As a child of the 80s and 90s, when people mentioned masks, I thought of movies, such as Jim Carrey's 'The Mask' and 'The Man in the Iron Mask' with Leonardo DiCaprio. Now, I think of COVID-19. Masks are an important part of our lives - from today we must wear a tight-fitting mask. Furthermore, regional Victoria businesses must check IDs of all customers or risk a $10,000 fine.
Right now, masks and COVID-19 go hand in hand... so does the highly-anticipated vaccine. Unfortunately, Natimuk's Dr Rob Grenfell, the CSIRO's Health Director, Health & Biosecurity, is unsure we'll get a vaccine by 2021.
In the heat of the moment, it's easy to think we're living in a dystopian nanny state; however, these feelings may face in a decade. We can look at the past to see how generations before us moved on from the 1918 pandemic. We could ask Dimboola's Myra Gazelle, who celebrated her 104th birthday yesterday, or look at the legacy left behind by Jeparit's David Livingston. There are so many strong leaders in our community.
It's all in the eye of the beholder. For some, 2020 is synonymous with the coronavirus, but for others it could be something as equally life altering. Right now, COVID-19 is the last thing on the minds of residents in Port Fairy, who are enduring the worst flood in almost 30 years. For Kohen Godwin's family, who has been missing since September 8, the pandemic is taking a back seat.
Volunteers put the recession on hold on Saturday night as they rescued a third person in as many weeks from the Grampians.
It's all about perspective.
Ben Fraser, Editor.
Ben Fraser
Ben is the Editor with the Wimmera Mail-Times, Stawell Times-News and Ararat Advertiser. Ben is the former chief of staff at the Portland Observer, a qualified teacher, and an Leadership Great South Coast alumni (2019).
Ben is the Editor with the Wimmera Mail-Times, Stawell Times-News and Ararat Advertiser. Ben is the former chief of staff at the Portland Observer, a qualified teacher, and an Leadership Great South Coast alumni (2019).
