Lorne in Lockdown. Mostly good news, but…

Our ongoing Covid19 experience has done much to amplify the edges of our individual and collective personalities… many for the good, but also some fraying at the edges of the poor and disappointing. 

The last few weeks have seen many uplifting examples of ‘the good’ in our town. The Covid19 Support Plan Committee has continued to expand the edges of its outreach program to support and assist those less advantaged in our community. Some 72 seasonal workers, along with some local families who have been severely stressed, have received free or subsidised housing, warm winter clothing, fresh and frozen food parcels, income and other supports as local employment through restaurants, shops and the other usual places of employment and enjoyment have closed – if only, we all fervently hope, for most, temporarily. Visa support has been organised, along with vaccinations, and healthcare interventions for both acute illness, chronic care, and medication access. Seminars have been held to assist with these and other issues – especially business recovery and what the future may look like when we emerge, both locally and nationally, from the Covid-cloud. 

Further, a recovery plan is now well advanced, ensuring as best as possible that Lorne is well placed and well-prepared to entice travellers with a satisfying and holistic vacation experience. These have been but a few of the examples of ‘the good things’ that this community has achieved as it has pulled together. Lorne, you can be rightly proud of yourselves and of your town.

True, frustrations – even occasional anger – have bubbled to the surface now and again in the social media… but, for the most part, our town has set a cohesive and civil example to this beautiful part of the world. 

The lockdown has kept most of us carefully apart unless forays for food, work, or exercise have been demanded, and our town folk have been unfailingly respectful, courteous, and thoughtful of others when venturing out. It has been natural to champ at the bit while awaiting the relaxation of the lockdown regulations advice, but the town has shown remarkable solidarity with state and national restrictions. Thus, it was with some trepidation that on the very weekend when our in-home isolation was marginally relaxed … the sun also came out, the air perceptibly warmed, and the sea shimmered.

Where did they all come from? It was as if a great ‘don’t travel’ weight had been lifted from the community at large. Despite the fact that pubs, cafés, and restaurants were still effectively closed, and social distancing was still clearly advised and in force, people were definitely out and about. Families picnicked, kids kicked footballs, the beach was busy, the street even busier … it was almost as if nothing had happened! 

Indeed, it was – at first sight – thrilling to see for a town so dependent on domestic tourism, despite that far too many seemed to be giving little thought, and even less adherence, to the ongoing sensible social distancing advice.

To be fair, this ‘opening up’ has been exactly what we have been longing for, pining for, and wanting. It was wonderful to see some activity around the town again… but, as I noted at the start, this Covid19 ‘experience’ has unearthed some very disappointing traits in human nature.  Sadly, ‘good’ is often followed by ‘bad’ and ‘ugly’. For, when the crowds left, one thing did not leave with them – their rubbish! 

Looking around at two-month-long pristine foreshore – once again frequented by kangaroo and koala – it was enough to make one weep. The mess! … so disappointing! … so thoughtless! … so disrespectful! … and so very unnecessary. People, perhaps forgetting themselves in their exuberance to be ‘free’, simply trashed the town.

Why is it so hard to take one’s rubbish home at the end of happy day? Why do people leave toilet paper scattered on the floor in toilet blocks when it could be so easily dropped into the toilet? If a rubbish bin is quite obviously full, why is it so hard to simply bag the excess rubbish, take it home, and put it in the bin at home? I cannot believe that these same thoughtless people are surrounded at home by a sea of scattered food scraps, used tissues, soft drink containers, and toilet paper on their kitchen and bathroom floors. 

As we slowly emerge from the most difficult health-related threat to our way of life in a century, how can it be that the clear bedfellows of cleanliness and health have so rapidly dissipated. Indeed, it was almost worse that the worst times pre-Covid19.

It is easy for us to say… “it’s up to the Shire or GORCC”… or “what is the Shire and GORCC doing about this?” … but let’s be fair – both agencies did their best to clean up over the next 24 hours, but they cannot police each bin on every day.  So … are there more imaginative ways to solve a perennial problem?

Dog-poo rolls are now placed at all (or most) access steps onto dog-walking beaches – and most do use, or try to use, them. Perhaps bigger bin bag holders might be placed at the primary human trash problem sites. Yes, it would cost a bit, but perhaps no more than the OH&S costs our garbage collectors face. Perhaps a sign at each bin “If this bin is full, please use the bags provided, and take your rubbish home” … despite that I regret suggesting more signage. Perhaps food outlets could be encouraged (and subsidised) to offer ‘trash bags’ with food purchases, and a polite reminder from the counter staff at the point of purchase to ‘please take your trash home at the end of the day’. Perhaps (yet another) sign at the town entry point could remind visitors to take their trash home. 

Perhaps … perhaps … but before it gets away from us, let’s proactively seek solutions. Let’s try to emerge from Covid19 with a new sensitivity and pride in the coast we so love.

John Agar