Together we will survive

TASMANIA may have pulled up the drawbridge on the mainland but it doesn’t mean we are alone. We are at the start of the biggest story in living memory; the beginning of a few months of previously unimaginable scenarios that will leave our world changed forever.

Now more than ever we have to stick together as a state to get through the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the world and our way of life has changed.

This week we saw the number of local victims rise. Premier Peter Gutwein was forced to put in place the toughest border protection measures in the country.

People’s livelihoods crumbled before their very eyes.

There has therefore never been a more important time for us all to be seeking out and relying on trusted information about the coronavirus pandemic.

And the dedicated team of journalists and photographers at the Mercury have been working round the clock to do exactly that. A newspaper’s role will always be to inform its readers.

We won’t shy away from bringing you the news of the day, no matter how bleak. It’s what the Mercury has done since 1854.

Globally, there is a lot of difficult news to absorb. Here at the Mercury we also recognise that to get through this crisis we too have to adapt.

Even in the darkest of times, there are always glimmers of light. Right now there are so many good stories happening in our homes, streets, neighbourhoods and states.

In some of the toughest circumstances ordinary Tasmanians can do extraordinary things. We recognise the need to look out for others when the chips are down. And that’s what we need to focus on.

Our commitment to you is that we’ll be at the heart of finding solutions.

This is why the Mercury is launching today the #togetherfortassie campaign.

Alongside our news coverage, we want to help unite the state during this crisis by providing practical support and advice, celebrating frontline workers, assisting businesses and helping to maintain community spirit in a time of isolation.

These are unprecedented times and call for unprecedented human decency.

Perhaps your elderly neighbour needs you to help them with their groceries or help them get something from the chemist. Perhaps they just want to have a chat about what’s going on.

Together, as Tasmanians, we will defeat this.

All we ask of you is to tell us your stories so we can keep connecting our community and sharing the good yarns. Email, phone, tag us on social media and tell us about the wonderful things you have seen happening in the community. Or reach out to us if you need help. Or highlight a Tasmanian hero who deserves some credit.

Things will get better and when they do, with a bit of luck, we won’t forget the great wave of mateship that this crisis has reignited.

Responsibility for all editorial comment is taken by the Editor, Jenna Cairney, Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS, 7000

THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AND CALL FOR UNPRECEDENTED HUMAN DECENCY.