Cross-border communities: Family shares impacts of caravan life amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Wilsons lived just 500 metres over the border in Victoria, but went to work and school in SA. When the new restrictions came in, they were left with the tough decision of moving into a caravan.
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The Wilson family’s move from their Victorian farm to a caravan and shed on their South Australian property is a stark example of the impacts of COVID-19 on border communities.
Kinta Wilson, her husband Scott and their three primary-school aged children usually live on their farm 500m over the Victorian border at Dorodong. But the family was this year forced to make the tough decision to move into a caravan on farmland they also own near Penola.
It means the children can keep attending Penola Primary and Mrs Wilson can get to Naracoorte High, where she works as a music teacher.
It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison urges the states to take action on issues affecting border communities across the country, while SA prepares to introduce tougher new controls.
From Friday, Victorians near the border can no longer travel into SA for work, school or shopping and may only enter if they are deemed an essential traveller.
“It’s challenging because we’re all living on top of each other,” Mrs Wilson said. “We left a beautiful home behind that’s newly renovated and was just perfect for what we need.”
“But we’ve set up a really nice space in the shed as a living arrangement so it can be comfortable.”
Mrs Wilson said Scott would stay with the family unless it became too difficult to cross the border to attend to their animals and crops.
“We’re trying to make it as normal as we can, especially for the kids,” she said.
“But we’re not the worst impacted by this. There’s people who lost their loved ones because they got sick from this virus or they lost their jobs and there’s people who might lose their homes.”
The Advertiser understands Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday wrote to Premier Steven Marshall and the premiers of NSW, Victoria and Queensland, highlighting issues including access to essential medical treatment and movement of members of the “essential economic workforce”, such as farmers.
Meantime, Tiarnee Dyer, mother of Mabel Dyer, 2, wrote to Mr Morrison last week asking for his assistance to get approval for Mabel to travel from Kaniva to Adelaide for appointments and potential surgery for her hip dysplasia.
She will have her pelvis X-rayed at Naracoorte this week, which will determine whether she needs to travel to Adelaide for surgery.
Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Michael Cusack yesterday said if Mabel needed to be seen at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, “we will make sure that she is able to get there”.
A State Government spokesperson said it recognised the impacts of restrictions across the nation.
“However, the State Government’s number one focus is on keeping the people of South Australia safe and strong, and our border restrictions are a major part of that.”
“Exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.”
This morning, Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said he was “disappointed” to learn no-one from SA Health had been in touch with Mabel’s family to tell them they were allow to visit the WCH.
Mr Wade was on live ABC Radio Adelaide when Mabel’s mother rang in to say the family had only learned “by the media” they could go across the border to the WCH for checks and potential surgery for hip dysplasia
She said she had not heard from SA Health.
“To hear details of our daughter’s case through the media is extremely disappointing,” Mrs Dyer said.
The family has an exemption to visit Naracoorte Hospital on Wednesday and have a scheduled telehealth call to their WCH specialist on the 27th but now will be allowed to visit the WCH in person for future checks following an appeal to the Prime Minister.
Mr Wade said he would speak to SA Health officials.
“That is disappointing,” he said when Mrs Dyer told him – and the ABC radio audience – she was yet to hear from health officials.
“I understood a number of people had been in contact from SA Health.”
He confirmed the family would be allowed to attend future appointments at the WCH in person, but would have to self-isolate when not visiting the hospital.
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michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
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