David Campbell on the uplifting events of the last 5 years

Today Extra host David Campbell is pushing through this difficult time by remembering the many wonderful moments of the recent past.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the news at the moment, especially with the East Coast of Australia going in and out of lockdown or adjusting to what may seemingly be the new normal.

I find it helps to have a look at the past five years to get an overview of how far we’ve come. Yes, we live in truly bizarre times, but it gives me solace to know we can get through this – maybe not completely unscathed, but we can survive and have hope.

David Campbell, who has been a Stellar columnist since its launch, with editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand. (Picture: Tim Hunter)

Let’s not forget that the planet made it through the divisive Trump presidency. Only just. I mean, if you’d told me this time five years ago that he’d even be elected, I wouldn’t have listened because I would have been too busy binge-watching Suits.

I wasn’t the only one watching. How bizarre was it to find out Harry had fallen for Meghan Markle? We were all giddy. She wasn’t even our favourite character – Donna and Harvey is who we were shipping!

Still, we fell in love with the royal couple, welled up as they married, waited with bated breath for the birth of their first son Archie, and then turned on them because of Megxit or something. I don’t remember; I think it’s Oprah’s fault.

And we’ve shown we’re not always divided. There was collective exultation over the rescue of the Thai soccer team from certain death in a flooded cave and how the world rallied around the bushfire victims almost two years ago, with Celeste Barber raising awareness and more than $50 million over social media and even more in the Fire Fight concert. These moments remind me how much we can care and put aside our differences.

I felt that collective rush again in a different way as we witnessed sporting heroes emerge at the Tokyo Olympics: our swimmers reaching new heights and the multiple medal tally of our new golden girl Ariarne Titmus; the radness of Keegan Palmer flying through the air

like the new Tony Hawk to win gold in skateboarding; and my favourite story, of Peter Bol, who embodies the spirit of what we stand for in this multi-cultural country.

David Campbell features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

Honestly, I can even find this inspiration in the never-ending national challenge that is Covid and its Delta variant.

From Victoria doing the hard yards so the first wave didn’t reach other states, to how we’ve adapted to become a proud mask-wearing, social-distancing bunch of legends who want to get back to our local pubs, cafes and restaurants.

From the desire to support local businesses and tourism, to the patience of teachers and parents as they provide new ways of keeping children engaged through at-home learning. From the hope of seeing a live show or game again to seeing young and old line up and roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated.

It shows me we have hope. It shows me the spirit of Australia is not divided. Sure, we have differences, but when we rally as a nation, we are punching way above our weight. We will get through this challenge together, ready for the next.

David Campbell co-hosts Today Extra, 9am weekdays, on the Nine Network.