The hard fought freedoms that Victorians enjoy today would not be possible without each and every one of us changing the way we live our lives during 2020.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And while many people might think this has been our annus horribilus, where we are at today is something we should celebrate.
Yesterday's confirmation that Victoria had now endured 28 consecutive days without a new case of COVID-19 being detected is simply astounding, and it's a feat most of thought we would not achieve - certainly not so quickly after such a torrid year.
The other significant factor - there are no cases of COVID-19 being treated in Victoria, should also be acknowledged. While epidemiologists might argue as to whether or not our state has rid itself of the coronavirus, the one indisputable fact is that every single Victoria has contributed to the demise of the virus, on a rising tide of optimism and community spirit.
The none too subtle changes to restrictions that now enable us to walk the street without needing to don a mask unless we need to in order to maintain a safe social distance might not seem like a big deal. But it is.
Having all felt so uncomfortable, constrained and even restricted for much of 2020 when wearing masks, staying at home, in our homes and working from home were par for the course, where we are at today shows how far we have come.
The numbers tell their own story - 20,345 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Victoria, and sadly, 819 deaths. Nationally, there have been more than 27,800 cases and 907 deaths. Terrible yes. But thankfully, we have not experienced anywhere near the case numbers, or fatalities, that have occurred in many other parts of the world.
In a year that has served up so many variables, 2020 has also served up Dan Time, complete with his much talked about black North Face jacket. Iso is now a part of our vocabulary. Hangouts, Zoom and Webex are something most of us do every day.
Verbs may well have become nouns, but Victorians have also become incredibly resilient.
Our struggles with inadequate technology might remain, but we have stayed the course to get to where we are at now. This past fortnight, as Victoria crept closer to the magical 28-days of no new cases, double-doughnuts became a thing.
But this was no sugar hit.
We've reached a new summit, otherwise known as "COVID-normal" in a year that has been anything but. We are still shedding elements of the restrictions that have become part of our daily lives, and will be for a long time yet, but we have cause to acknowledge and celebrate that for now, at least, COVID-19 is more behind us than it is ahead of us, notwithstanding the difficulties associated with recovering from a pandemic-induced recession.
The much talked about ring of steel that once shut Melbourne off from regional Victoria to all but essential travellers might have come down a few weeks ago, but this week was my chance to appreciate one of the best things about that barrier being removed.
We had a birthday in the family, the first since the latest changes to restrictions for everyone in Victoria, and so it was the first chance to catch up with family who have endured restrictions in Melbourne for much of this year in too many months.
The long overdue family celebration was perhaps the best birthday gift of them all.
Sitting around a table of ten, it was the first time probably since Christmas that we'd been together. Most notable was the fact that most of our mobile phones stayed in pockets or handbags, a far cry from I'm sure the same thing most families experience with too many of us spending way too much time on our devices when we really shouldn't.
I couldn't put a price on the conversation and laughter we enjoyed on Tuesday night.
Equally, for all the hardship we've been through this year, knowing that the chances of being able to have those moments way more often certainly helps. Now, we can plan with some cautious optimism, further celebrations, reunions and experiences in 2021 as state borders slowly unravel once more.
If you take nothing more from this year other than wanting to leave it in the past, you're probably letting yourself down. The resilience, community spirit and willingness to take on the challenges that have been constantly thrown at Victorians should not be forgotten.
And those family reunions, when they do happen, become all the more memorable and worthy.