Missing a party no big deal, try losing family from afar

I HAVE been a staunch supporter for what our Queensland Premier has done with borders, COVID restrictions and COVID plans all aimed to keep the state and our more vulnerable safe and healthy.

Hearing the woeful stories by Year 12 students about their “devastation” at not being able to attend this year’s Schoolies celebrations, school formals and the general disruption to their final school year, unfortunately has not sat well with me this week.

We have all watched in horror as border jumpers attempt to cross into Qld, criminals actually making it across the border, border town businesses suffering losses and idiots knowingly bringing the virus into Qld from Victoria, infecting the public.

This week we were personally affected by border closures and COVID restrictions. We, like many others, have family scattered within other affected states and NZ whom we have not seen for more than eight months. We have family in Victoria who have been in lockdown, curfew and unable to travel more than 5km from their homes. We have heard of friends who have had parents and grandparents die alone in aged care or hospital unable to have family beside them.

We now have a family member gravely ill in Victoria and the dilemma of travelling into the state from Qld to be there before they are admitted into hospital care has been nothing short of horrific and confusing.

The thought of travelling into such a COVID-affected state by plane is frightening. Travel by road is permitted, however overnight stay at a half-way point must be proved to be in a non-COVID affected area, all receipts must be kept to show locations, letters from doctors explaining travel for compassionate grounds and even then border officials on the Vic/ NSW border could still denyentry into Victoria. The 5km travel restriction in place, who knows? Apparently even the government offices couldn’t give advice on how to get around this.

Coming back will be difficult. Not permitted to drive back through the affected states to Qld means that you can only return by plane then quarantine for 14 days back in Qld, but no advice as to whether in Brisbane or home on the Gold Coast.

This is not a travel plan we ever wanted to make or plan on making, however here we find ourselves. So when I hear of antimask, anti-lockdown, antieverything protestors and the woeful cries of students not being able to party or travel? Well it just makes me more upset and angry.

Not being able to dance at a formal, return a dress purchased, not attend Schoolies celebrations is not devastation.

Losing a parent and not being able to say goodbye? That is devastation. Learn and respect the difference because there is one. TINA BARBER, BROADBEACH