Far North reaction to first day without masks

Coffee breath, dodgy beards and ruined make-up have all made the cut as Cairns residents bid a hilarious farewell to the mask mandate.

AS the mask mandate comes to an end in most settings across the Far North some have expressed their thoughts about what they will and won’t miss.

Shelby Crouche from Smithfield was excited to go for some drinks with her mates on Saturday without having to remember a mask.

“It was so nice. It was like a sense of freedom,” she said.

Ms Crouche said she wouldn’t miss having to reapply her makeup because the mask ruined it.

“Last weekend we were going to Salt House. I was so excited I put my makeup on and looked nice, then I had to put my mask on.”

The mask covering people’s faces was also a problem for some men.

The Queensland Government has relaxed mandates on wearing face masks in public areas, meaning that patrons can breathe easier in hospitality venues. Shelby Crouche put on lipstick and Jason Preece trimmed his beard before catching up with friends at Hemingway's Brewery on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Brendan Radke

Jason Preece from Smithfield said he missed the long beard he had before masks.

“I used to have a big beard and I usually get it trimmed at the barbers,” he said.

“I couldn’t get it trimmed at the barbers so I had to do it myself and I wrecked it.

“Covid ruined my beard.”

Ashley Preece from Smithfield said people couldn’t smile with the mask on.

“If you drank coffee and you wore a mask it was all you could smell,” she said.

“If you were chewing gum you would get in the eyes.”

Even though masks are out in most settings, there are still things people will miss about it.

Ms Crouche said while you couldn’t see people smile, that wasn’t always a bad thing.

Susan Fairweather said it felt a bit naked walking out of the house without a mask on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Radke

“If you were having a bad day at least you could cover it up,” she said.

While some residents said they felt a bit naked leaving the house without masks on Saturday morning.

Susan Fairweather from Earlville said it was nice to be able to go out at restaurants without them.

“I still feel a bit safer wearing them in shopping centres. At the end of the day it’s time to adjust and move on with life,” she said.

Originally published as Far North reaction to first day without masks