Covid-19 Update for Victoria (July 11 2020)

Today's update for Covid-19 in my state & local area. For those who weren't aware I live in Baw Baw Shire in Eastern Victoria. Sadly Greater Melbourne is currently in it's second wave.


🦠Gippsland Covid-19 July 11 update🦠

• Gippsland has four active cases of Covid-19, with another case diagnosed today in the Baw Baw shire. Authorities have recorded two active cases in Baw Baw, one in South Gippsland and one in East Gippsland.

• Victoria has recorded 3,560 cases of coronavirus with 216 new cases reported today. To date, 23 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. 535 cases may indicate community transmission. There are currently 1,249 active cases in Victoria. There are 49 people in hospital, and 15 patients in intensive care.

• The cumulative number of cases in Gippsland is 41: Wellington (13), Latrobe (9), Baw Baw (7), South Gippsland (6), Bass Coast (4), East Gippsland (2). Wellington’s total cases increased to 13 today, with all cases listed as recovered.

• A staff member at West Gippsland Healthcare Group has tested positive to Coronavirus. The employee has not been at work since last Saturday, July 4. Chief executive officer Dan Weeks said all visitors and staff at the Warragul hospital site on Landsborough Street need to wear a mask.

• The Victorian Government has reimposed stage three restrictions for six weeks in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.

• The advice for people in Gippsland is to “Stay safe.”
  Gippslanders can leave their house for all purposes, but should work from home if they can, and the same goes for higher education.

• Gippslanders cannot enter restricted areas except for necessary purposes including sourcing necessary goods or services; work and education if necessary; medical care or compassionate reasons. Exemptions include visiting a person with whom you are in an intimate personal relationship.

• Victoria has decided to delay plans that would allow regional Victorians to resume full-contact training and competition for people aged 19 and over. Full-contact training was scheduled to resume on Monday 13 July, with full-contact competition set to return on 20 July. However, with a significant increase in coronavirus cases in Melbourne, and active cases in a number of many regional communities, the Chief Health Officer has determined that community sport in regional Victoria must remain non-contact.

• Police are taking a common sense approach to issuing fines for breaching the lockdown, including entering a restricted area. You can drive through Melbourne, but travellers should aim to fill up with fuel before entering the restricted area. If you do fill up, try to use gloves or hand sanitiser and practice social distancing.

• V/Line trains on the Gippsland line are running as normal and Victoria Police will enforce the restrictions about people entering from locked down areas.

• Victoria's ski season has been put on hold after the closure of ski lifts at two of the state's major resorts. Vail Resorts, which operates lifts at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, say it's suspending operations until at least August the 19th. The company says it made the decision after the reintroduction of stage three restrictions in Melbourne and the closure of the New South Wales border.

• There has been no change to the way businesses outside of metropolitan Melbourne can operate, except that businesses now need to check identification as part of record requirements and refuse service to those who reside in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire LGA.

• Schools will start term three with face-to-face learning in Gippsland as planned, on Monday, July 13

• The border between NSW and Victoria has closed. To travel from Victorian into NSW you need a permit. The only people not required to have a border permit are emergency service and law enforcement workers and people "entering NSW to avoid injury or escape a risk of harm".

• There are 11 permit categories which include, but is not limited to a NSW resident returning home, a resident living within 50 kilometres of the NSW border, a carer or someone applying on compassionate grounds. Included in the list of eligible persons are seasonal workers (such as backpackers), students or their guardians accompanying them, consular officials and a member of Parliament or their staff. The permit will last 14 days after it is granted, although for people who live in border communities the permit will last for the duration of the border closure.

• Victorians travelling in NSW will be allowed to return home and don’t need to apply for a permit. People who are travelling from NSW into Victoria won’t be stopped.

• Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton says social distancing is crucial. " “This virus is not selective - it will impact anyone it encounters, and personal contact is the clear source of its transmission.”

• 🧪 COVID-19 testing is based on the clinical symptoms which include any fever, chills or breathing problems, specifically cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.

•  If you suspect you may have coronavirus call the dedicated hotline: 1800 675 398.

The Overland Train

Brodie and I came home via The Overland.

That's 828 km (514.495 miles) of travel from Adelaide to Melbourne and around 11 hours of travel time. Which is equivalent to the length of time it takes to drive from where we were staying to our home.

