Cathryne Wearne cannot travel to the Qld home she bought before lockdown hit regional NSW
A widow who bought a Queensland home before lockdown has had a Covid-19 test and jab but authorities still won’t budge on “heartbreaking” border rules.
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A widow who can’t travel to her home in Queensland has criticised the “heartbreaking” impacts of the border closure.
Cathryne Wearne purchased a property in Rockhampton and sold her previous home in Tamworth in July.
But the Queensland authorities won’t let her travel to her new home and she’s been stuck in limbo in Ballina.
Ms Wearne signed the contract for her new Rockhampton home on July 23.
“I packed everything up and everything was going fine,” she said.
Ms Wearne, who lost her husband last year, packed up her life and was on her way to visit her sister in Ballina - before continuing on to the Sunshine State - just as parts of the Northern Rivers went into their initial lockdown in August.
She was only planning to stay in Ballina for one night before travelling onwards, but weeks later she still can’t get to Queensland and has no idea when this will change.
She has split her time between the Ballina Homestead motel and her sister’s already-full home nearby.
“I thought the lockdown may have ended but of course it didn’t,” she said.
“It’s been a rough 12 months and … all I want to do is go home.
“I’d stay in that home for six months if I had to and not come out.”
Ms Wearne said she had taken steps to try to prove to Queensland authorities it was reasonable to let her in, including her first Covid-19 jab and a test to confirm she doesn’t have the virus.
“It just sort of doesn’t matter what you do; they sort of smack you in the face with a wet fish,” she said.
“I applied for an exemption. I never even heard back from Queensland.”
As well as longing to get to her home, Ms Wearne also wants to see her Queensland-based sons.
News that footballers’ families were allowed to travel into the state, while residents remain locked out, was another slap in the face.
“It rips my heart out,” she said.
“It’s very frustrating and very tiresome. You don’t sleep. It just falls on deaf ears, they don’t care.”
Even if she is allowed in, Ms Wearne has been told she would need to pay for hotel quarantine and to fly in – and pay to have her car transported – even though she’s staying a one-hour drive from the Queensland border.
“I wouldn’t want to set foot in Sydney airport,” she said.
“It’s just a shamozzle, it really is.
“It’s heartbreaking, absolutely gut wrenching because you feel like you’re nothing and that plays on your mental health. We’re all Australians.”
Queensland Health was approached in relation to Ms Wearne’s specific situation. A spokeswoman acknowledged that border restrictions are inconvenient and can cause disruption to people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We must balance these factors against the serious health risk to more than five million Queenslanders,” the spokesperson said.
“With the continued escalation of outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria, there has been an influx of people relocating to Queensland. This, along with regular overseas arrivals, has placed extraordinary pressure on our hotel quarantine capacity, which is why the temporary pause has been implemented.”
For updates on exemptions applications people can contact 134 Covid (134 268).
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