Community leaders share messages of hope amid Sydney lockdown
From the Prime Minister on down, leaders in local communities today join with The Daily Telegraph to send a message to you that we will get through this lockdown.
NSW
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A special message from the editor of The Daily Telegraph, Ben English.
Sydney, you are strong.
Today we are dedicating the paper to you, our magnificent city and its extraordinary people.
Many of us are doing it tough right now. Life has been turned on its head. But as our stories today reveal, Sydneysiders are finding a way through.
Through random acts of kindness, moments of inspiration and pure grit we are going into daily battle against the virus in our own ways.
And united, we will prevail.
Sydney Strong is both a rallying cry and a shout-out to everyone who is struggling at the moment.
It is also a recognition that we are one tough city.
When we all do our bit, we are Sydney Strong.
Our hope is that our stories and images inspire you, our dear readers, to do your bit to help us collectively win this battle.
It could be a donation, or volunteering for your local charity, or booking your vaccination.
It could be simply phoning a friend, letting them know you care.
Sydney has a fierce reputation as a take-no-prisoners town. It’s the New York of Australia. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
But that is not the whole story of Sydney – not even close. What makes us strong is not just our determination, or our ruthless competitiveness. It is our heart.
Beneath the breathtaking beauty, behind the swagger, is a caring spirit that has seen us through depressions, world wars and helped create the greatest Olympic Games ever.
That’s the spirit that will see us through this crisis. It’s what makes Sydney Strong.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is our key to living life as safely and freely as possible, writes Dr Kerry Chant, NSW chief health officer.
Growing up in Punchbowl and having spent a large part of my working life in Sydney’s southwest, I’ve been lucky enough to experience first-hand the strength and resilience of the many and varied communities who call this wonderful area home.
This experience has been a source of comfort and hope for me recently during one of the most challenging times our state has ever faced.
I am acutely aware of the challenges that the current restrictions present for individuals, families and communities throughout Greater Sydney, and I offer my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those following the health advice and staying home to stop the spread of Covid-19.
I understand that many people in southwest and western Sydney, and throughout the state, are no strangers to hardship, but I also know these communities are motivated by a deep love of family.
My heart goes out to the loved ones of the 16 with Covid-19 who have sadly passed away during this outbreak, and to the many hundreds of people who have a loved one struggling with the virus, in hospital or even an intensive care unit.
Every day when I read out those numbers about patients in hospital and intensive care units shortly after 11am, it is a reminder of the toll that the Delta strain of Covid-19 is taking on people of all ages.
However, it is the strength and resilience we possess in NSW that will see us through this challenging time, and vaccination is the pathway back to living our lives as safely and freely as possible.
Vaccination is clearly already making a huge difference for some people, but not enough people.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) now advises everyone in NSW aged 18 and over to get vaccinated with the vaccine available to them. AstraZeneca is a very good option.
I have had both doses of AstraZeneca, my husband and mother-in-law too.
I champion vaccination every day, and I urge you to discuss vaccination with your GP or pharmacist.
I also urge everyone across the state to encourage your family and friends to do the same, as vaccination protects not only you, but also your loved ones.
If we stay strong, stay united and get vaccinated, I am sure we will get through this together and emerge even stronger than ever before.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says although staying home doesn’t come naturally to Sydneysiders, we are doing a good job of it.
In Sydney, we get things done.
We are confident and outward looking. We’re self-reliant. We look to solve our own problems.
We’re an international city that normally bustles with energy. Almost every culture and language of the world, you’ll find in Sydney.
As Sydneysiders we’re being asked to do something that just doesn’t come naturally – we’re being asked to stay put, to stay at home.
While I know the frustration of lockdown and restrictions, Sydney is doing what it now needs to do. It’s up to all of us to make this work.
At this critical time in this COVID-19 outbreak, we need to keep pushing through.
There are no shortcuts.
This lockdown needs to work – and if we tough it out, it will.
By doing the right thing and working together.
Following the NSW Government’s local health orders, getting tested and getting vaccinated is how we suppress this outbreak.
I want to thank everyone in Greater Sydney for the way you are responding.
By staying home you are protecting yourselves, your family and your community.
By getting vaccinated, we can look forward to life ahead being very different.
In the meantime, my government has your back.
We’ve already delivered more than $1 billion in direct payments to over 600,000 people in NSW who have lost income because of the lockdown. And we are sharing the costs with the NSW Government to help businesses through, at the rate of $250 million every week.
This will ensure our strong NSW economy will surge again on the other side.
We know it helps you and we know it works.
So thank you again Sydney for your patience, sacrifice and strength.
