#LightUpTheDawn

For the first time in 101 years, the streets, cenotaphs and war memorials have been quiet.

ANZAC Day is normally celebrated or memorialised all over Australia and New Zealand, in small towns, cities, suburbs. Returned Veterans marching, parading alongside serving members of the Armed Forces, cadets corps, community groups, first responders, Police.

But not this year. Not in 2020.

Just as in 1919, the first year for communities to gather together after the Great War had ended and stand side by side with returning and returned soldiers, this year there are no parades, public services or gatherings. Just as in 1919, in 2020 it is once more a virus which has prevented us from getting up in the dark and assembling before dawn.

This time though a social media campaign #LightUpTheDawn grabbed our attention. It was promoted by the Returned and Services League in Australia and the Returned and Services Association in New Zealand, in newspapers, on radio and television. It was a very simple premise. To not forget.

To stand together, but alone, at the end of our driveways, on our front porches, balconies or terraces. Buglers and trumpeters were encouraged to play the Last Post and Reveille from their homes. ANZAC services broadcast on radio and television could be played on smart devices at our gates.

School children were encouraged through their online at home learning platforms to make poppies to display in windows or on doors, some really creative people made candle holders from empty milk bottles. All over our two countries ANZAC biscuits were baked and enjoyed.

And so, at 6am we stood, next to our neighbours but socially distant instead of shoulder to shoulder. We listened to the Ode, we listened and some sang our national anthems, we observed a minutes silence. We reflected. Then we retreated, inside, back to our bubbles.

COVID-19 has changed our lives and the way we live so much, just as WW1 did for our ancestors. There seems to be a renewed sense of community recently. People are looking out for each other, being mindful of our actions, building resilience and doing the same old things in new ways. Will that survive I wonder in our post-COVID world.

There are age old rivalries between our countries, but they are in good jest.

Who has the best rugby team ? – and all the trophies ?

Who should own bragging rights to Pavlova, ANZAC biscuits, Lamingtons, Fairy Bread, Split Enz, Crowded House, Phar Lap, Stan Walker, Russell Crowe (oh alright, Australia can have that one – lol)

We tease each other in fun, but mostly we still like each other – just like siblings. Forged from the time when we were both British Colonies together, far away from the nation which claimed sovereignty (contentiously). The nation which sent their criminals to serve their sentences – out of sight out of mind – and later encouraged citizens to pack up their families and livelihood to seek new opportunities on the other side of the world. Strengthened in the trenches of WW1. It is a sibling kind of thing with mate-ship at its base.

Here is hoping that ultimately, as we tentatively step out of our COVID-19 bubbles and cautiously celebrate that we seem to have flattened the curve through not too dissimilar methods, that we can safely expand our separate bubbles into a slightly larger  ANZAC one.

Lest We Forget.

Life's Changes - A Commentary 113 Days In...

Lots of my friends have been posting a post similar to this on their facebook pages, so that it will reappear as a memory in years to come. To remind us just what our days, routines and life became with this COVID-19 pandemic.

I thought I would do it here instead.

Life is definitely slower, I have a list of things I am going to go while I can’t go out and about so much and while I am making progress there is still a certain amount of procrastination happening. I, like most of us, am acquiring new IT skills as we all jump on Zoom, House Party, Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime, GoToMeeting (and Skype if we must) to connect and reconnect with our families, friends, workplaces, classmates and teachers.

Life is very different – more planned. No more spontaneous trips to the supermarket or the mall. Even here in Australia where things are slightly more relaxed than in New Zealand. Thankfully everybody seems to have come to their senses and stopped panic buying at the supermarkets and pharmacies. There are still some items in short supply but we all seem to be doing okay. The days of arguments and brawling over essential grocery items – pretty appalling and embarrassing displays of behaviour – seem to have passed. Neighbours helping neighbours and communities helping communities where necessary. No more weekend drives, or day trips to see friends on the other side of town, interstate or to go to the beach.

The confusing thing about Australia is that although there are national rules in place for social gatherings and travel there are differences state by state. We are in our bubble, inside our state bubble, inside the whole country bubble. In some states that’s it. Just you and your bubble people. In others you CAN have visitors but only two. How on earth do you police that ? It should be none, I feel. It also feels a bit like a competition; state against state – who can do it better ? They all have different legislation as well. Every press conference is broadcast live; interrupting normal programming, then played ad nauseam over and over with the media sensationalising many aspects and twisting the facts (although they say they are not). It just makes it more confusing – was that rule for NSW or QLD or was it for everyone ?

When you go to the shops (and here there are more than just supermarkets open) you have to be sure that you are socially distancing yourself from others. Four square meters per person, if a retailer can not ensure this then they must close. There is masking tape on floors, chalk marks on pavements so that we don’t stand too close to each other as we wait to get into the supermarket or to collect our takeaway food or coffee.

