Christopher Pyne: After this atrocious year, here’s some reasons for positivity in 2021

He might not share the same politics, but one particular lyric from John Lennon spurs Christopher Pyne to look back at 2020 with a different perspective.

“So this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year over, a new one just begun.”

So go the words of the John Lennon and Yoko Ono song, Happy Xmas (War Is Over).

The message hits you in the face from the first sentence.

While it might be Christmas, the more important thing is have you done anything to make the world a better place for your family, friends and your community? It isn’t about you, it’s about the people in your circle, friends and family, workmates and significant others.

Christopher Pyne takes inspiration from John Lennon ... who knew?

I wasn’t a big fan of Lennon’s politics. He was too left for me. But he knew how to deliver a punch.

Christmas Day is this Friday. Four days to go. Australians everywhere will breathe a sigh of relief to have made it through such a year. Many will get away from their usual digs and head to the beach or off to spend time with their families and friends in the national parks, campsites and coastal towns of our continent. I can’t wait.

But I’m reminded of the summer of 2019-20. I was looking forward to 2020. I had a tumultuous year in 2019, having decided to retire from politics and create a new career. This year was meant to be filled with promise.

It wasn’t long before the summer turned hideously pear-shaped. Fires ravaged Kangaroo Island, Cudlee Creek, Woodside and right through New South Wales, Victoria and elsewhere. It seemed the country was in flames.

The firefighters, emergency services personnel, nurses, doctors, paramedics and thousands of volunteers who prepared meals, care packages, offered accommodation and helped get their fellow citizens through can all answer the question posed in the Lennon/Ono tune. They are all heroes.

I learnt a little about communities that live in bushfire zones.

My family and I moved to the Adelaide Hills in 2019. Last summer was our first in a bushfire zone.

We have two enormous rainwater tanks for use in a fire, and what looks like an industrial-strength fire hose attached to them and powered by a generator.

Despite having been an honorary member of the Burnside Country Fire Service for many years, I don’t think anyone will be surprised to know that none of this equipment was second nature to me.

Give me a speech topic and enough time to prepare and I’m “happy as a sand fly”. That’s my happy place. Engines and equipment, not so much.

When the first catastrophic bushfire day was declared in the Adelaide Hills in summer, my neighbours were straight over to make sure I had everything I needed, that the family had headed down to the plain, I knew how to start the engine, had tested the hose and to give me a few tips on what to do in the event of the fire reaching us. I was very impressed.

At one point I said, ‘by the way, I have a cellar where I’m going if it looks dire and I’ve stocked it with water and towels, you are welcome to join me”.

My neighbour replied, “I’ll be there before you are, I already know where it is, just don’t forget a bottle opener”! There’s nothing quite like the Australian sense of humour.

Fortunately, beyond routinely wetting the roof and the walls, none of these preparations were called up for action.

It was a small taste for me of how communities pull together in dangerous times and dangerous places.

There are others who can answer the exhortation in the song positively – the myriad paramedics, medical professionals, public servants, politicians, police, military, screeners at airports, security guards and many others who contained – and beat – the coronavirus pandemic in South Australia.

While many South Australians have fallen ill with COVID-19, and tragically four have died, a pandemic that has ripped through similar nations with seeming impunity was largely held at bay.

For that, we can thank good public policy making and decisions by those we elect to run our state – Steven Marshall and his team. We can also thank the public servants, including the police and health professionals that advised him – Nicola Spurrier, Grant Stevens and Jim McDowell.

We all pulled together too. Despite the inconvenience – and worse – that lockdowns and restrictions created, the state’s population followed orders and by and large did the right thing. We were a model of fortitude.

We are reaping the benefits. Just last week, data was published showing South Australia has the lowest unemployment rate of any state. That’s the first time since 2002 and only the second time since 1992!

Unfortunately, we need to keep being vigilant. The pandemic has a long way to run. But we have proven to ourselves that we can do it.

Here’s hoping 2021 isn’t quite as exciting as 2020!

Have a fun, safe and holy Christmas. Count your blessings. Hug your friends and family and spare a thought for those less fortunate than we are.