Border closures stop families being united during Christmas

To all the grumpys, nannies, nonnas and other doting grandparents away from their precious angels this Christmas, Townsville’s defence families have a special message for you. See the heartwarming videos and photos>>>

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CHRISTMAS is a time of joy and being united, but for many Townsville based Defence families it will be much like most of 2020, isolated from loved ones due to border closures.

Due to give birth in coming days, Cassie Flowers hoped her family would have been here to share the special moment, but border closures to South Australia has meant it’s the second trip to be cancelled in as many months.

With her husband spending a lot of time away for work with the Army, she’s spent most of the year alone with their toddler daughter Lucy, relying on video calls to stay connected with friends and family.

“It’s been pretty difficult, it’s (video calls) not the same as getting hugs and getting help and going around for dinner and those sorts of things,”

“My parents had planned a trip up in June but obviously that got cancelled so fingers crossed for after Christmas.”

Lucy Flowers, 4, at Geckos Family Centre on Lavarack Barracks celebrating Christmas. Picture: Shae Beplate.

GALLERY: Geckos Family Centre celebrate a Defence Christmas

Kate Tilse with her daughter Leilani, 1, at Geckos Family Centre on Lavarack Barracks celebrating Christmas. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It’s a similar story for Lisa McGowan and her family. Her daughter Eliza is 10 months old and has never met her cousins, aunties and uncles or grandparents.

“You miss so much in that first year, but we’ve done plenty of facetime, plenty of videos,”

“Even though Eliza is my second child, turning to someone for help has been a phone call which has been difficult.

“There’s nothing like just turning up to someone’s house, and passing the kids over for a bit of a break.

“It’s going to be a huge relief actually moving closer, we’re posting to Sydney so we’ll be really close to them all in Melbourne.”

The feeling of isolation has been something that has brought these women, and many other families together at Geckos Family Centre at Lavarack Barracks.

Coordinator Sergeant Linda Mcnaughton said she and her colleagues have tried to create an environment for people to feel like it’s a second home.

“Connection is really is at the core of everything we do here so all the activities, all the services that we offer is all about fostering connections within our community,” Sgt Mcnaughton said.

“It can be a very vulnerable time once you’ve had a baby especially your first baby, and not to have your family come up and visit has been hard so they’ve really sourced their strength in each other there which has been a beautiful thing to see.”

Originally published as Border closures stop families being united during Christmas