In Australia, cafes and restaurants are allowed to remain open only if they can offer their meals and drinks as takeaway only. In New Zealand there is none of that. In New Zealand Burger King has gone into receivership. The postal service is still pretty much fully functional in Australia – it is not in New Zealand (hardly surprising given New Zealand Post’s business model). Post has never been stopped by war or weather or pandemic before. It is all well and good to make use of the new technology available to us to keep in contact with people – but we are not a completely online, tech savvy population. Grandparents and elderly relatives locked down in aged care complexes or in their own home don’t all have access to the new fangled gizmos – and some would have no idea where to start. BUT they all have a letter box and we are all allowed out for exercise and could deliver direct if we lived that close – or drop our letters, cards, kid’s art or photos into a mailbox to be distributed by the postal service. What a way to brighten someone’s day – what a new skill to master for our tech reliant kids and youth.

In New Zealand everyone who can work from home IS working from home; every school student is going to school at home. In New Zealand if you have a job in a non-essential industry and you can’t work from home – you still have to stay at home. If you are over 70 or you have underlying health issues a weakened immune system or in an at risk ethnic group you must stay at home; not even go to the supermarket. In Australia things are more lenient. Schools are open – but mostly they are there for the children of essential workers to attend – parents who cannot just stop working, and cannot work from home. Every other parent has the choice whether to send their kids to school or to keep them home and essentially home-school them with support from teachers, schools and education departments. Supermarkets have dedicated shopping hours for the elderly, those with disabilities and their carers as well as for essential workers.

Governments across the world have closed their borders. Only returning citizens and permanent residents are allowed to enter Australia and New Zealand. Domestic travel has also decreased; in Australia states have closed their borders to each other. It is mandatory to self isolate for 14 days after entering the country (and state). Initially this was advised to be at home, but changes and pressure throughout have meant that now quarantine/self isolation is taking place in hotels with buses transporting passengers from airports to hotels where they are locked in, provided food and security guards ensure nobody can leave freely.

Airlines have stopped flying by up to 90% and because of the social distancing rules many hospitality businesses have closed down – the unemployment market is flooded with hospitality and travel industry workers. Virgin Australia have entered voluntary administration and may not survive. But many other business around Australia go on, tradespeople, public transport, postal workers, hairdressers (but not beauticians and nail technicians), garden centres, banking, council workers…Pubs, clubs, music and sports events and venues were among the first to be ordered to stop operating since they were places where large numbers gathered regularly.

Panic buying set in during in the early days; stage 2, 3 and at the start of stage 4 in New Zealand and in Australia before restrictions began to be put in place. In fact it turned out this was the case all over the world. We had no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towels no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer, no flour or yeast. Today, day 91 since WHO began providing daily updates in developments, there are still shortages of many of these staple items.

·         There is tape on the floors at food supermarkets, post offices, on footpaths outside takeaways and cafes to help distance shoppers 2m (6ft) from each other. Stores can only have a limited number of people inside stores, therefore line ups outside the store doors. I haven’t seen this so much in Australia, but it is commonplace in New Zealand to queue for 40 minutes to an hour to get inside a supermarket to begin to shop.

·         Non-essential stores and businesses, trades closed.

·         In New Zealand supermarkets, pharmacies, dairies are the only shops allowed to open

·         Drs and Vets remain open but must phone ahead; many consultations via phone/skype etc

·         Children's playgrounds, bush trails, water activities, visits to the beach, swimming pools, gyms are off limits.

·         Entire sports seasons cancelled. Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.

·         Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled. In Australia only 5 people can attend a wedding; minister/celebrant, the couple and two witnesses.

·         Funerals limited to only those within the deceased's bubble. In Australia only 10 people including the staff from the funeral home and venue can attend a funeral.

·         There are no religious services, churches, mosques, temples are closed.

·         Schools/daycare/universities are all closed. No gatherings are permitted.

·         Those who are lucky enough to have a job that is able to be done from home without the need to have physical contact are able to continue to work.

·         Not allowed to physically able to socialise with anyone outside of your household bubble. In Australia this rule is different in every state; in Queensland you can have up to 2 visitors enter your bubble. In Australia, as well, couples who live apart are able to see each other.

·         Exercise is encouraged , people are allowed outside for walks/cycling but must stay within their neighbourhood and observe the 2m rule.

·         An idea to reproduce the children’s story “Going on a Bear Hunt” gathers momentum worldwide and teddy bears and other soft toys start appearing at windows and on porches for children to look out for when out for a walk. Similarly drawing and painting rainbows to be placed in windows, or drawn on pavements spreads around the globe.

·         Communities gather – in isolation_ on their balconies, front steps and porches and driveways to sing and play music together, to clap in a show of thanks for the healthcare workers, some share drinks (very innovative) and Easter eggs from a distance, others even play tennis between windows or from one roof to another.

·         Museums, Art Galleries, Gardens and some tourist attractions offer free virtual tours online. Ballet companies, theatre productions and musicians entertain us with free streaming performances and concerts from their living rooms #TogetherAtHome

·         We watch a lot of tv, movies, box set series. We read. We bake – breaking out skills we didn’t know we had and share recipes on social media – and post photos of the results. We use our time wisely, to learn new skills, complete tasks we never have time for and to reconnect with ourselves while connecting with our friends and families in new ways.

·         Worldwide there are concerns about severe shortages of masks, gowns, gloves for front-line workers.

