Businesses are doing it tough in the Manning. Some say it's the quietest they have seen in five years - and that five years would include one of the worst droughts in living memory, followed by a bushfire season like no other, a world-wide pandemic and a record-breaking flood.
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Since the COVID restrictions eased a fortnight ago, allowing greater freedom for those of us double-vaxxed, the reality for businesses is people are staying away, whether because they are not (fully) vaccinated or they fear the virus which is bubbling through our community.
For the past 18 months COVID has been kept at arm's length from our valley. Apart from a few cases in returning travellers such as those aboard the Ruby Princess, we have remained relatively COVID free. Now new cases are popping up daily and the last report identified the virus is sewage across the MidCoast local government area, including Forster, Hallidays Point, Harrington, Hawks Nest, Old Bar, Taree and Wingham. In the past week we have seen several schools closed briefly for a deep clean and testing rates, thankfully, have increased significantly.
Vaccination is our way out of this. Times journalist Mick McDonald reminded us this week that vaccines have been part of our life for a long time - and the lives they have saved cannot be counted. Remember that pink syrup we took back in primary school that protected us from polio. We routinely roll up our sleeve for tetanus boosters, vaccination against whooping cough is necessary for anyone in close contact with babies and children, and there are many countries where you cannot step off the plane unless you can prove you have had your shots.
On a personal note, yesterday (Friday October 29) marked World Teachers Day, so my call-out is to my old primary school English teacher, Mr McLaughlin for the afternoons spent in his class listening to Peer Gynt and The Hall of the Mountain King. While we looked at it as a great reprieve from spelling tests and comprehension, what we didn't realise was he was giving us an appreciation of classical music, certainly my first taste of classical music.
Toni Bell
Editor