TESTING OUR RESILIENCE

WITH Halloween over, the supermarket shelves have been cleared, and orange and black spooky- themed wares replaced by seasonal red and green.

Christmas trees and lights have started to appear at various businesses, shops and homes.

The holiday period might only be a matter of weeks away as we limp towards the end of one of the most challenging years in living memory, but it might as well be six months away for the amount of important work that has to be done between then and now.

This week, for example, is significant for a number of reasons.

The state government will hand down its budget on Thursday, which is set to show the worst deficit in Tasmanian history.

The coronavirus crisis has challenged us in ways we never thought possible and our children and our children’s children will likely be paying off our COVID- related debts for years to come.

Premier Peter Gutwein has carte blanche to spend his way to recovery but spending in a way that will allow private enterprise to flourish and carry our economy the rest of the way will be critical.

Mr Gutwein has proven to be a strong leader during the crisis but how he leads us out of it will arguably be more important.

This week is also NAIDOC Week. The theme is Always Was, Always Will Be — and recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for these lands.

NAIDOC Week teaches Australians to acknowledge and celebrate the true history of our country. It’s an opportunity to marvel at the duration of our nation’s story, which now more than ever demonstrates no matter how significant we think the last year has been, it’s a humble moment in time when you think of the more than 65,000 years that have come before us. Wednesday is also Remembrance Day. At 11am on November 11, 1918, the guns on the Western front fell silent after four years of war.

It’s a day that recognises the end of the First World War and a time to reflect on those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This year, the ceremony will be conducted differently but the significance of the day and time remain.

In a challenging year and in the fight against a silent killer like coronavirus, many of us have sacrificed many things and as a second wave spreads through Europe, it’s challenging not to feel despondent.

But Remembrance Day reminds us that we have endured much worse.

There will be a tough slog from now until the Christmas holidays and while a new year doesn’t guarantee us a clean slate, it’s important to remember that however dark the days, there are better times ahead.

We are resilient and our history proves that.