·         Around the World there are shortages of respirators, hospitals, beds, nursing staff and Dr's.

·         Petrol prices have fallen dramatically. In New Zealand it is as low as $1.83 pre COVID-19 it was normally around $2.20 per litre. In Australia prices which normally varied between $1.25-$1.69 in a cyclic market pattern have dropped to as low as 85cents per litre. Prices not seen for many years – and the irony…nobody can go anywhere to take advantage of the phenomenon.

·         Many countries, New Zealand and Australia, included have put in place economic measures to support workers and businesses who find themselves out of work due to the restrictions or lockdown.

·         Manufacturers and other businesses have morphed and diversified; distilleries and vineyards are producing hand sanitiser, others are making PPE, cafes and restaurants have adapted to a takeaway world (in Australia), others have quickly established an online presence.

·         Some people are wearing PPE in public. In some countries this practice is mandatory.

·         Our Politicians and Chiefs of Health become regulars on our tv screens providing daily updates.

·         Roads are quieter, many towns and cities resemble ghost towns.

·         Pollution levels reduce dramatically – and quickly – air quality improves at the same time. All around the world. The waterways of Venice are clear, and filled with sea-life rather than tourists and boats, the night skies are starrier with less light pollution, the Himalayas are seen from Northern India for the first time in thirty years.

As of today Monday 20^th April 2020 New Zealand has been in level 4 lockdown for 26 days. Authorities are confident that the curve has been flattened and announced that in one week on Monday 27^th April at midnight they will return to level 3 and potentially to level 2 after a fortnight.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, which was declared March 11th, 2020.

It has changed us all, and it has changed what our future lives will be, day to day.

Life is precious.

We all have a new appreciation for what we have along with a hope that we will not take the things and the people we dearly love for granted.

Be thankful. Be grateful. Stay connected. Live slowly. Be mindful.

Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.

Let’s all hold on to what we have learnt about ourselves and each other

Let's not put this experience behind us

Let’s talk about it

Let’s fight to keep the connections we have built, restablished, cherished

Let’s remember

Let’s not go back to our old habits, our rushed disconnected lives,

Let’s build a future we can be proud of.

#52Ancestors, Lucky

A couple of years ago, whiling away time on Ancestry looking for clues in a yet unsolved DNA puzzle, I came across a tree which included my great grandmother’s half-brother and his wife. I was intrigued, this couple had no children of their own, and I had done a bit of research about them as I built out my tree.

I messaged the tree owner to offer any further information I had to them – and hoped that maybe they knew something I didn’t. They messaged back five months later. They were in the middle of moving interstate and building a new home. Turned out that they were connected to my ½ great uncle by marriage, through his wife’s family.

Lydia (Lily) Barrett’s mother and the 2xgreatgrandmother of my new contact’s husband were sisters. He knew Lily and George as a child they were 1^st cousins twice removed, but she was always called Aunt Lil. But the best part – he had photo albums from his mother – and Lily. They would have a look and send copies.

We corresponded over the next few days and I emailed my 3^rd cousin, Jackie, to let her know what I had stumbled across. Our great grandparents were siblings, and George (Lily’s husband) was their only half-brother. Jackie’s great grandparents had emigrated from England to Seattle in 1907 and George had travelled with them. Time went on, other things became more important, but from time to time I would think “I really should message her again.”

Then along came COVID-19. At almost the same time as I was tidying up my messages on Ancestry, Jackie was tidying up her emails and we both came across the messages again. Jackie emailed to see if I had ever heard any more. I hadn’t, so added this task to my COVID-19 lockdown to do list.

A few nights later I sent off a quick message – checking in that they were okay and #stayingsafe and then enquiring about the photo albums. Once more we messaged back and forth but then instead of just on Ancestry an email arrived.

With photos from just one album.

Some were unlabelled – one was incorrectly labelled. We have a photo of George as a toddler with his two full siblings, found in an album which belonged to Jackie’s great grandmother. Jackie also had one from a wedding of one of her great grandmother’s sister where George had been best man.

But here were several of George and Lily’s wedding, some of George as a young man and Lily as a child and as a young woman. There are some that neither Doug nor we can identify (yet), there is one of Lily on the wharf at Southampton next to the Mauretania before it sailed back to New York in 1920. George and Lily had returned to England after the war to visit with her parents, her only brother had been killed in France – the passenger lists for their travel in both directions and George’s passport application can be found on Ancestry. They stayed for 5 months and missed the 1920 US Census, so I no longer need to keep searching for them there !

The photo which had been labelled incorrectly was of Jackie’s great grandparents and her grandfather as a child. One she had never seen. It seems that her great grandmother was Matron of Honour at George and Lily’s marriage and a photo of the bridal party includes all three of them again. In that photo there is a glimpse into the character of the young boy who would be Jackie’s grandfather – looking for his opportunity to run away and play with his cousins. Another group photo was taken with all the guests on the front steps of a house. There was a further photo taken before the wedding meal, inside the house, of George and Lily. Jackie and I (separately) wondered if it was her great grandparent’s home. Lily had given their address as her destination on her immigration forms a few months earlier.

