Victorians were unable to celebrate Mother’s Day and they will also miss out on Father’s Day
Victorians in lockdown won’t see their dads on Father’s Day thanks to the Premier’s coronavirus crisis mismanagement. But there’s one thing to look forward to, writes Sophie Elsworth.
Opinion
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COMMENT: Locked-up Victorians will be denied the right to visit their dads on Father’s Day next weekend.
Back in May, Premier Daniel Andrews stopped Victorians from visiting their mum on Mother’s Day, despite it being OK to do so just a couple of days later.
It was a nasty decision that was unnecessary.
The Premier said at the time, “I know we all just want to give our mum a hug”.
Yes, we most certainly did but we couldn’t.
For Australians around the rest of the country, they were able to spend the day with their mum but not Victorians.
Instead under Lockdown 1.0 we suffered the toughest rules in the country.
The State Government was more focused on making sure ridiculous rules such as banning fishing and golf were enforced.
This was all happening at the same time the state’s hotel quarantine disaster was unfolding.
Clearly the focus of those in charge was well off the mark.
Well, now under Dictator Dan’s watch Victorians living in the land of the lockdown will be unable to give their dads a hug on Father’s Day.
This is yet another blow for so many millions of people who have been cooped up in the homes for weeks on end.
We’ve been told over and over again to “do the right thing” and “follow the rules”, yet Victorians have no clue as to what the easing of restrictions will look like when Lockdown 3.0 comes to an end.
Let’s not forget about those hundreds of Victorians who have passed away during this crisis, many of whom are fathers and their shattered families have been left grieving.
For many of us, Father’s Day is a special day to tell our dads how much we love him while spending a lazy Sunday together.
Like so many of us who have been unable to visit family members for months, I look forward to the ring of steel around Melbourne coming down soon so I can visit my Dad at my parent’s farm in central Victoria.
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But given that won’t be happening for a while, this Father’s Day it’s a present and a card via snail mail and a phone call on the day.
As they say, it’s the thought that counts.
If there’s one thing this never-ending lockdown has made me realise it’s that those things we took for granted that are worth so much, i.e. our freedom.
Giving dad a hug on Father’s Day will be forbidden but, when Victorians do get to finally see their dads, it’s likely to be extra special.