‘I just want to say thank you’: Evacuated mother
AUSTRALIANS evacuated to Darwin from China shared their experience and gratitude at being quarantined in the Territory.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AUSTRALIANS repatriated to Darwin from Wuhan, China, were close to tears as reflected on the end of their quarantine at Howard Springs.
On February 9, 266 people were evacuated to the former Howard Springs Inpex workers’ camp, about 30km south of Darwin, to be quarantined for 14-days.
Today they began their journey home, to be flown for free back to their home states by Qantas.
Victorians Brian Leong and Zilong Long said they missed having control of their lives.
“For me it was the mentality of security and control,” Mr Leong said,
“You lose a lot of that when you’re under quarantine. Having that freedom will be really reassuring.
“Work’s given me a few days off, so (I’ll) definitely have a drink, eat some good food – not that the food here has been that bad – but yeah, go shopping, do things that I expected to do on a holiday.”
“If I didn’t take this flight, I didn’t know when I could get back to my home,” Mr Long said.
“I’m missing my home.”
They were thankful for the Australian Medical Assistance Teams’ (AUSMAT) assistance and to the Northern Territory.
“I’m relieved more than anything but also really grateful and thankful for all the people involved,” Mr Leong said.
“AUSMAT, Border Force, the ADF, DFAT, the people of Darwin as well, really thankful for that.”
They hoped to return to Darwin under better circumstances.
“Even Christmas Island, seeing the migration of those crabs was probably a good reason to go there as well,” Mr Leong said.
“My son is only one-year-old and when he grows up I will bring him back here and say when you were one-year-old we stayed here for 14 days,” Mr Long said.
“This is very special for us.”
Amazing NT News subscription offer: Only $1 for first 28 days
Felicity He, 13, said her family were thrilled to return to Sydney.
“I’m really excited cause I actually really want to sleep in my own bed, in my room and my family wants to but we really did like to stay here,” she said.
“The food was really, really good and the rooms, they were really good as well. We had airconditioning and a little refrigerator so it was really refreshing to go from outside to inside.
“I really liked doing the activities AUSMAT prepared for us.”
While they were concerned for their health, mum Tina Tao said AUSMAT staff eased their worries.
“We was worried about getting some cough infection during the travelling between China and Australia but they looked after us and gave us confidence they will protect us,’ she said.
“(It was) such a special experience.”
Shanshan Li was close to tears as she thanked health authorities.
“Before we came here we felt uncertain, we didn’t know what’s going on until once we met the first group of people we just felt very relaxed,” she said.
“We get really, really good care from them and they took very good care of the kids.
“I just want to say thank you.”
New Darwin apartments planned amid bloodbath for NT developers
The developer behind what could be just the second high-density residential tower in Darwin’s inner suburbs in the last seven years has given insight into the pressure developers are under to make a buck in the current landscape.
Replay: PINT v Tiwi Bombers, NTFL Men’s Round 2
The Tiwi Bombers will be a threat to any NTFL side this season after blasting by a gutsy PINT in a match where a former AFL star lit up the field. Watch the replay.