It was ! You can imagine our happy dances ! Luck was certainly favouring us:

Stumbling across the tree connection in the first place,

Getting a reply to my message,

Discovering such a tenuous connection to our tree,

Learning there were photos,

Catching a glimpse of the inside of Albert & Sarah’s home,

The power of technology to bring us the photos, and zoom to confirm our hope.

On the right-hand wall of the room where George and Lily stood by the table, set for their wedding meal, hangs a photograph we had seen before. It was also in the photo album Jackie has from her great grandmother. Several other photos hung on the walls and arranged on the architraves above the doors look familiar too. But, that framed one on the right-hand wall was the clearest when enlarged.

Henry James – Jackie and my 4 x great grandfather. Albert’s maternal grandfather. No DNA relation to George. Henry and his unmarried daughter Elizabeth/Lizzie/Bessie had taken in our great grandparents as children when their mother died in 1879 and cared for them at least until their father remarried in 1886.

How lucky did we both feel !! We are still buzzing around, smiling like idiots (on opposite sides of the Pacific) now – four days later.

#52Ancestors, Fire

An open fire on a cold winter night invokes thoughts of cosiness, comfort food, a book to read snuggled under a blanket. An outdoor campfire brings back memories of fun times at camp or at the beach with friends.

But fire, was much more of a necessity to our ancestors than it is to us today with electricity or gas connected right to our homes. There have been several instances of fire wreaking havoc on the lives of my own ancestors.

I mentioned one in a previous post which I had only recently learned of. A fire in Kaikoura in 1935 which destroyed three cottages in the night. Something left on a cooker ? An ember that landed on some fabric or a wooden floor ? A bird’s nest in or on top of the chimney ? No-one appeared to have been harmed in that fire, but two people lost not only their cottage but also their belongings.[1]

In Wellington on 22 August 1869 my 3 x great grandmother Elizabeth Cooper (nee Hill) died aged 70. The cause of death is given as “Accidentally burnt”.[2] Was she cooking a meal ? Did her shawl drop into the flame ? Did her skirt brush lightly across the fireplace ? Did a sudden gust of wind or breeze force the flames without warning in a different direction to where she was expecting ?

In Nelson in the early hours of 7 August 1866 there was a great fire.[3] Twenty buildings were burned at the four corners of Bridge and Collingwood Streets. The fire was discovered at the Nelson Hotel, one of three hotels on or near that intersection to be burnt. Ironically the Temperance Hall was also burnt and the YMCA rooms as well as some dwelling houses and shops. It was later established to have started in a bedroom of the Nelson Hotel.[4]

One of the shops destroyed was the bakery of Edward Laney, my 3 x great grandfather, which was adjacent to the Royal Hotel. He had been in business for twenty four years with premises in Richmond, on Nile Street East and on Bridge Street throughout that time.[5] On the night of the fire there was a strong south westerly wind which caused the flames to take hold on all corners of the intersection. This was the first great fire to occur in Nelson since the arrival of the first English settlers in 1842.[6] No lives were lost, but many lost all their belongings. Later in the day an inquest was held to determine the cause of the fire.[7] A meeting was held in the evening of the same day to raise subscriptions or pledges from the townsfolk to assist those who had suffered in the fire.[8]

The fire, which by sheer luck was the first of its size since settlement began was also the impetus for organising a Volunteer Fire Brigade.[9] The Nelson Evening Mail ran a series of editorials in the days after the fire lobbying for action and responsibility to be taken. This had been attempted once before, and the town even had two fire engines available.[10] But the disorganisation, delay and lack of available men on the night of the fire, meant that it was at least 20 minutes after the alarm had been raised that the smaller engine had been pulled to the scene of the fire.[11] Time which may have saved some of the premises which were lost.

1866 had been quite a year for the Laney family. William, the eldest child, who like Edward was also a baker, had died in April of Bilious Fever aged 24, leaving a widow and two young children.[12] In June, Edward’s wife Mary passed away.[13] Around this time it is possible that, Ann, Edward’s step-daughter returned to live with the family. Ann was a widow with three young children; in early June she was living in Hope Street when she placed an advertisement advertising a business premise in Trafalgar Street to let.[14] Before her marriage Ann had also worked in the bakery, running her own business since the age of 15 at the premises in Bridge Street.[15] After the fire Ann placed a thank you notice in the Nelson Evening Mail, thanking the “Ladies and the Public generally” for the kindness shown by them by supplying clothes for herself and her sisters since the fire.[16] Those sisters were Edward’s youngest children Sarah and Mary, whether his younger son Edwin was also there is unknown.

Edward’s premises were insured and by October 1866 he had rebuilt on the same site – in a slightly more expansive manner.[17] Just a few short years later he closed up shop and removed to the Wairau Valley.[18]

---

[1] ‘Three Houses Burnt’, The Press, 28 June 1935, p.18.

[2] ‘An Old Woman Burnt to Death’, Taranaki Herald, 4 September 1869, p.3.

[3] ‘Serious Fire Eighteen Houses Destroyed’, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 7 August 1866, p.2.

[4] ‘Inquiry into the Cause of the Fire’, Nelson Evening Mail, 8 August 1866, p.3.

