‘I’m a little bit hyper, I’m a bit excited’: Melburnians ecstatic to be back in the Territory quarantine-free

EMOTIONS were running high among friends and families as the first planes from Melbourne touched down in Darwin

The first flights direct from Melbourne in months have touched down in Darwin after restrictions on quarantine were relaxed at midday. Picture: Che Chorley

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FRIENDS and families were reunited with their loved ones, many for the first time in a year, as the first planes from Melbourne touched down in Darwin on Monday.

Greater Melbourne was revoked as a hot spot on Monday, months after the Northern Territory declared all interstate arrivals had to quarantine in March. Borders were expected to reopen in July but Victoria went into its second COVID-19 wave.

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The hot spot revocation marked the end of the last hot spot for the NT.

It was the first time Ace Hardy saw his grandchildren Angus and Henry in person since last Christmas.

“We both live in different states, I’m in Victoria and he’s (my son) up here so it’s been an enforced one for a few months now,” he said.

Mr Hardy planned to spend a week of quality time with his grandsons. “Just a bit of crawling around on the floor,” he laughed.

The first flights direct from Melbourne in months have touched down in Darwin after restrictions on quarantine were relaxed at midday. Ace Hardy meets his grandkids for the first time since Christmas 2019. Picture: Che Chorley

The first flights direct from Melbourne in months have touched down in Darwin after restrictions on quarantine were relaxed at midday. Longtime friends catch up for the first time in 2020. Sue Moffitt, Ken Moffitt, Helen Bugno and Vin Bugno. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Hardy’s son Ed said the family, especially his sons, were thrilled to see his

beloved father.

“It was always going to be a matter of time but just seeing him just elevated the emotion a bit,” he said.

“(Henry) has been running amok all day and all week.”

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Former Territorians Helen and Vin Bugno were also ecstatic to be back on NT soil after visiting last November.

“We had two holidays booked this year and both of them were cancelled,” she said.

“I’m a little bit hyper, I’m a bit excited … we’ve been missing everybody so much so we’re grateful to be back.”

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