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i ke pl a n t s th a t g row th rou g h microscopic cracks in concrete, the COVID-19 pandemic h as spurred th e g re a te s t tra i t s of h u m an k i nd t o s h i n e t h ro u g h i n t h e f a c e of almost every ch all enge imaginabl e. We’ve not seen a pandemic of this scale since the 1918 Spanish Flu. Almost overnight, the COVID-19 outbreak upended our dail y lives, isolated the most vulnerable and crippled businesses. In the Hunter Region alone, thousands of workers had their hours reduced, were stood down or lost their jobs altogether. Large swathes of the community, particularl y the elderl y and those who live alone, felt – and continue to feel – the sting of social isolation. W h eth er d i re c t l y or i nd i re c t l y a f fe c te d , n o n e of u s a re i m m un e to the social, financial, mental and physical impacts of the coronavirus. It’s a lot to cope with as we adjust to a new normal on the road to recovery. But amongst the darkness, there is light. You’ll find it in the generosity between n e i g h b ou r s and th e rand o m a c t s of kindness; the wa y in which the Newcas tl e community h as ra llied behind local businesses th at h ave pivoted their service models jus t to survive; and in those who h ave volunteered to help where it’s needed through initiatives such as City of Newcas tl e’s Lean-In Newy app. Even whil e we were apart – in the earl y days of strict social distancing m e a s u re s , w h e n we wor ke d h a rd at sta ying home and avoided non38 |
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e s s e n t i a l o u t i n g s – we a c h i eve d something together. Novocastrians successfull y slowed the spread of coronavirus and flattened the curve, easing pressures on our healthcare s ystem and first responders whilst buying precious time to build capacity to deal with any future outbreaks. For a time, when we were housebound, chalk rainbows lined suburban footpaths a n d te d d y b e a r s a d o r n e d h o m e windows – signs we found silver linings in the everyday, no matter how small. We’ve also showed we’re a resourceful b un c h , h a r n e s s i n g t h e p owe r of technology to sta y connected with friends and famil y and support local businesses, community groups and organisations in innovative wa ys. Many of us have gotten creative with online events (check out the City’s What’s On(line) virtual event calendar for ideas) and made the most of the downtime by upskilling with the City’s expanded online library services. The importance of community cannot be overstated at a time like this. Being able to lean on and support one another when things get tough is integral to our wellbeing and resilience – ensuring th at, whil e this sh ared experience might bend us, it won’t break us. Novocastrians have demonstrated time and time again their ability to adapt and rebuild after a crisis: the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake, 2007 Pasha Bulker storm, and the recent bushfire season, to name a few. After each historical event we have prevailed because we banded together as a community to overcome adversity.