[5] ‘Old Established Bakery’, Nelson Evening Mail, 17 October 1866, p.4.

[6] ‘Serious Fire Eighteen Houses Destroyed, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, p.2.

[7] ‘Inquiry into the Cause of the Fire’, Nelson Evening Mail, p.3.

[8] ‘A Public Meeting’, Nelson Evening Mail. 7 August 1866, p.3.

[9] ‘Meeting of Committee Appointed to Organize Fire Brigade”, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 16 August 1866, p.3.

[10] John Wilson, Thematic Historical Overview of Nelson City for the Nelson City Council as part of the Nelson Heritage Inventory Project – Final Draft, October 2011, J Wilson, Christchurch, pp. 40-41. http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/assets/About-nelson/downloads/1176312-thematic-historical-overview-of-nelson-city-OCT2011.pdf

[11] ‘Disastrous Fire’, Nelson Evening Mail, 7 August 1866, p.2.

[12] ‘Deaths’, Colonist, 17 April 1866, p.2.

[13] ‘Died’, Nelson Evening Mail, 1 June 1866, p.2.

[14] ‘Desirable Business Premises’, Nelson Evening Mail, 4 June 1866, p.1.

[15] ‘Established Eighteen Years’, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 23 February 1861, p.4.

[16] ‘The Undersigned’, Nelson Evening Mail, 21 August 1866, p.3.

[17] ‘Local Improvements’, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 14 December 1866, p.4.; ‘Old Established Bakery’, Nelson Evening Mail, p.4.

[18] ‘News has been received in Nelson’, Nelson Evening Mail, 21 August 1882, p.2.

#52Ancestors, Nearly Forgotten

In the tricky, concerning times that we are experiencing right now across the globe, there are some lessons we can learn from the past. Thoughts and habits lost to the mists of time.

It is said that the memory of each us will be lost, when the last person speaks our name. It is the same with natural disasters, pandemics, war horrors. These events are well documented in history, in books, documentaries, journals and diaries, newspapers and letter. But once there remains no-one to share their experience; no-one with living memory we are at risk of losing that wisdom and insight.

Our ancestors lived through many similar events. They went to war, they lost children and family members to smallpox, typhus, cholera and measles in a world where vaccination did not exist. They lived more sustainably but still many struggled with food shortages due to poor growing seasons and drought; many suffered terribly through famine. They survived floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones. They tried to warn us; sometimes we listened, other times we did not, in some cases we disregarded their stories.

Authors such as Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte included references to smallpox and typhus out breaks in “Bleak House” and “Jane Eyre”. They described through their characters how social distancing was practiced and how those actions protected others who were already vulnerable. #SocialDistancing isn’t a new catchphrase we have made popular with a hashtag. It was common sense – even then. Shakespeare even mentioned the plague in The Tempest. They made movies – how many of you have re-watched Contagion recently ?

Newspapers reported accounts of earthquakes in colonial New Zealand, of tsunami reaching the shore from South America, of volcanic eruptions, severe storms and extreme weather. Newsreels documented the carnage of war and news events around the globe. More recently television and the internet have become the medium for us to seek out news.

Maps drawn by early settlers highlighted issues with land stability; swamps, floodplains, aquifers – but we knew better and drained or diverted waterways and built our cities and towns where they would not have.

Stone carvings discovered in the clean up after the 2011 tsunami in Japan warned of the dangers of building close to the sea. Voices from the past, ignored and hidden by time, long forgotten stories dismissed.

Right now. When environmentalists and our youth have been championing climate change; demanding that governments and industry stop, take toll of the damage caused and begin to repair it, live more sustainably – no progress has been made. But yet a virus – seemingly of man’s making – has brought the human race to its knees.

The planet has begun to heal as humans across the globe battle the virus, attempt to contain it and then to eradicate it. We are reconnecting with each other, with families, with friends, making memories with our children as we learn to live in a very different world. Slow living, mindfulness, an appreciation for what we have. We are doing the things we have always put off, learning new skills and looking at our world in awe.

In Venice fish can be seem swimming in the canals, the water is clearer, our skies have less pollution, air quality is better on every continent, we are seeing the night sky. In northern India residents are documenting the clear skies and the views they have once more of the Himalayas hundreds of kilometres away – a sight not seen in more than 30 years.

These are the things WE MUST hold on to. THIS is the lesson we have to leave for OUR future generations. THESE are the facts we want them to know, to remember, just as our ancestors wanted us to remember their experiences in times of hardship or adversity.

We must extol the features of our new world and way of life to everyone; we must sell the idea to each person, organisation, conglomerate, government as we step with trepidation back into life as it was. We must tell everyone we can about our actions, what we did and what we didnt, what worked and what didn't; but most importantly - what we learnt. We must sell the benefits of continuing to embrace what we have rediscovered, not just for us and our families but for our homes – our planet.

This is our opportunity to have our voices heard, to implement change and to influence the wellbeing of future for our race and our planet. Don’t let our lessons be forgotten. We CAN work together. We CAN do this.

