Australia Day 2022

Today, Australian Day, commemorates the day in 1788 when the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) to establish a British convict colony.
As the years have gone on, the actual date of celebration has become more controversial.
Most Indigenous Australians feel that it celebrates invasion and should be changed to a new date with a different name.

More and more non indigenous Australians are agreeing with them.

We haven’t taken part in any activities for decades and support the cause of the First Nations people.

But for now the status quo will be maintained. There is no political will to make a change.

As one prominent social commentator says “ God, the Australia Day “debate” is tedious. Around and around it goes, same-old-same-old every year.”

COVID-19 / Australia / Two Years On

Two years ago today the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Australia.

Back then it wasn’t called that yet.

We had heard about a scary-sounding virus circulating in Wuhan, as the news filtered through that the entire Chinese city was in lockdown.

By the end of that day, we would have our first case, a man in his 50s who had spent time in the city and flown back to Melbourne from Guangzhou six days beforehand.

Two years, 2.29  million cases and more than 3,200 deaths later, here we are.

Since “reopening,” mid December, the country, except for Western Australia which continued restrictions, has experienced a avalanche of cases.

Because case numbers are basically irrelevant now due to changes in test reporting ie. a combination of government PCR and self administered RAT, we have to rely on hospitalisation, ICU, ventilator and, unfortunately, death numbers to assess the current situation.

The number of people hospitalised with Covid-19 in New South Wales (NSW) has now reached an all-time high, dashing hope that those numbers were already on the decline following several hopeful days of numbers.

There are an additional 127 people in hospital with Covid-19 in NSW today, bringing the total to 2,943. However, there are now 183 people in the ICU, a decrease of 13.

Total deaths to date (Tdtd):1139

Victoria has also seen a jump in hospitalisation numbers, with 1,057 now in Covid wards, up from 998 yesterday. There are now 119 in ICU, which remains stable.

Tdtd: 1836

Queensland has confirmed 928 in hospital, 51 in ICU.

Tdtd: 129

In Tasmania, 35 people are in hospital, 3 requiring intensive care.

Tdtd: 16

There are now 67 people in hospital in the ACT, including 3 in the ICU.

Tdtd: 25

In South Australia there are 287 people being treated in hospital, including 32 in ICU and 5 requiring ventilation.

Tdtd: 74

In out state of NSW, the government  quickly saw that complete withdrawal of restrictions was folly after a week and reinstated some.

All too late it seems.

However they will extend current restrictions for another month as the state continues to take a ‘measured response’ (their words) to managing COVID-19 with a focus on a safe return to school and restarting non-elective surgery as soon as possible.

The restrictions rolled over include density limits of two square metres, wearing face masks indoors, no singing and dancing in hospitality.

To say it’s a mess is an understatement.

Experts are predicting a fall in cases next month as omicron runs its course.

We shall see.

Source: Guardian Australia

Wollemi Pine Update

Over the years I have posted about our Wollemi Pine, one in 2007 and the other in 2017.

This year, for the first time, it has flowered.

Because it is monoecious both male and female reproductive cones are on the same tree.

These cones appear at the end of branches, the female cone always growing above the male.

But it’s pretty obvious which is which.

During our bushfires the lower trunk received quite a scorching and it didn’t look well for a few months.

But with a little TLC it’s come back better than ever with luxurious growth emanating from the burnt area.

No wonder this species has survived 200 million years.

COVID-19 / Australia/ 8th January Update

Officially 250,000 covid cases were reported in Australia since the beginning of the pandemic up until 19th December.
Restrictions were dropped in most states on or around 15th December.
16 days later we hit half a million cases!
More than 38% of those tested in the latest reporting period have returned positive results for the virus.
However official case numbers increasingly become less representative of state and territory’s infection rates after the national cabinet agreed to remove the requirement for PCR testing to reduce the pressure on testing stations and analysis laboratories.

Instead people were encouraged to use self antigen testing ie. if you could find a kit or afford the price gouged cost. Extreme shortages apply.
Yet another government failure!
There has been no way to register a positive rapid antigen test with health authorities, meaning those infections weren’t included in daily case numbers.
Now, well after the horse has bolted, positive antigen test results may be mandated via a government app like the state of Victoria has just introduced.
How this will be enforced is anyone’s guess.
But really, with the whole situation virtually out of control, the only figures that matter, to keep things in perspective, are hospitalisation, ICU and ventilator numbers.

Nothing positive can be said about the governments who have completely abandoned the health of the community in favour of the economy, especially after two years of sacrifice by the population in an effort to keep things under control.
At home, have finally had the first positive contact report in our valley in the 2 years.
Of course we are triple vaxed (not that that seems to be a 100% panacea against omicron) and are self isolating.
Experts are saying this ‘wave’ has two months to run.
We’ll see about that.

2021 / The Year That Was

Normally at this time of year, I look back on our year as well as significant local and international events.
Last year I did a bit of a photo essay.
But this year?
Not much to report on a year dominated by Covid, other than maybe the attempted January 6th coup in the USA.

Restrictions and lock downs were the name of the game in Australia.
Our biggest trip was to Wollongong, two hours north, for me to have a nose operation (skin cancer) in day surgery. In and out within four hours.
But we milked it a bit staying 3 days, in a nice hotel, for some cafe and restaurant R&R.

Other than Covid there was a minor mouse plague for us which we got on top of quickly. Farmers out west weren’t so lucky. A knock on affect was levees collapsing during recent floods due to mice burrowing into the banks.

But generally we stayed home, went on a few local shopping expeditions, ordered a new car (not yet delivered due to serious supply situation) and got the property looking as best it’s looked for years involving weed eradication, fence repairs/renewals and a complete revamp of the cattle yards.
Now we are in the middle of a severe covid outbreak since the state government, supported by the Feds, decided a ‘let ‘er rip’ policy was in the best interest for the economy and business.
Screw the general population it seems!
So far that policy has somewhat backfired and ‘they’ are all running for cover, not accepting any responsibility and blaming others.

How this will end is anyone’s guess. Hopefully with around 95% of the 16+ population double vaxed and boosters readily available, it will not turn into a major health disaster.
So we head into 2022 with just as much apprehension as we did last year.
New Year’s wishes to all my readers and, above all, stay safe.