NewsBite

OPINION

The Victorian lockdown 2.0 is taking it’s toll but it’s the small things that count

Victorians are battling their way through lockdown 2.0 but it’s those simple things in life that only now many of us are starting to appreciate, writes Sophie Elsworth.

Who could really go for a haircut right now? Picture: David Caird
Who could really go for a haircut right now? Picture: David Caird

OPINION: They often say it’s the little things in life that matter the most.

And that couldn’t be more true than now.

While Victorians are in the thick of what feels like the never-ending lockdown 2.0, many of us have been restricted from doing the things we know and love.

Basic human rights such as our freedom have been diminished.

Who would have thought Melburnians would have a curfew on them to be home and tucked up in bed by 8pm thanks to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ ever-changing rule book?

The things undoubtedly many of us take for granted have been taken away.

An empty Degraves Street. Picture: Getty
An empty Degraves Street. Picture: Getty

Seeing family and friends, going out for a meal, making a weekend trip to Bunnings, playing sport, taking the kids to the playground, going to a friend’s wedding or having after-work drinks.

Even getting an education or seeing our workmates.

Doing these simple things seems like a pipe dream.

But I did have a little luck on my side last week regarding one of those small things.

I managed to book in a haircut before hairdressers were forced to slam shut their doors for the next six weeks.

Man in his 30s among 12 new Victorian virus deaths

It’s one of the small luxuries I really look forward to every few months.

Shutting down hairdressers will undoubtedly make many people feel worse than they already do.

Getting your do done is an easy way to make you feel a million bucks.

Not many things beat a short, back and sides for the blokes and a cut and blow wave for the ladies.

Even such simple things such as having the lawn mowed have been banned.

The reasoning behind this seems crazy – how could someone possibly be a risk to another person while outside, trimming grass.

Good play to those who got in before the lockdown. Picture: David Caird
Good play to those who got in before the lockdown. Picture: David Caird

I feel most for older Australians or those people who rely on someone else to cut their lawns because they cannot.

They’ll have to deal looking out the window of their homes at scruffy crops of grass until at least September 13.

Too many times I’ve been told to make the most of things and that hasn’t seemed to make as much sense as it does now.

While many of us are locked up at home, there's one thing that we can’t be stopped from doing.

That’s picking up the phone and speaking to those you are special to you.

I haven’t been able to see my parents who live in central Victoria for months and I’m not alone.

It will be extra special the next time I do get to see them, when hopefully the state gets this virus under control so we can all get on with it.

sophie.elsworth@news.com.au

@sophieelsworth

Sophie Elsworth
Sophie ElsworthEurope Correspondent

Sophie is Europe correspondent for News Corporation Australia and began reporting from Europe in November 2024. Her role includes covering all the big issues in Europe reporting for titles including The Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, daily and Sunday Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail and Brisbane's Sunday Mail and Adelaide's The Advertiser and Sunday Mail as well as regional and community brands. She has worked at numerous News Corp publications throughout her career and was media writer at The Australian, based in Melbourne, for four years before moving to the UK. She has also worked as a reporter at the Herald Sun in Melbourne, The Advertiser in Adelaide and The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast. Sophie regularly appears on TV and is a Sky News Australia contributor appearing on primetime programs including Credlin and The Kenny Report, a role she continues while in Europe. She graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees and grew up on a sheep farm in central Victoria.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/the-victorian-lockdown-20-is-taking-its-toll-but-its-the-small-things-that-count/news-story/b5a29ee4a62c210c260fa88ea6e8e342