Diary Entries

LIFE IN THE PANDEMIC My initial experience of life in the pandemic was to spend two weeks in social isolation as I had been a Close Contact with a Confirmed Case. This was in early March and whilst initially confronting was a nice chance to spend time working from home. The third and fourth week of March saw the rapid rise in cases across Australia and the imposition of restrictions on movement. Whilst still only weeks ago they were challenging times. Initially they were 'unprecedented' but of course they have happened in historical times. Then the times felt 'surreal' and like something that was happening in an abstract sense. And now only eight weeks ago the times have settled into a sense of being the 'new normal'. I enjoy history and what has struck me the most during this time is that we are actively living history in the present. This will be a time that society reflects upon into the future and it is a time that we have been actively experiencing. After a sustained focus on public health, flattening of curves, hand washing and social distancing, I find increasingly that I am thinking about economic health and the human and social impact of job losses. I remember the 1991 recession and the 2008 global financial crisis. And what I most remember is the people who lost jobs and the families that experienced ongoing years of hardship. Whilst I have begun to feel optimistic about the public health of the nation, at this time I remain pessimistic about the economic health of the nation. At the start of the pandemic I was comforted with the Persian adage 'this too shall pass' and I hope that this remains true for health, economic and social impact.

Completing my final year of schooling, my HSC year, during this unprecedented time has been a true test of my ability to stay on task and persevere. With online learning meaning face-to-face conversations with teachers and peers is impossible, and all class times being spent on video or audio calls to discuss content, it has been difficult staying on track and engaged with every subject. Not being able to go out of the house and catchup with friends is really upsetting and Ive noticed how being cooped up in the house for four+ weeks straight has affected my mental health. There are only so many times you can take the dog for a walk every day.

Life, meaning, and the universe. Staying home looked like a fantastic opportunity - but for what? Deeper questions aren't on people's minds. We just concentrate on managing - and surviving. I said that I would write - but this is the first piece - after 7 weeks! So far our experience at home has been great- but where has the time gone? Healthy boomers with a partner- we are blessed. Reading, chatting, decluttering, developing technology skills..... One of us was trained in infectious disease nursing at Prince Henry Hospital. It certainly helped us draw the line at a point where most of the community could see no danger. Retired ad living a suburban block with long term neighbors, with our cruising days behind us, it is almost too good to believe. But - this is only the beginning. Our plan? Read a Psalm and carry on.

Monday, Pandemic Week 8. From my house I have observed the following every weekend since the pandemic was declared: Pub car park - Abandoned Bottleshop drive through - Full RSL car park - Abandoned Cinema car park - Sporadic skateboarders Bunnings car park - Full Aldi car park - Full OfficeWorks car park - Full Maccas in-store - Empty Maccas drive-through - Around the block Centrelink line - Around the block Anaconda car park - ...Full !? Playgrounds - Surrounded by police tape So, if you want to buy anything, fix anything, eat anything, exercise or plan a camping trip you're fine. Just don't be old, alone, young, or low income... oh, and don't plan to use the internet for anything outside of work. Today's average NBN speed 38.44 Mbps Down, 6.22up (normally 101.4, 22.8). Average air pollution is the lowest I've seen it in thirty years though. :)

My name is Linda Pauline Heenan (nee Hammond). I was born in Akaroa, New Zealand, and moved to Australia in about 1979. I joined the Christian Outreach Centre Youth Country Evangelism Team and met my future husband, John Francis Heenan. At the point of beginning this journal, we have been married about 36 years and have two adult children - Shaun Michael Heenan, who still lives with us, and Kaitlyn Rose Barnes, who lives just round the corner with her husband, William. They produced a beautiful baby girl named Eleanor Rose, 8 months ago. She joins two half siblings from Kaitlyn's first marriage - Byron Heenan Lewis, aged 14, and Ariya Kaylee Lewis, aged 5. This information is for future relatives who may wish to research their ancestry. Two days ago, the children and grandchildren visited for the first time in about two months. We have been under covid-19 lockdown, along with the rest of Australia and much of the world. I went into isolation several weeks earlier than most because I am in such a high risk category. For the last four years, I've been on chemo to defeat metasticised breast cancer. It has damaged my bones severely. I've been in partial remission for a couple of years but the chemo weakens my immune system, making me one of those most likely to die from the coronavirus. It was wonderful to see my family again and to hug my grandchildren. They have been safely isolated and home schooling, so it was safe to hug. Byron is now taller than me. Ariya has learnt to read from the work her school has been sending and the system I bought for her. Ellie can stand up by herself while saying "Up!". I will continue this story in short excerpts over time.

