said. "They wouldn't put up with my late nights."
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