The Unfolding Pandemic - March

1 March 2020 – The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Hubei province, China the epicentre of the outbreak increased for two successive days following a period of decline in the number of new cases. WHO advises that countries should work to increase the availability of pulse oximeters and medical oxygen systems. South Korea, with 3,736 cases, and Italy, with 1,128 cases, have the most cases outside of China.

New Zealand Government announces that travellers from northern Italy and South Korea must also self isolate for 14 days.

The first death is reported in Australia; a passenger from the Diamond Princess. Australia extended its travel ban to include Iran.

2 March 2020 — A team of WHO experts lands in Iran to support the outbreak response with technical assistance, bringing medical supplies and protective equipment for over 15,000 health care workers and enough laboratory kits to test nearly 100,000 people. A WHO staff member in Iran tests positive for COVID-19. In the past 24 hours, there were nearly nine times more new cases reported outside China than within China. WHO Health Emergencies Programme advises that Influenza is different than COVID-19 because there are treatments, vaccines, and there is an understanding of its transmission and patterns. They are genuinely heartened to see that where countries have fought back and put in strong measures, that unlike influenza this virus is suppressed.

Four new cases reported in Australia.

3 March 2020 — To meet global demand for personal protective equipment, WHO estimates that industry needs to increase manufacturing by 40%. An estimated 89 million medical masks, 76 million examination gloves, and 1.6 million goggles are required each month for the COVID-19 response.

4 March 2020 — The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria says countries may use savings from their existing grants for COVID-19 response, with a limit of up to 5% of the grant’s total value. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation says COVID-19 has disrupted the education of 290.5 million students globally, which is an “unprecedented” figure. This includes school closures in 13 countries.

A second death reported in Australia.

A second case was confirmed in New Zealand who had returned from Northern Italy on 35 February.

5 March 2020 – Three new cases reported in New South Wales. Travel ban extended to South Korea.

The third case and the first case of local transmission was reported, having been infected by a family member returning from Iran.

6 March 2020 — WHO says there are more than 200 clinical trials registered that look at different therapeutics to treat COVID-19, as well as traditional Chinese medicine.

A passenger returning from Nepal was advised to self isolate while awaiting test results but continued to work a casual shift on 7 March 2020; shortly afterward his results were returned – positive.

It was advised that eight New Zealanders had been passengers on the Grand Princess San Francisco to Mexico cruise and may have been in contact with a confirmed case. They had already returned to New Zealand; one had been ill with respiratory illness and could be considered a probable (but not confirmed) case.

7 March 2020 — The number of COVID-19 cases surpasses 100,000.

It was revealed that a doctor who had returned from the US on 29 February believing he had a mild cold had returned to work, but subsequently had returned a positive test result.

A fifth case was announced – partner of the third case.

8 March 2020 — Over 100 countries report cases of COVID-19. Italy prepares to lockdown at least 16 million people in the Lombardy region and in 11 other provinces in the north and east of the country.

A third death, and the second at an aged care facility in Sydney, was reported.

9 March 2020 — WHO moves closer to declaring the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

A teacher from a school in Melbourne was confirmed to have the virus; her partner had been a passenger on the same flight from the US as the doctor on 29 February.

10 March 2020 — The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI, is investing a further $4.4 million for vaccine development efforts against COVID-19, bringing the organization’s total investments to $23.7 million. The money will be used to help Novavax and the University of Oxford in their vaccine development work. The Italian Prime Minister places the entire country in lockdown.

11 March 2020 — WHO Director declares the global COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. “We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction,” he says, adding that “we have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.”

Australia’s travel ban extended again to include Italy.

12 March 2020 — The Pacific confirms its first case of COVID-19. The US suspends travel from Europe (excluding the UK).

The first case was reported in ACT, nine new cases including the first human-to-human transmission in the state were reported in Victoria and the Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton was diagnosed in Queensland. This brought the national total to 175. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, recently returned from the US, reported that they were in isolation after testing positive. Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a $17.6 billion stimulus package to “protect Australians” health, secure jobs and set the economy to bounce back from the crisis. The Victorian Government declared they were suspending all jury trials to limit the spread.

Festivals and large gatherings begin to be cancelled, some sports matches are played in stadiums bereft of audiences.

13 March 2020 — Europe has now become the epicentre of the pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. More cases now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic.

A National Cabinet was formed akin to a war cabinet for the first time since WW2, consisting of State Premiers and Chief Ministers of each Territory. At the first meeting it was announced that gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from 15 March. Schools, universities, workplaces, public transport and airports were not included in this recommendation.

14 March 2020 – A sixth case was confirmed who had also returned from the US, he was in self isolation. New Zealand Government announces that anyone entering the country must self-isolate for 14 days apart from those arriving from the Pacific Islands. Cruise ships are banned and strict guidelines are put in place for travellers to the Pacific Islands.

15 March 2020 — Cases in Africa are on the rise. A week ago there were 27 cases on the continent. Now, there are 273 confirmed cases in 26 countries and 6 deaths. Countries respond with travel restrictions. German government sources tell Reuters that the U.S. is trying to convince German firm CureVac to move research on a potential vaccine to the United States.

Two more cases confirmed in New Zealand including an Australian who had travelled to New Zealand before receiving his test results in Queensland.

Two deaths reported in New South Wales. The University of Queensland stopped teaching for a week after three students tested positive, Western Australia and New South Wales Governments introduced measures to stop schools organising gatherings of more than 500 people. Two more politicians tested positive. Mirroring the move by New Zealand, the Prime Minister announced that all travellers returning to or arriving in Australia from midnight must self isolate for 14 days. Failure to comply would result in a fine set by each state, cruise ships were also banned from docking in the country for 30 days.

16 March 2020 — For the first time since the beginning of the outbreak, infections and deaths outside China surpass those within China. WHO declares that this is the defining global health crisis of our time, saying that now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real. They note that they have also seen a rapid escalation in social distancing measures, like closing schools and cancelling sporting events and other gatherings; but have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing — which they feel is the backbone of a response.

Prime Minister of New Zealand says that tourists who do not self quarantine will be deported,

17 March 2020 — Bloomberg Philanthropies announces $40 million for a COVID-19 global response initiative to prevent and slow the spread in low- and middle-income countries. Cases of COVID-19 surpass 480 in Southeast Asia. WHO calls on countries in the region "to urgently scale-up aggressive measures” to combat its spread. The International Organization for Migration and The UN Refugee Agency temporarily suspend refugee resettlement departures to reduce the spread of the virus.

Four more cases reported in New Zealand. The Government announces a $12.1 billion package to cushion the impact on the economy; including $500 million for health, $8.7 billion to support business and jobs and $2.8 billion for income support and boosting consumer spending. A school in Dunedin closes for 2 days after a student tests positive.

The state of Tasmania declared a public health emergency.

18 March 2020 — The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations provides $620,000 to The University of Hong Kong to support preclinical testing of another vaccine candidate against COVID-19. This is the seventh vaccine development project against COVID-19 CEPI has invested in since January.

A human biosecurity emergency was declared by the Governor General under Section 475 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. The cruise ship Ovation of the Seas disembarked 3500 passengers in Sydney. The Voyager of the Seas docked the same day.

Ministry of Health confirmed eight new cases in New Zealand.

19 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 surpass 200,000 globally. It took over three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases and just 12 days to reach the next 100,000. For the first time since the outbreak began, Wuhan reports no new cases.

Ministry of Health confirmed another eight new cases in New Zealand. All gatherings of more than 100 people are cancelled. The country’s borders are closed to all but New Zealand citizens and permanent residents from midnight.

The Celebrity Solstice docked in Sydney. The Ruby Princess also Sydney and disembarked 2700 passengers. Qantas confirmed it would suspend 60% of domestic flights, put 2/3 of its staff on leave, suspend all international flights and ground over 150 aircraft from the end of March until the end of May. The Prime Minister announced that Australia would be closing its international borders to all non-residents and non-Australian citizens from 9pm 20 March. Tasmania’s Premier announced that all non-essential travellers to the state, including returning residents would be subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine.

20 March 2020 — WHO launches a health alert messaging service through WhatsApp and Facebook. People can access this service by sending "hi" to this WhatsApp number: +41 798 931 892.  WHO advises that one of the things they are learning is that although older people are the hardest hit, younger people are not spared. Data from many countries clearly show that people under 50 make up a significant proportion of patients requiring hospitalization. The Queen and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace to enter isolation at Windsor Castle.

Ministry of Health confirmed eleven new cases in New Zealand. Auckland Council close their pools, libraries, galleries and other community facilities for 14 days.

It was announced that three of 13 passengers from the Ruby Princess had tested positive and they and all passengers were advised by NSW Health to self isolate.

21 March 2020 — Ecuador’s health and labour ministers resign after cases in the country surpass 500.

Another thirteen new cases in New Zealand. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the introduction of a country-wide alert system, similar to existing fire warnings. There are four levels and at the time of announcement she advised the country was in Alert Level 2. Those over 70 and those with compromised immune systems are asked to stay at home as much as possible. People who can work from home are asked to do so and travel within the country should be limited.

The Australian Government imposed a social distancing rule of 1 person per 4m².

22 March 2020 — Global cases of COVID-19 surpass 300,000. It took over three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases, 12 days to reach 200,000 and three days to reach 300,000.

Fourteen new cases reported in New Zealand.

The states of New South Wales and Victoria impose mandatory closure of non-essential services; South Australia and Western Australia close their borders. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a closure of places of gathering including pubs, clubs, licensed premises in hotels and bars, entertainment venues, including places of worship, nightclubs, casinos and cinemas. Cafes and restaurants can remain open but only for takeaway. Funerals and weddings need to observe the strict four square metre rule. Schools are to remain open, but parents are entitled to keep children at home at their discretion. A second stimulus package of $66 billion was announced including measures to increase income support for JobSeekers and allowing access to superannuation.

23 March 2020 — World Bank Group President calls on bilateral creditors of the lowest-income countries to provide debt relief so these countries can focus resources on the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO says that asking people to stay at home and take other physical distancing measures are an important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying time, but they are defensive measures. To win, we need to attack the virus with aggressive and targeted tactics; testing every suspected case, isolating and caring for every confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact.

