WELCOME BACK
THERE were emotional scenes at Hobart Airport yesterday as the Tasmanian borders opened to COVID- 19 safe states and families and friends were reunited after spending months apart.
Premier Peter Gutwein said he was pleased to welcome tourists back.
“Today is a very important day for Tasmania,” Mr Gutwein said.
“We’re ready. We’re safe and we’re prepared. We can now start to welcome families back from safe, low- risk jurisdictions, importantly we’re open for business.”
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EMOTIONAL scenes filled the Hobart Airport as arriving passengers embraced friends and family for the first time in months.
Four- year- old Hobart girl Sadie Myors stood at the arrivals gate on Monday with a balloon and welcome sign in hand as her aunty Emily – whom she hasn’t seen in 11 months – touched down from Queensland.
After a warm and emotional hug with her aunty on the first day of the borders reopening, Sadie said she was most looking forward to going out for ice cream to celebrate Emily’s homecoming.
Aunty Emily said reuniting with Sadie, the four- yearold’s younger sister Nina and the rest of their family provided a bright spark in an otherwise tough year.
Also arriving into Hobart was 24- year- old Patricia Carter who, like her sister Jennifer, is set to give birth in the coming weeks. “It’s been 12 months since I’ve seen Jennifer and 15 months since I’ve seen my parents,” she said.
“My mum went through breast cancer last year and I haven’t been able to see and support her through that.
“There’s been a lot changes in the last year.
“I’m looking forward to spending as much time as I can with family while I’m down – we’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
A strong police presence was at the airport to enforce COVID compliance but little social distancing was seen when arriving passengers jumped to embrace those awaiting their return.
Geilston Bay grandmother Vicki Jesney was among those waiting at the arrivals gate for the arrival of her daughter Natalie Simmons and grandson Hudson.
The family described their reunion as “a big relief”.
“It’s been so long and so of hard since I’ve been able to see Hudson who’s growing up so fast,” Ms Jesney said.
“All his cousins are here and he and Nat have been cut off from us for the whole year. We’re so grateful to see the borders have reopened.”
It’s also been a long seven months for Gold Coast woman Ally Davis who, after landing in Hobart on Monday, is set to reunite with her 93- year- old mother.
“Mum’s just got into aged care so we’ve come down to visit her,” Ms Davis said upon arrival into Hobart with partner Steve.
“It’s been really tough not being able to see her at all over the last few months, really hard.
“It has been a shame but it’s great that we’re able to open the borders again.”
Ms Davis said she last saw her mother in March before the state’s borders were locked shut.
“We’ll be here for two weeks to check out mum’s new living arrangement and how she’s settling in,” Ms Davis said.
First- time parent Amy Bowerman, 32, of Midway Point, had spent the past 10 months without her bestie Chanyce Turnbull, 26.
“It’s upsetting that she has missed everything. We talked
everyday but it is not the same. But I’m grateful for FaceTime, I got to see her face on the square screen for my baby shower.”
Ms Turnbull was on the second flight to Tasmania from Brisbane.
They cried with joy when seeing each other.
For Ms Turnbull, who left her Hobart family and moved to Townsville in January to study occupational therapy, it
was extra special as it was the first time she met Amy’s two week- old son Bailey – the main reason for this trip.
“It was a relief to hear borders would open and now it’s surreal I’m here,” Ms Turnbull said.
“This time has been so hard for me, like other families and friends, to be separated from everyone we love.
“Last time we saw each other she ( Amy) wasn’t pregnant, nant, now she has a baby in her hands. We talked all the time, but I really struggled, I don’t know what I will do if this happens again.”
Nervously waiting in the crowd was Hobart university student Lucinda Hinckfuss, 24, as her boyfriend of 3 ½ years, Chris Johnson, 27, arrived.
Ms Hinckfuss moved to
Hob a r t for studies in February. It’s been a tough six months as they planned on many adventures and none could eventuate. She still remembers the day she heard the bad news of closed borders and that sinking feeling.
“I am beyond happy to see him. We are so over FaceTime even if it has got us through,” she said.