1
Dubbo Photo News March 19-25, 2020
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR DUBBO JEWELLER DUBBO
PhotoNews Photo
100% DUBBO OWNED
MARCH 19-25, 2020 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT | FREE!
Mark & Di still smiling in a crisis
EDITORIAL
Time to share just the facts AS at the deadline for Dubbo Photo News yesterday, there were NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dubbo, nor anywhere else in the western region covered by the Western NSW Local Health District. We know that because the Western NSW Local Health District’s Dubbo-based spokesperson told this newspaper directly. This fact flies in the face of some of the rumours going around town, one as recently as Monday, that Dubbo “already had three cases”. Most of us are now realising the rush on toilet paper was madness, and mostly a result of wrong information that was spread on social media and elsewhere online. People mouthing off before getting the facts caused a panic. So let’s now also think before we speak about the current COVID-19 situation. Don’t spread rumours, and be sure of your facts before you speak and share. Here’s a tip. The internet is wrong – a lot. Facebook and social media are wrong – a lot. So in times of crisis like these, it’s important to get your information from reputable sources. If someone or social media tells you something that doesn’t sound right, check the facts before getting concerned and before spreading that misinformation. It isn’t helpful, and in some cases the wrong information can be downright dangerous. Look at the drizzling that Gunnedahborn model Miranda Kerr got a few days ago when she shared – to her 12 million followers – a ridiculous suggestion from a non-expert claiming a particular juice had the necessary healing powers. That’s 12 million people who were fed the wrong information. Fortunately, many of her followers called her out on the error. We all need to know the correct facts about what to do, what not to do, and how to minimise the chances of the virus spreading to our loved ones, ourselves, and the wider community. Australian government websites such as health.gov.au and health.nsw. gov.au are doing a good job keeping us up to date with facts. Looking after our health is one of the main reasons we have governments, so it’s good to see they’re doing their job. Also doing their job well are local journalists like the ones who work for this newspaper. Our job is to fact check and report as accurately as we possibly can. Where necessary, journalists also question governments to make sure they’re doing their jobs, or where we feel the public isn’t getting the full story. So you should also feel confident turning to your local newspaper or radio station for reliable information. Let’s stay strong, stay healthy, and do what we need to maintain the great sense of community that Dubbo has always enjoyed.
Mark and Di Hawke still managed a smile, despite the cancellation of the Melbourne Grand Prix making their tickets worthless – and costing them thousands of dollars.
STAY POSITIVE IN TOUGH TIMES By JOHN RYAN
DI and Mark Hawke are a case study of how COVID-19 has affected a local couple in both the short and long term. Recently retired after long stints at the former Telecom and then Country Energy, they decided to take a trip down south. “We were sitting home in Dubbo and Diane said to me there’s a Holland Food festival in Melbourne. I’ve always wanted to go and since we recently retired, I said ‘why not’,” Mr Hawke told Dubbo Photo News. They packed up the car and headed to Melbourne with a view to go to the food festival. “A mate of mine from Geelong offered us a caravan free of charge to have a couple of
weeks at Ocean Grove. That’s a very affordable holiday, we were thinking, with maybe a chance to see the Great Ocean Road.” The couple was sitting in their motel room in Dandenong and Mark realised the Formula One Grand Prix was on the next weekend. “We thought it would be mad not to go. That obviously meant we had to move to the heart of Melbourne which was a lot more expensive but it was a lifetime opportunity, so I booked a motel room at the Grand Chancellor in Melbourne. It wasn’t really in our budget but we were already here,” Mr Hawke said. The room was around $1100 and then they looked to fill the week in Melbourne.
That week was taken up by the Old Melbourne Gaol, a river cruise, shopping and food. “On the Friday, two days before the F1 Grand Prix, the Victorian government and the F1 committee dropped a bomb shell and cancelled the race. “We were very angry because I believe they could’ve cancelled it a week out and, on my estimate, it would’ve saved us $2500. “We weren’t the only ones that are very aggravated at this decision. I’m talking thousands of people, because I believe they just waited for everyone to get to Melbourne for economic benefit to Victoria,” Mr Hawke said. They tried to book out early, but the story was there was no refund.
“This added to our woes with a huge financial loss over the stock market crash, having my super in high-growth. Luckily, I was able to stem the flow by contacting my superannuation and moving it to cash,” Mr Hawke said. “I’m a realist and hoping they find a cure for this terrible virus, where I will promptly move my superannuation back to high-growth and hopefully we can regain our losses, as that’s the way the market works. “We must stay positive in these times because, at the end of the day, it’s out of your control,” he said. The couple are now down at Ocean Grove and looking forward to the Great Ocean Road and beyond and trying to stay out of harm’s way.
CALL US with your news 6885 4433 | EMAIL photos@dubbophotonews.com.au | VISIT US at 89 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo