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On Jan 26, Australians all let us rejoice!
JANUARY 21-27, 2021 | LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT | FREE!
FREYJA LOVES
AUSTRALIA By YVETTE AUBUSSON B AUBUSSON-FOLEY FOLEY FOR a blue merle border collie like Freyja, Australia Day is just like any other. She will continue to look and be adorable as ever, receive food and friendship from owners Greg and Kathy Smart, and otherwise occupy her four-legged self with doggie pursuits. She is free from any knowledge of what it’s all about, or the tensions arising around Australia Day debates. For the 25 million people who live on
our iisland l d continent, ti t Australia A t li Day D iis morphing from the celebration of the modern nation’s infant beginnings and all that has passed ever since the arrival of the First Fleet, to also encompass and accept that January 26 represents something very different for our ancient First Nation’s people, whose homelands and culture have been decimated in the past 233 years. However you mark January 26, it’s an opportunity to accept there are other experiences beyond our own. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/EMY LOU
COVID BARRIER PANDEMIC PAIN: The COVID-19 impact is driving truckies down By LYDIA PEDRANA ONGOING and changing COVID-19 restrictions have continued to impact our nation’s truck drivers – in ways that many of us may not consider – and with Dubbo a freight hub for the eastern states, this issue is causing problems for many locals who spend their time on the highway. From knee-jerk border closures to the opening times of testing facilities, truckies have had to adapt to a new normal within their own industry.
The mental health of some truck drivers has suffered, according to Narromine owner-operator James Newton. Mr Newton said COVID-19 has highlighted a lot of “double standards” with certain businesses banning truckies from using their bathrooms and lunchrooms, despite having been on the road for hours on end. “You know where you stand as a truckie, but with COVID-19, you really know you’re scum now,” he said. Continued on page 2
A lonely gig: Narromine truck driver James Newton
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