It was nice to sit back and relax but Brodie kept questioning me about our choice of transport. He loved our flight over and wondered why we didn't fly back. To be honest I questioned my choice myself but price won out. It was so much cheaper via the train than the plane. Plus I got to sit, read and crochet.

Leaving Adelaide from Keswick

We left at 7:45 am ACST and arrived in Melbourne at 7:00 pm AEST
Then of course we had to travel from Melbourne to home and that was another 80 minutes or so on a vline train. It made for a very long day and sadly I wasn't feeling very well when we arrived in Melbourne.

I had forgotten how pretty the Adelaide hills were. It's a shame I didn't take the photo above a minute or so later because the next paddock was filled with kangaroos.

^^ Murray Bridge^^ was our first stop

Not that you can see it properly, but the photo above shows the River Murray. It's the longest river in Australia and spans three states. It's 2508 km (1558 miles).

The photo above is the train station at Bordertown. Our longest serving Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, was born here. The house named Hawke House is still standing and is currently being used as a Centrelink (Social security) office. 

Considering it is almost winter and we have had some rain, I just couldn't get over how brown everything still was. They could certainly use some rain in the Wimmera region.

 

I snoozed after we left Ararat.
The scenery was pretty much the same as in the above photos.

I really wanted to take photos of Geelong when we went through but it was dark outside by then and any photo that I would have taken from my phone would only reflect off the window. It did look very pretty with all of the lights but to be honest the train mostly went thorough the industrial area.

It certainly was a very long day. Brodie and I didn't get home until after 9:00 pm.
Even though we sat down for most of the journey I was exhausted and as I mentioned previously I was unwell. I was in bed early. Much earlier than I usually would be. I even managed to sleep for 9 hours so I guess I really needed. 

I know it sounds cliche but there really is no place like home!! 

Smoke Filled Skies

I took this photo from our front yard at 8:30 am today.

I opened the front door this morning and all I could smell was smoke. The fire I mentioned yesterday is still going in Morwell although I did read that it isn't as bad as yesterday. They had a lot of aircraft dumping water on the open cut mine. There is another fire still raging from the weekend at Mickleham where more than 25 homes have been lost. It's heart breaking. The fire in the Yarra Valley has been downgraded but with the winds due to pick up people have been asked to keep checking the CFA website.

The Latrobe Valley Express (a newspaper) shared some incredible photos of the fire near Morwell. If you're interested here's the link http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/2077316/hernes-oak-and-driffield-fires/?cs=1210#slide=1

I am just hoping that by the end of the week, when we are expecting some rain, that the fires will finally be under control or completely extinguished and all areas are declared safe.

Bushfires

I can smell smoke outside this morning. If I can smell it and the fires aren't that close by I can only just imagine how bad it is for the people who live near the fires. Although there were quite a few fires around our area yesterday but nothing like some other parts of the state. I read somewhere that quite a few homes had been lost :-( It always breaks my heart when I hear things like that. 

Photo by Jason Edwards, Herald Sun newspaper.

Yesterday afternoon a BIG blaze started near Morwell, which is about 70 km (43 miles) from our town, and was dangerously close to the power station in Hazelwood. Last night the power went out at around 9:30 pm. I had visions of it being off for at least 24 hours or more. I even thought that the fire may have reached the power station after all. I am still unsure if it did but there were power poles/lines that came down due to the fire. 

It's funny what goes through your mind when something like this happens. Do we have enough cash? How far would we have to travel to get money, food and fuel for the car? How widespread is the power failure? I pictured us having to cook and all the food from the freezer rather than throwing it into the rubbish bins.

It turns out that most of West Gippsland had no power. From Morwell/Moe right through to Narre Warren (an outer suburb of Melbourne). I can't even imagine how large an area it covered in terms of kilometres but believe me when I say its a VERY BIG. The electricity supply company stated on their website that they did not expect the power to be back on until 5 pm today. Lucky us it came back on at around 3 am this morning.

Photo by Jason Edwards, Herald Sun newspaper.

The highway between Moe and Morwell is closed off to traffic as are many other roads. Who knows how long they will remain that way. I know that fires can sometimes burn for weeks before they are completely extinguished. Angus has work placement in Morwell starting this Friday and I will be driving him there. I am wondering if the fire was in the industrial estate where his work placement will be.

It will be interesting to find out whether the highway will be opened by then. I know that VicRoads will need to inspect the road for damage before giving the all clear. It will also be interesting to see how bad the fire damage is when I finally am able to get down that way.

Cross your fingers and toes for all the people affected by the fires. Do a rain dance if you can. Who knows it may help. 