Let’s keep pushing through. Let’s get this job done as we always do.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has thanked the volunteers of Sydney.
As a lifelong Sydney resident, I know the people of this city have what it takes to defeat Covid.
Sydneysiders are a tough people. We pride ourselves on our individualism, but when the chips are down, we dig in and work together.
I see the Sydney spirit shining every day in my own community in the inner west. Every morning, dozens of volunteers from all walks of life band together at the Addison Road Food Bank to pack 800 food hampers for people doing it tough.
Many of these good people are themselves out of work.
This spirit of goodwill is reflected right across the state.
The quickest way out of this miserable, costly lockdown is for people to be vaccinated and for there to be purpose-built quarantine facilities.
It is true there have been frustrating shortages of vaccine. But Sydneysiders are always optimistic and prepared to look forward.
The Sydney spirit will get us through this and secure us the freedom to once again enjoy all aspects of life in the most beautiful city in the world.
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller wants us all having Christmas lunch with our families.
When Covid first hit the state hard in March 2020, I was thinking it was going to be a tough few months.
We dug deep during the first round of restrictions and NSW led the country in so many ways. When other states faltered and closed their borders and international airports to returning Aussies, we dug deeper.
Some 230,000 Australians are home with their loved ones because we refused to give in to the virus. We grew strength during the year and as we prepared for Christmas with our loved ones Covid returned to the state and saw some of us thrown back into lockdown.
A cruel blow, but again we lifted.
Coming into 2021, we were all upbeat and ready for the next phase of Covid life. Then the Delta variant drove a huge hole through our plans.
My promise to the community is the NSW Police Force is working 24/7 to get us out of lockdown.
Our goal is to ensure we have a normal Christmas with all our family and loved ones.
It’s a goal I hope you all join me in achieving.
A message from Dr Yadu Singh, President of the Federation of Indian Australians of NSW.
Covid’s Delta strain is more infectious and spreading throughout Sydney, leading to a prolonged lockdown. It’s vital for me, my family and my community to stay safe and stay strong. We can look after ourselves, our families and friends if we follow public health orders including staying at home, getting tested and getting vaccinated. Vaccines including AstraZeneca (AZ) are free, safe and greatly reduce the risk of severe Covid disease and death. In Sydney, risk of harm from Covid is far greater than minuscule potential harm from the AZ vaccine. If help is needed, it’s available from your GP and Service NSW. Let’s do our bit to contain this virus.
A message from Dai Le, Fairfield councillor
We are resilient and we will get through this. Many of us have been through the worst adversities, especially those of us who escaped war-torn countries, survived authoritarian regimes, and treacherous sea journeys in search of freedom. We have rebuilt our lives in this great country. Let us all work together to keep ourselves and our family protected against Covid. You must remember, it is not your fault. And do not feel ashamed if you have Covid. It’s a virus.
A message from Jihad Dib, Lakemba state MP
There’s a unique spirit of community, hard work, family and friendship in the western suburbs. We face our challenges with resilience, generosity and compassion. Today’s challenge calls for us to be our very best and, like always, to never give up. These are the times to look out for one another, to follow health advice and to get vaccinated. It’s tough, many have lost their jobs, we miss our families, friends, neighbours and colleagues. Our families will reunite, our business will reopen and our community will flourish once more. We will get through this journey together, it’s our only way. The key is in our hands, together.
A message from Yvonne Weldon, Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council chair and first Indigenous Lord Mayoral candidate
We all are being challenged in ways that can affect our social and emotional wellbeing. This land tells the lived history of the resilience of my people, for more than 60,000 years, and sharing is our way of life. Please know people are available to help. Please reach out if you feel isolated. Please get tested and protect yourself, others and all of us by having the vaccination that is right for you. Stop the spread by limiting your exposure. Stay safe and stay connected. You’re not alone, seek help if you are struggling.
A message from Kun Huang, Cumberland councillor
This lockdown has been tough for everyone. Like you, my family and I also want our lives to go back to normal.
But for that to happen, we all need to do three simple things. Follow the public health orders by restricting our movements to essential activities and not visiting any friends or family. If you feel unwell or show any Covid-19 symptoms, get tested. And, most importantly, get vaccinated. This is how we will keep our community and our families safe, and how we will beat this virus. We are all in this together.
A message from Ahmad Akbrari, president of the Persian Library
Many of us may not be happy about the imposed restrictions, because we cannot see those who are dear to us. But this is a temporary situation. By all of us following the safety measures and with more people getting vaccinated, these restrictions will be lifted and once again we would be able to do what we like to do. I urge all Persian-speaking people in Australia to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as they can.
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