Rotarian Rob Cracknell was our three minute speaker, on the topic of Living with and Life After COVID-19, at our Zoom meeting on 12 May.
The following is a text of "Crackers" speech:
So here we are almost two months after what is now looking like a highly successful containment of a potentially devastating viral attack on what we used to call “normal” life. This unique situation – well in our time anyway - has asked many questions of how we live our lives, and I would like to offer a few thoughts.
Most importantly, this thing is a long way from being over. The lockdown approach that we have adopted, whilst highly successful, has left us with minimal immunity to the disease so until a vaccine is readily available we will have to remain vigilant. The recent outbreaks at Cedar Meats in Brooklyn (which today reached 85 cases associated with the abattoir), the Newmarch House Nursing home in Sydney’s West where 16 elderly residents have now died (out of a total of 98 nationally), the Hospitals in NW Tasmania, and the most vivid example, the Ruby Princess cruise ship that docked in Sydney and now has accounted for around 10% of Australia’s entire log of positive cases, serve as a stark reminder of just how virulent this virus can be.
My personal situation, I have been surprised how easily I have adapted to the restrictions – with the possible exception of not being able to play golf – an indefensible decision given that exercise was one of the key allowances from the outset! I have lost weight (notwithstanding significant grog consumption – but that is for another day) mainly attributable I believe to lots of home cooking and a conscious effort to eat less and eat better. Late breakfasts that become brunch then an earlier-than-previous dinner with chicken, fish, and lean meats with lots of vegetables and less carbs! I have kept up the exercise with walking – mainly around Mt Eliza but occasional escapes to Overport Park, the Mt Eliza Quarry Park, and the Beleura Hill area.
What about my mental health – maybe not all would agree but Robyn and I have retained our sanity by regular contact with friends and family via Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp etc. I have been a keen user of Zoom for several years now, since I was President of the Cereals and Grains Association which is based in Minneapolis, USA. We held monthly Board meetings and having a reliable platform like Zoom transformed their value. I see this as a major change as businesses will stop flying their executives around the World for meetings that can be held via teleconference. I guess that could mean that air travel could develop more of a tourism leaning than ever before.
What will be the outcomes?
The main issue in my view will be the economic fallout. The incomprehensible amounts of money that governments around the globe have borrowed in order to support those out of work are mind-boggling and will weigh heavily on future generations. Getting budgets “back in the black” will be a distant dream that governments will struggle with.
As a retired couple we are spending less than half of what we did previously with no dining out or entertainment, no travel, not even interstate, and no car racing, providing an insight into what life will be like if we are fortunate enough to reach really old age!
People will become aware of what they have saved by not driving their cars, and more fuel-efficient, hybrid or dare I say it - electric vehicles will be even more popular than they were prior to the pandemic.
When will we be able to travel again? Domestically that will be quite soon, although the Queensland border could be restricted until early July and as for International travel, who knows? With the likely exception of New Zealand and maybe some Asian destinations that can demonstrate that they have the virus fully under control, we will be unable to travel to anywhere, or more correctly, will be unable to return without going through a quarantine period. Similarly our borders will remain closed to International visitors for a long time.
So, as I see it – we have escaped the worst but it will be a while before life returns to anything like we used to call “normal”. Social distancing will have to be observed for the foreseeable future, no crowds at sporting events, golf in pairs, no sharing of carts or equipment, temperature testing at airports, workplaces, restaurants, will the ski fields open this year – doesn’t look too promising, and whilst we are hopefully over the worst, things don’t look like they will be returning to the old “pre-pandemic normal” for some while, if ever.