A Nice View

Sorry the photo isn't the best but I took it with my mobile phone yesterday when Brodie & I were waiting at some road-works on the way out of Neerim South yesterday. That view is pretty much all you see just outside of town. Our town has similar views to this. Neerim South is a 15 - 20 minute drive up the mountains. Sometimes it takes longer if you get stuck behind a truck or a tractor. I just LOVE living in the country :D

It's mainly dairy country around here. There's a chicken farm and an egg farm in our area. Let me tell you the smells are NOT the best when the wind blows the wrong way. Thankfully we can't smell it where we live but I feel sorry for the people who can.

I need to remember to take my camera with me next time I go up to collect Brodie from work placement. That way I can take some more photos to share. It really is pretty up there. 

Holiday Memories

Thanks to Kate over at Picklebums for this topic. I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed the idea.

I agree with Kate that holiday memories as a kid get jumbled up & that sometimes you just don't remember all of the details either.

I remember one year when Mum was on holiday in Fiji with her bestie. Dad, my brother Mark & I went camping along the Murray River in Morgan. We slept in a tent & ate cold baked beans straight out of the tin for breakfast!

I also remember another time Mum was on an overseas holiday with her bestie that Dad, my brother & I went to Streaky Bay to see my sister. It was around the time that the movie Blue Fin was being made. Julie was working at the hospital in Streaky. We had our dog, Kym, with us. She was an adorable Alsatian. I love her to bits!

I also remember another time that Mum, Dad, Mark & I went to Geelong to visit Uncle Johnny & Auntie Maria. I also remember swimming at the beach & something about shark nets.

I also remember during that same Geelong holiday I had to bathe in the laundry sink because there was no bath tub & I didn't quite get the hang of showers back then. So Mum washed me in the sink.

I remember visiting Julie & her hubby Ken when they used to live in Cummins. Its somewhere near Port Lincoln.

I remember visiting Port Lincoln but I don't recall what we did there. Only the fact that we drove there to do some shopping.

I remember driving to Whyalla to visit Auntie Ce & Uncle Ivor when we were on our way to Cummins. I remember on that same trip we dropped off our cousin Janine. She was staying wit out Auntie & Uncle for a while. I don't remember if we picked her up on our way home.

I remember one time we went to Port Elliot, near Victor Harbour. I remember Mum & Dad rented a little place for us to stay in. I also remember walks along the beach & by the waters edge. I also remember Mum & Dad saying don't get wet but I did any way.

I remember going for a walk on the jetty in Victor Harbour. I recall something about a train that travelled over to some little island. I also recall looking out towards some rocks in the harbour somewhere.

I remember staying somewhere near the Coorong with another of Mum & Dad's friends and their family. I remember staying in this shack. Although I don't remember anything else except the fact that there was a lot of sand.

I also remember staying in our neighbours shack in Moonta. And I remember Mum eating periwinkles. They looked too much like garden snails to me.

I am sure that we went on many other holidays. I just don't remember them all. Some of them I don't even recall how old I was when we went on them. I guess it doesn't matter really. The fact that I remember them all and think of them fondly is all that counts.

Victorian Carer Card

I received my Carer Card the other day. It's part of a Victorian Government Carer Card Program. The program is for Victorian residents who are unpaid carers of someone with a disability, severe medical condition or a mental illness, or who is frail aged or in need of palliative care.
Other people qualify too but you will need to check out the website for that info.

You can either apply online, print the application form & post it or just request them to post the form out to you.

There are a whole heap of services available that will provide discounts for those who have a Carer Card. Different businesses offer discounts for a variety of services. For example: 10% off prepaid phone recharge, 10% off at the optometrist, 10% off car batteries, etc. The links for them is on the main page. With plenty of drop down menus for you to check out.

Now, not all businesses will offer these discounts but it certainly never hurts to ask them if they do. The worst they can say is No. Plus if they've not heard of this scheme you can tell them about it and perhaps they might just become one of the businesses already participating.

When you apply for the card there is also an option for you to apply for the Sunday Pass. Its where you can get free travel on Sundays on trains (buses too I think but don't quote me on that). If you apply for that you may also receive Carer/Pensioner Off-Peak free travel vouchers. You get two of those and a letter explaining how to use them as either a day ticket, single tickets or a concession daily metcard.

Anyway, as my Mum always said "Every little bit helps". So if it helps us Carers then its ALL good in my book!