Coronavirus: Boarders in race to get over border

NT parents are rushing to get kids home from boarding school in SA in a bid to be reunited in time for the holiday period.

Northern Territory parents are rushing to get kids home from boarding school in South Australia in a bid to be reunited in time for the holiday period and avoid paying thousands in quarantine fees.

Declaring SA a coronavirus hotspot on Monday after the state recorded 17 new cases, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said arrivals from SA would have the $2500 fee for the 14-day stint in a quarantine facility waived if they arrived on Monday or Tuesday.

Ricky Archer’s 13-year-old twins, Erica and Isiah, have already completed quarantine three times travelling to and from Scotch College in Adelaide and home in Darwin this year.

On Monday, Mr Archer booked the twins a flight home on Tuesday. “Pretty shocking given we were just planning for the end of break and them coming back here for holidays,” he said.

“But it’s one thing we have sort of been prepared for this year, it’s not new to them.”

Getting the NT boarders back to school in late April involved a coalition of determined parents hiring charter planes and driving thousands of kilometres, with some help from the NT Cattlemen’s Association, SA police and the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Vanessa Farmer’s three boys were driven 2000km from the Darwin suburb of Larrakeyah to the border near the SA town of Marla, where they were picked up by Scotch College before being driving another 12 hours to school.

“It’s a disaster,” said Ms Farmer on Monday following the NT announcement. “Just for the whole year, it’s been very disruptive.”

Ms Farmer’s 13-year-old twins, Cadel and Ethan, and brother Liam, 14, will fly home on Wednesday.

Scotch principal Dr John Newton said the school was working with each student’s family to ensure they got home safely and were able to complete the school year remotely.