War with an enemy we can’t see
We are living in unprecedented times.
However, more than ever it remains important that we continue to listen to the government’s advice in relation to Covid19.
We have been fighting a war with an enemy we cannot see or have any defences against. The only defence we had was to lock ourselves in.
I work (in my other job) with many traumatised clients. I often discuss the way in which the brain functions in trauma, in a way to protect us. When we as individuals are under threat, our brain will either put us into Fight, Flight or Freeze depending on the circumstances and or the individual’s natural reaction. For us to fight this virus our prime minister, put the country in to “freeze” or rather lockdown. This was to protect us and save lives.
We will now be moving into level 2. I know people are hurting here in Omokoroa. ¯
People have lost jobs and their security moving forward is in jeopardy. There are those who are just hanging on to their businesses and wondering how they will cope in the foreseeable future. Not only is there a financial insecurity due to these recent and foreseeable months, mental health is too being affected. Our new normal is not what we have known as normal. We have young people confined to their home without the real connection of their friends. This age group needs the connection of their own as a normal developmental stage. When normal is disrupted, problems can arise.
O¯ mokoroa is a special place and despite the sadness and uncertainty of this difficult time it has pulled together to help those in need. One group that has risen out of the pandemic is “In This Together”. This is a group that formed hours before we were put into level 3 and a couple of days before level 4. The group has been able to provide volunteers to deliver whatever had been needed to help our vulnerable in our community, from grocery shopping and delivery to phone calls for check-ins.
Steve Ling from FreshChoice was able to get online shopping up and working within a week, a feat that normally takes months. This had been an invaluable service for those here in O¯ mokoroa. He and his team have worked so very hard during this time to provide food and conveniences for our community. Thank you!
As we went into level 3, we have seen the local restaurants opening for takeaways and some other businesses opening again. I ask our community, please remember our own and try to support local businesses. There has been a local business directory set up for those small businesses to be identified. The council has been working in the background and Zoom meetings have been invaluable.
Just last week, a workshop was held regarding the Annual Plans across the Bay. The council is aware of the hardships people have and is looking into ways of supporting and providing avenues for relief.
As a community board we have looked at our Annual Plan and while many of the projects we identified have the funding and were in the process of development, these will continue. There are others we are looking at.
We are in the process of completing the Community Response Plan that had been commenced with the previous board. This will guide us in any emergencies here on the peninsula.
The building of the new Omokoroa ¯ Sport and Recreation Centre is under way again and progressing well under the circumstances.
As a community board we are aware that the youth in our community are not well provided for. The age group that have been identified are those intermediate to high school children. As the community chair, I will try during this time on the board to hopefully have something up and running or working towards for our youth in O¯ mokoroa.
My vision is to connect a community from the young to the elderly and ironically this pandemic is showing us that we can and are willing to do this. Now let us continue this moving forward.
Stay safe and well.
‘I know people are hurting here in Omokoroa. ¯ People have lost jobs and their security moving forward is in jeopardy. There are those who are just hanging on to their businesses and wondering how they will cope in the foreseeable future.