Kissing goodbye to 2020 any way we can
Sydney Harbour‘s foreshore was empty save for a few determined souls who defied the rain and clouds to kiss goodbye to 2020 | WATCH THE FIREWORKS
Sydney Harbour‘s foreshore was empty save for a few determined souls who defied the rain and clouds to kiss goodbye to 2020.
The million-plus people who in past years fanned out from Circular Quay to ring in the new year on the waterfront instead watched the world famous fireworks show on television from home, or from restaurants or pubs, keeping their COVID-safe distance.
David Fair and Ally He braved the weather and navigated COVID restrictions to watch the show on Sydney Harbour in the yacht he just finished sailing around the world. They kissed in the shadow of the Opera House and the bridge.
Elsewhere around the country the skies were largely silent as 2021 arrived, the fireworks long cancelled — along with kissing in Victoria — under a raft of COVID restrictions. There were parties of varying sizes in homes and pubs and restaurants as Australians celebrated the end of a year that would have beggared belief had anyone predicted it.
There was optimism too about the prospect of better things to come. Dean Cropp, whose Sydney Harbour boat hire company Barefoot Charters uncharacteristically did not have a single New Year’s Eve booking until Wednesday night, was looking ahead.
“I can’t wait to see the back of 2020. Let’s hope for fair winds and following seas in 2021,” he said.
After a rough year for Victorians, Daisy Coote and daughter Cressida, 5, were enjoying a new year’s holiday at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
Back in their home state, New Year’s Eve parties across Melbourne were slashed in size for the countdown with fresh restrictions on Thursday halving the number of guests allowed at home from 30 to 15. The new restrictions also required people to wear a mask indoors unless they were in their own home, or eating or drinking.
Melbourne‘s annual fireworks display was cancelled early on. The fireworks usually attract about 450,000 to the CBD but Melbourne instead attempted to control numbers with people booking for restaurants and bars.
Police Minister Lisa Neville urged revellers to only go to the CBD if they had a booking, with the precaution aimed at easing future contracting.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said people would not be fined mor face police action if they went into the CBD but urged them to use common sense.
“Do not go out and celebrate New Year’s Eve if you have symptoms, because it is only going to contribute to the spread of the virus.’’
The state government had also told people to restrain their exuberance over the end of 2020 and save their New Year hugs and kisses for immediate family. Partiers were also told to carry hand sanitiser and not share drinks.
While fireworks are off the cards in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast, revellers clamoured to the forecourt of the capital city’s serpentine river and into pubs and clubs to dance their way into the new year.
Queensland Police were out in force in Brisbane’s CBD, Southbank precinct and party hub of Fortitude Valley.
Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young has urged revellers to keep kissing and cuddling to a minimum and to keep celebrations within their close group of friends. While authorities won’t enforce the request, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd asked people to do the right thing. “It‘s about communication, it’s about compassion and it’s about compliance,” he said.
In the economic engine room of the nation, the Pilbara, where record iron ore prices and huge exports are helping to drive recovery, mine workers and their families were on Thursday night filing into the North West Brewing Co for live music and beers. Pub manager Mark Winters is proud the venue has avoided the cliche of the rough and sometimes-violent northwest pub. This was partly because it did not serve spirits but also because it installed a fenced children’s playground in the middle of the beer garden. Mr Winters said Pilbara people tended to start work at 5am, even on public holidays, so nobody would be hanging around to see in the new year.
“They will watch their kids on the monkey bars and they will all be home by 9.30pm,” he said.
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