This is the beginning of the 8th week of quarantine... I'm working from home (from all of my three different jobs), and try to leave the house every day, but sometimes, I'll admit that I forget! I'm not quite sure why everyone is talking about the extra time that they have available by being in isolation - I'm as busy as ever! But I am cooking more, and more interesting things too...

ICU. [pt. 3] At the end of our interview, I asked Katherine how she felt when she saw those now seminal images of speedo and bikini clad bodies stretched across the sands of iconic Bondi Beach… ‘It’s heartbreaking. Seeing those images was really heartbreaking. Seeing those people not really making that community effort” Brazen with dedication, doctors like Katherine and Rita are some of the lower paid in our medical system yet they’re showing up day in, day out, putting their lives on the line for us. How could those outliers on Bondi beach lack that intensive care for the people we need most right now? How could they completely disregard social distancing measures that would help flatten the curve? How could they do this knowing they’re disrespecting these brave soldiers, in public hospitals, at medical centres, on our frontlines, fighting this battle so selflessly. Knowing that staying home, will actually help save these hero medics lives, so they can continue working to save ours. Reading over my notes tonight, watching these raw interviews back, I just can’t help but wonder how Rita, Katherine and all of the others on the frontline I had the privilege of meeting, get to sleep at night. As I lay my body to rest, the tears release from my heart, the trenches in my mind still emblazoned with images of what this new world could look like if we don’t ALL do every single bit we can, to protect those at greatest risk. To protect our most vulnerable. To protect one another. And I just hope that those deniers who do more damage to Rita than they know, those outliers that continue to break Katherines heart, will think about that, the next time they decide to go out unnecessarily… ICU. They see you. We all see you.

I love free stuff. Earlier this week I drove past a drive-through testing clinic. I have had a slightly sore chest and occasional cough so did my civic duty. I contacted the COVID-19 helpline for a symptom check, which led to contacting my GP which led to getting me tested... for FREE! Winning! That was Wednesday morning, it's now Friday morning and I still don't know. I'm not worried I might have it, even with my penchant for hypochondria, I know the risk is extremely low. Now I'm fully isolated at home until I get the result. I had been spending my days working and co-parenting my 6 year old daughter at the apartment where she lives with her Mum. I am very privileged. I have a job, a good one. I can work remotely. I can video call friends, family and colleagues. I have food and wine. I can listen to records while I work and drink coffee at my desk. There's a lot about this I could happily get used to but after just two days, I dearly miss being face to face with my daughter and I'm reminded that just below the surface there is a great anxiety and sadness for this pandemic. This must be a living hell for so many people with so much more to worry about.

Watsons Bay, Sydney There has been a slight easing of restrictions and it looks like we are coming out the other side. Hope! They talk of a second wave, but hopefully this won’t happen. I wonder if the leaves of the lemon tree at Bowral are yellowing, and hoping that the roses are still alive. I enjoy my own company and can easily occupy myself at home, but the days are feeling very long. I find myself looking out of the window at the morning ocean, and at the pink and mauve sunsets, and not remembering what I have been doing all day. I’m down to one online yoga class each week, which is not enough. I need to create new routines. I need to feel purposeful again. Schools in New South Wales have now resumed teaching and so I’ve taken on my piano children again. Phew. So relieved to be back in routine and so happy to see the kids. They’ve become expert at coughing into their elbows! I’ve only lost a couple of students. Their parents tell me that their lethargic children have adapted very well to being at home, and have lost a lot of motivation. I’ve no work at the university, and so have been relying solely on piano teaching. I’ll need to find more students. Sitting distanced from children during lessons, and not being able to touch the piano or sing, is so hard. It’s really affecting the quality of my teaching, and also my enjoyment. I’ve realised just how much young children need hands-on instruction and close interaction to learn well. At least I still have a job. I’m very lucky. I must dose the television news I’m taking in– the COVID statistics around the world feel overwhelming.

FIRST FRUITS FROM THE GARDEN Today I sampled the first of our iso-garden veggies, casual casualty of the first serious weeding: a centimetre of fragile bok choy. I offered to share it with my fellow gardener; he shook his head with a smile. Okay, bok choy. Thanks–and sorry I pulled you out. It vanished in a ceremonial mouthful, more a wisp of hopeful green than any serious nourishment. But this gift from the gardening gods will linger long in my mind: the most splendid autumn feast. First fruits from the garden Today I sampled the first of our iso-garden veggies, casual casualty of the first serious weeding: a centimetre of fragile bok choy. I offered to share it with my fellow gardener; he shook his head with a smile. Okay, bok choy. Thanks–and sorry I pulled you out. It vanished in a ceremonial mouthful, more a wisp of hopeful green than any serious nourishment. But this gift from the gardening gods will linger long in my mind: the most splendid autumn feast.