Playing as a team

There is a basic understanding people should be aware of as Victoria tentatively emerges from the latest COVID-19 lockdown today.

If we want to be able to experience what many of us would consider normal or usual day-to-day life we must, as a society, work as a team.

It is a well-worn plea, but with all the debilitating jabs and punches the pandemic is throwing, there is no place for defiant individualism if we want to beat this curse.

We’re experiencing perhaps the best example of why a champion team will always beat a team of champions.

We need to work as a champion team and we do a pretty good job of it, especially in the regions, when there’s a common purpose – in this case a return to everyday life.

It seems counter-intuitive considering democratic society promotes individual thought.

But the truth is, being a rebellious individual and thumbing an ignorant nose at an indiscriminate virus has no place in this fight.

Displays of community protest are usually an accepted part of Australian life and culture but in this circumstance, it is considerably different.

Anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne last week, be they frustrated, angry, hurt, arrogant reality deniers or rent-a-protester, were determined to make a point.

They instead, whether inadvertently or on purpose, told Victorians making all sorts of sacrifices ‘where to go’, with obviously little regard for consequences of potentially spreading the virus.

This sort of behaviour is by no means exercising basic human rights as some claim. It is instead as much selfish and seriously counter-productive as it is stupid.

Health professionals study for years to have an understanding of diseases and disease management.

Under pressure from peer review and community accountability, they apply that knowledge in establishing frameworks and boundaries.

While we can always question political motivations, we must in this environment at least, have faith in the science.

Importantly, the person we can have most influence over is ourselves.

Premier Daniel Andrews said in announcing an easing of lockdown situation yesterday that Victorians should be proud that they had seen off two outbreaks of the Delta strain of the virus.

But he was quick to add, “At the same time we have to remain vigilant.”

The message, again and again, is that we’re a big team and everyone needs to contribute for us to have success. • Easing of latest COVID-19 lockdown, see page 11.