Nuatali Nelmes: On Community

Like plants that grow through microscopic cracks in concrete, the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred the greatest traits of humankind to shine through in the face of almost every challenge imaginable.

We’ve not seen a pandemic of this scale since the 1918 Spanish Flu. Almost overnight, the COVID-19 outbreak upended our daily 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, particularly the elderly and those who live alone, felt – and continue to feel – the sting of social isolation. Whether directly or indirectly affected, none of us are immune 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 neighbours and the random acts of kindness; the way in which the Newcastle community has rallied behind local businesses that have pivoted their service models just to survive; and in those who have volunteered to help where it’s needed through initiatives such as City of Newcastle’s Lean-In Newy app.

Even while we were apart – in the early days of strict social distancing measures, when we worked hard at staying home and avoided nonessential outings – we achieved something together. Novocastrians successfully slowed the spread of coronavirus and flattened the curve, easing pressures on our healthcare system 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 and teddy bears adorned home windows – signs we found silver linings in the everyday, no matter how small.

We’ve also showed we’re a resourceful bunch, harnessing the power of technology to stay connected with friends and family and support local businesses, community groups and organisations in innovative ways. 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 that, while this shared 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.

The importance of community cannot be overstated at a time like this.

Our people will again play a pivotal role in Newcastle’s rebirth post-COVID-19. Many charities and not-for-profit organisations responded to community need arising from the COVID-19 crisis within a matter of weeks, as was evident in the more than $170,000 City of Newcastle awarded in Rapid Response Grants under its COVID-19 Community and Economic Development Resilience Package.

Organisations like OzHarvest, Soul Café, BaptistCare HopeStreet and Awabakal were among the first to apply for funding to give a hand up in the form of emergency food supply and crisis support services. With in-person events cancelled, City of Newcastle’s charity partner, Got Your Back Sista, moved its annual Mother’s Day raffle online, raising more than $16,000 to help women and children fleeing domestic violence begin again – requests for which have more than doubled since the outbreak of COVID-19.

As the city moves into the recovery phase, I am certain we will see more of this signature Novocastrian spirit flourish as we rally for a whole-of-community response to rebuild our beautiful harbourside city: it's the Novocastrian way. Your City is right there beside you, investing an historic $100 million in delivering Council’s capital works program as part of our broader range of community support. And, who knows, perhaps this once-ina-generation crisis has given us a new perspective and will breed fresh ideas to reshape the way we do things for the better.

While there’s no doubt that COVID-19 has disrupted life in a way we never saw coming, and its impacts will be felt long after the initial emergency has passed, Newcastle will emerge on the other side more resilient than ever. All we have to do is find the light. www.leaninnewy.com.au

Lord Mayor City of Newcastle,

Nuatali Nelmes