36 new cases reported. In light of this dramatic increase Alert Level 3 became effective immediately and the nation was given 48 hours warning that Alert Level 4 would be in place at 11.59pm on 25 March. People are instructed to stay home, schools and other educational facilities will be closed from 24 March, all non-essential businesses will close and travel will be severely limited. Another wave of panic buying starts at supermarkets.

The measures announced yesterday for places of social gathering were put in place at midday.

24 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 surpass 400,000. It took over three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases, 12 days to reach 200,000, three days to reach 300,000, and two days to reach 400,000. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces a lockdown of 21 days for the country's 1.3 billion residents. This is the largest lockdown announced since the beginning of the outbreak. The Chinese government announces it will lift the lockdown on Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, on April 8.

40 new cases from 1400 tests. From this date onward probable cases are included at a local level bringing the total to 155.

A passenger from the Ruby Princess died and 133 others had tested positive.

25 March 2020 — The United Nations launches a $2 billion global humanitarian response plan appeal to assist vulnerable countries in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO list six steps countries should take as they are in lockdown mode: expand, train, and deploy health care workforce; create systems to find all suspected case at community levels; increase production and availability of testing; identify and equip facilities needed to treat and isolate patients; develop plans on how to quarantine contacts; and focus the whole government on the suppression and control of the pandemic. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales tests positive for COVID-19 and goes into self isolation. The 2020 Olympic Games are postponed to 2021.

50 new cases including probable cases. A national State of Emergency was declared for 7 days (to be reviewed and possibly extended) and the country entered Alert Level 4 at 11.59pm.

The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission was established by the Prime Minister as a strategic advisory body.

26 March 2020 — G-20 country leaders, after their virtual summit, release a statement outlining commitments in fighting the pandemic, such as sharing timely and transparent information, strengthening health systems globally, and protecting front-line health workers. They call upon WHO to assess gaps in pandemic preparedness and report to a meeting of finance and health ministers in the coming months, aimed at establishing a global initiative on pandemic preparedness and response. Cases in the U.S. surpass those in China and Italy — making it the new epicentre of the pandemic.

A further 78 cases were reported, but it was also noted that 17 people had fully recovered and that 168 New Zealand travellers were in quarantine.

27 March 2020 — WHO announces that the first patients will shortly be enrolled in Norway and Spain in a trial called the Solidarity Trial, comparing the effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against COVID-19. More than 45 countries are contributing to the trial. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19.

The cruise ship Artania docked in Fremantle, Most of the 850 passengers flew home from Perth to Germany over the next two days. 41 passengers and crew tested positive and remained in Perth for treatment. They were not counted in the Australian figures.

Health authorities reported 85 new confirmed and probable cases.

28 March 2020 — Cases of COVID-19 worldwide surpass 600,000. Portugal announces that all foreigners will be treated as residents during the COVID-19 crisis, to ensure they have access to public services. Quarantine measures in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, begin to ease after more than two months of lockdown, including restarting rail service in and out of the city. Spain and Italy hit new records for the number of dead in one day. Spain records 832 dead and Italy records 889.

Health authorities reported 83 new cases including 78 confirmed and 5 probable cases.

The number of passengers from the Ruby Princess who had tested positive had risen to 284.

29 March 2020 — Global death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 30,000.

60 new confirmed and 3 probable cases reported. New Zealand records first death a patient initially diagnosed with influenza who later tested positive for COVID-19.

30 March 2020 — Johnson & Johnson announces the selection of a lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The company expects to start human trials by September, at the latest, and anticipates the first batches of a vaccine could be available for U.S. Food and Drug Administration "emergency use authorization" in early 2021. The University of Washington, University of Oxford, and La Jolla Institute for Immunology receive $20 million to fund clinical trials to identify highly potent immunotherapies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

76 new confirmed cases and one previously counted probable case was confirmed to be negative. It was also reported that community spread made up about 2% of cases, 57% were directly related to overseas travel and 27% were close contacts of a confirmed case.

Two deaths were recorded. To date 440 passengers from the Ruby Princess (21 NSW, 71 SA, 70 QLD, 43 WA, 22 ACT, 18 VIC, 3 TAS and 2 NT) have tested positive. A $130 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy package was announced.

31 March 2020 — WHO Western Pacific Regional Director expresses concerns that travel restrictions are impacting Pacific island countries’ ability to diagnose COVID-19 cases. The U.S. government reportedly places a moratorium on USAID’s global shipments of personal protective gear, asking it to instead be sent to the U.S.

A further 58 confirmed and probable cases were reported.

As of today 5 passengers from the Ruby Princess have died. Six baggage handlers at Adelaide Airport have tested positive causing the airport to close and 100 other staff required to self isolate.

Total cases globally as of 31 March 2020: 750,890 and 36,405 deaths.

Total cases in Australia: 4359 and 18 deaths

Total cases in New Zealand: 600 and 1 death

(figures from WHO)

Sources:

https://www.devex.com/news/covid-19-a-timeline-of-the-coronavirus-outbreak-96396

https://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/coronavirus-timeline/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_New_Zealand