NSW bride’s fury over ‘dumb’ Covid restriction

A “devastated” NSW bride has lashed out at a “ridiculous” wedding rule most aren’t aware of, keeping her separated from loved ones.

Streets are filled with people, restaurants are booked out until next year – and you can even go clubbing again.

But as life returns to a pre-Delta normal with heaps of new freedoms in NSW, there’s a part of the state that feels like its stuck in a constant state of groundhog day.

The border towns that neighbour Queensland have been unable to return to normal due to Queensland’s strict border rules, as bride-to-be Jessy Marshall knows all too well.

She’s due to walk down the aisle on Saturday in northern NSW, a moment she believed wouldn’t happen due to the Covid crisis in Australia earlier this year.

After months on edge, slashing her guest list and cancelling her hens party – the 32-year-old is thrilled to be marrying partner Michael Puhle.

However, Jessy said the moment was “bitter sweet” as her best friend Emma, who lives just 700m away in Tugan, QLD, is unable to attend.

A bride-to-be from a NSW/QLD border town has aired her fury at ‘ridiculous’ never ending Covid restrictions keeping her apart from loved ones. Picture: Supplied/Jessy Marshall

While they can sit at the border together, neither can “cross” unless for an essential reason such as work, caregiving or to seek medical care.

“It seems bizarre that you can sit and have a picnic spend as long as you want with one another at the border but can’t just cross,” Jessy told news.com.au.

“Last year the border bubble was in play and that made more sense than the current restrictions which don’t seem logical.”

The bride-to-be – who lives in Sydney but has returned to her family home in Kingscliff, NSW, for her wedding – stressed there were others in “worse situations”.

But after nearly two years living with restrictions, she was finding it tough.

“This far into the pandemic the fact the rules haven’t changed feels like we were acting like different countries,” she said.

“There are so many businesses owners who operate on the border who are still being badly affected because they rely on their local community which is across both states.

“I can only imagine how many others have been effected by this ridiculous rule.”

Jessy is marrying her long-time partner on Saturday without her best friend by her side. Picture: Supplied/Jessy Marshall

It’s this frustration – particularly as communities in Queensland and NSW who aren’t on borders are functioning relatively normally – that prompted Jessy to speak out on social media.

“Besties who meet on the border @emmy_victoria01,” she captioned a snap of them sat on the orange barricade.

“I never would have thought I’d celebrate my wedding without you but our friend Anna [Annastacia Palaszczuk] had other ideas.

“For those that don’t know, this is the QLD and NSW border. We can meet, have a picnic & sit for several hours but we can’t “cross” & celebrate a wedding either side of the border”.

Jessy finished her post by asking: “Confused? Me too!”

The best friends are heartbroken to still be apart this far into the pandemic. Picture: Supplied/Jessy Marshall

The post clearly resonated, with many describing the rule as “dumb” and “infuriating”.

“It more than confuses me,” one said, while another wrote: “It’s crazy isn’t it.”

On Tuesday, NSW recorded 222 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, while QLD recorded just one.

Queensland restrictions at weddings state there needs to be 2sq m per person, capping guests at 200 while NSW ceremonies have the same – one person per 2sq m with no cap providing everyone is fully vaccinated.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s plans to reopen the sunshine state depend on when residents hit its 70 and 80 per cent vaccine milestones.

The bride-to-be’s plight has resonated with many who labelled it ‘dumb’ and ‘crazy’. Picture: Supplied/Jessy Marshall

“I’m devastated Emma can’t be there and I know heaps of people are in the same situation if not worse situations to me,” Jessy said.

“I missed her wedding in September due to being in the Sydney lockdown and not able to travel beyond 5kms.

“But I never thought that the border issues would continue this far into the year especially for border residents.

“I know we aren’t the only ones in this situation but it definitely has been mentally straining. These are life moments where you should be together and able to celebrate.

“We’ll never get these moments back.”

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