EDITORIAL:

AS THE horses thundered around Flemington on Tuesday it was impossible not to feel a certain sense of sadness that the usual sense of celebration that accompanies the Race that Stops a Nation was the latest joy to fall victim to the coronavirus crisis.

2020 will be known as the year that was cancelled. Here in Tasmania, first it was Dark Mofo, then one by one the events were canned, then it was travelling overseas or interstate, dining out, visiting loved ones in aged care, going to school, going to the park or going to non- essential work or going to weddings or funerals.

Put in perspective, not attending the Melbourne Cup seems a trivial loss, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pause to reflect on just how significantly our way of life has been affected by the pandemic that still has its hands firmly wrapped around the throats of many countries.

But the starting gates opened, the horses still ran and, for those fortunate enough to pick the winner, the bookies still paid out.

Spring is supposed to be the season of new beginnings.

And over the weekend Australia, for the first time in five months, recorded no new community transmission cases in a 24- hour period.

Our friends and family in Melbourne have started to ease out of hibernation, reuniting with loved ones and visiting cafes and restaurants for the first time in what must feel like a lifetime.

And we remember only too sweet how that first taste of freedom tastes.

NSW had 49 active coronavirus cases on Tuesday, and Victoria had just 38.

Here in Tasmania, we haven’t seen an active case for weeks.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein also agreed that our state would open its borders to travel to and from NSW from Friday.

There is unrestricted travel into Tasmania from every other state or territory apart from Victoria – and surely, with so few case numbers, we can’t be far off opening to those residents too.

Slowly but surely we are coming out of our slumber.

Take, for example, the stories on pages 6 and 7 of today’s edition of the Mercury.

Mona – Tasmania’s guiding light – looks set to continue with its expansion plans.

There are plans for a new distillery at North Hobart – one of a raft of beverage developments or expansions in recent month and years.

In the events space, organisers are frantically trying to find COVID- safe ways to ensure that 2021 is the year of the rebirth rather than another cultural void.

It will of course be a bumpy road ahead. There will be further outbreaks, we have to emerge with caution but what fills us with hope is the number of stories we are hearing of businesses forging ahead for the future. Good luck to them.