Tough times made tougher as more restrictions loom

It’s been a tough and somewhat lonely few months of social isolation for Nar Nar Goon’s Travis and Kylie Hamilton.

Travis and Kylie Hamilton at home in Nar Nar Goon with children Pippa-May, 4, Jack, 15, Brodie, 13, and Jetta, 5. Picture: Paul Jeffers

It’s been a tough and somewhat lonely few months of social isolation for Nar Nar Goon’s Travis and Kylie Hamilton, as they juggled full-time jobs with overseeing remote learning for their four children.

So this weekend was shaping up to be quite special.

“We were all looking at heading to Mum’s place — she was having the whole family over to christen the new BBQ area she had put in,” Mr Hamilton said.

“Looks like that’s been put to the wayside.

“We’ve got quite a few family aged over 70 so obviously they are higher risk of COVID-19.”

Mr Hamilton said the family was feeling “a bit long in the tooth” and the prospect of further restrictions was weighing on their minds, given they reside in the municipality of Cardinia, one of Victoria’s six designated hotspots.

The 43-year-old said he couldn’t help but feel some consternation over the Black Lives Matters protests going ahead last month, drawing a crowd of 30,000 people into the city.

He said the mass gathering had sent a message to the community that certain social-distancing behaviours could be relaxed.

“From the family’s point of view, we’ve done so much over the past few months, turned our lives upside down,” he said. “And then to have those protests.

“Really, what did they think was going to happen?”

Mr Hamilton said when restrictions first came in, he was happy to do the right thing, not just for his own family but by the broader community, including the Pakenham Football Club, of which he is president.

Not seeing family, including much-loved grandparents who would previously help out with babysitting, has been difficult. As has keeping the children, aged four to 15, on track with their schooling and entertained.

“Keeping them locked up for so long was one of the hardest parts — they all love their sport and the social side of it, too.

“But we accepted it. Everyone followed the rules very well and everyone understood that there was a very good reason behind it all.”

The municipality has had 23 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which six are currently active. Residents have been urged to stay at home and to not leave the local area if it can be avoided.