Quote of the Week

"If the battle cry of our government’s response to the global financial crisis was “go early, go hard, go households”, this government’s approach to the current crisis seems to be “go late, go half-measures, and go ... well ... go to Hillsong”." [Former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, writing in The Guardian, 16 March 2020]

Joke of the Week

Found on Twitter

Anzac Day marches and many rememberance services cancelled for 25 April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic

ABC News, 16 March 2020:

A number of states have moved to cancel some Anzac Day services and ban the public from attending others in an attempt to thwart the spread of coronavirus. 

A selection of dawn services will be held across the country but the public will be asked not to attend. Any marches or midday services will be cancelled. 

RSL Victoria state president Dr Robert Webster said it was not a decision taken lightly. 

"Traditionally, many of us have marked Anzac Day by attending a dawn service at our local cenotaph or the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance," he said 

"But in 2020, on April 25, when you can't go to a local dawn service, the RSL is asking that instead you tune in via radio, social media or television and take a moment to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our veterans and those who are still serving today.".....

RSL Queensland president Tony Ferris said the move was designed to protect "our older veterans" who are particularly at risk, and said he was looking into alternative ways for people to commemorate the day. 

"Regardless of the form this year's Anzac Day commemorations take, we will always remember the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of our Defence forces, past and present," Mr Ferris said. 

Robert Dick, state president of RSL Tasmania, said he was hoping the public could empathise with the decision. 

"Yes, we cop a lot of public flak over the issue, but we ask them to consider everybody else, not just themselves," he said. 

Several states and territories are yet to make a firm decision about their respective services....

Iconic Bluesfest and a number of other events cancelled or postponed on NSW Far North Coast from March to December 2020

Several events in the NSW Northern Rivers have been cancelled due to the national large gathering bans in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

These include: the iconic Byron Bay Bluesfest on 9-13 April 2020 ; Lismore’s Songkran Festival on 5 April; Anniversary Day at New Italy on 5 April; and the 116th Maclean Highland Gathering on April 10-11.

Casino's Beef Week due to be held in May has been postponed, possibly until early September 2020. However timing depends on how the pandemic progresses.

Splendour in the Grass 2020 is being rescheduled to Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2020 at North Byron Parklands.

Byron Harmony Festival 2020 scheduled for 21 March at Mullumbimby has been cancelled. Tickets will be refunded.

Local industry group Northern Rivers Food (NRF) has confirmed that the 2020 Northern Rivers Food Harvest Festival has been cancelled.

Ballina Coastcare Committee (in consultation with long-time Dune Care members) has postponed DuneCare and Coastcare 30th Anniversary. No new date announced.

Grafton Relay For Life due to be held on 4-5 April has been suspended. New date will be announced.

Grafton Eisteddford was to be held on Saturday 11 – Sunday 19 April but is postponed until a date later in the year.

Criterion Theatre, Grafton, live theatre performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been postponed from 26 March-5 April to 26 November-6 December.

The Maclean Show Society has decided to cancel the 122 year old Maclean Agricultural & Industrial Show for this year in a unanimous decision of their committee.

Events that are still not confirmed under the latest large gathering ban (no more than 100 people limit): Carna Byron Bay on 21 March; Casino Race Day on 21 March; and Crankfest at Evans Head on 18 April.

Grafton Christ Church Cathedral has suspended the Wednesday 10am Eucharist for at least the next two weeks and Sunday services are expected to also be suspended following a meeting of the Parish Council tonight. Sunday services and other major holy days will be live-streamed via the cathedral’s Facebook page.

Lawrence Museum will be closed from Saturday 21 March due to the pandemic.

NOTE FOR SATURDAY SHOPPERS; Bunnings Warehouse has suspended Sauage Sizzles at all its stores.

Clarence Valley Conservatorium will still be going ahead with its scheduled concert featuring Swedish guitarist Johannes Moller at 7pm on Saturday 21 March 2020, but adhering to the strict guidelines being issued by health authorities only 30 tickets will be issued to ensure seating is suitably spaced.

COVID-19 Pandemic 2020: Clarence Valley Council taking social distancing seriously

#COVID19 means it's important to reduce avoidable personal contact with other people. If you have an enquiry you could call or email us or use the Live Chat facility on our website.

If you need to make payments, call your bank now about setting up #BPay#ClarenceValley pic.twitter.com/xS11Yaek1L

— Clarence Valley Council (@CVCNSW) March 16, 2020

Now, when do we hear that this local government council has also considered not just the health and safety of its own workforce, but how it will support the basic needs during this pandemic of the est. 17.5% of the Clarence Valley population 70 years of age and over whom social distancing is going to make just that little bit more vulnerable during a prolonged period of physical isolation, the est. 29% who live alone often without family support and, the est. 5.4% of local residents who have no car and rely on local buses or taxis.

In case shire councillors need to be reminded, residents who fall into one or all three of these categories were already sometimes dying alone and unnoticed before this pandemic arrived on the NSW North Coast. The annual figure was not high, but this current situation has the potential to raise the incidence. 

There are fines for breaking Australia's national large gatherings ban dring the COVID-19 pandemic

Crikey Worm, 16 March 2020:

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINED

State governments and police will take responsibility for enforcing penalties over the new quarantine rules, with Morrison encouraging a “dob in” your mate system, and Pedestrian.TV reporting that, under existing rules, fines for breaching public health orders carry wildly different penalties according to state.

• Victoria: $6,400
• Tasmania: $8,400
• Queensland: $13,345
• South Australia: $25,000
• NSW: $11,000 and six months’ jail
• WA: $50,000 and 12 months’ jail

The Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC respectively report both NSW and Western Australia police will enforce the existing laws; ditto Queensland police, who will conduct random check-ins.

South Australia, meanwhile, has officially declared a public health emergency, the ABC reports.

Third COVID-19 case reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District

 Northern NSW Local Health District, 18 March 2020:

A third confirmed case of COVID-19 has been recorded in the Northern NSW Local Health District.

This case is among the 267 total cases recorded for NSW as at 11am 18 March.

As with the other two cases recorded within the LHD, this case was acquired overseas, and is not the result of local community transmission.

The individual is self-isolating, and the North Coast Public Health Unit has already followed up close contacts of the case.

No further details relating to the individual’s location will be made public at this time. There are no locations that pose an ongoing risk to members of the public.

We can also confirm that all close contacts of the previous two recorded cases in NNSWLHD have been identified, contacted and followed up by Public Health officers.

NSW Health COVID-19 / Flu assessment clinics are up and running across the state however, we stress these clinics are for those most at risk with respiratory symptoms or fever, those returning from overseas or in contact with a COVID-19 case, or people like our health workers. People without symptoms do not need to be tested.

For more statewide statistics and flight details of confirmed cases, please refer to NSW Health – https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200318_00.aspx

UPDATE

On the morning of 19 March 2020 it was reporteded that a fourth person in the Northern NSW Local Health District has tested positive for COVID-19.