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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-05-13 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (15:48): The pages of Hansard capture the state's history. It is our state's storybook. From the first words spoken in the Old Chamber to the words I will share in this address, Hansard is one of the most incredibly powerful tools to capture how our state has evolved and adapted. Many of the state's most significant moments have been captured by the fast-moving fingertips of Hansard—the good and the bad.

The words of the Premiers that have come and gone are all recorded in the pages of our state's storybook, but there are some stories missing: the stories of those who do not shout from the rooftops about the work they are doing in our community, especially in times of need. They are simple acts of kindness, but they are the stories that will offer a glimpse into how South Australians were able to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic when we were literally forced to stop our lives as we knew it overnight.

Generations to come will hear the stories, stories that will sound like a Hollywood movie, of when Australia was cut off from the rest of the world, of when our state borders were closed and the jet streams of international planes no longer left paths in our skies, of when schools were closed and finding toilet paper became our country's new national sport.

Every South Australian has been confronted with the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak. Business owners have lost a lifetime of work overnight. Our unemployment rate is now 6.2 per cent, the worst in the nation, and nationally, because of coronavirus, almost one million people have lost their job. Many people are having to join Centrelink lines for the first time, and the sight of those never-ending cues is one that many South Australians, if not all, will ever forget. Four hundred and thirty-nine South Australians have contracted COVID-19 and, tragically, four lives have been cut short. To their families and loved ones, my thoughts are with you.

In amongst the heartache there have been stories of the community's willingness to adapt, connect and help others, stories that will be an important chapter in our state's storybook. Since social distancing commenced my office has made over 7,000 phone calls into the community, calls that have given people the opportunity to share what so many of us have experienced, the willingness to back a local, to help a neighbour and to support those in our community who are most vulnerable. I do not have time today to share all of these incredible stories, but these are a few to add to our state's storybook.

There is that of Omar, from Adelaide, who despite having a young, restless and now homebound family has been a friendly face in his neighbourhood and who has been regularly checking in on and helping his neighbours whenever he can without even thinking twice. When asked about it, Omar simply stated that, 'Helping out is just the right thing to do.' Jasmin from North Adelaide has also been regularly checking in on her neighbours and helping them by buying and dropping off food and other essential items.

Yolande from Menindee Gardens shared with us how coronavirus in some ways has actually brought her local community closer, as she now feels more socially connected. Whenever Yolande goes for a walk around her neighbourhood she is now greeted by warm smiles and friendly conversations—of course from afar. She has also been helping out her neighbours when they have not been able to get to the shops, and so have her neighbours been helping her in return.

Closer to my home, my neighbour Matt became the saviour of many families during the extended school holidays. Every day Matt would shed a little bit of magic into the homes of the Gilles Street Primary School community when he would read Harry Potter via Zoom. Yes, this was loved by the Gilles Street kids but not as much as it was loved by their parents. It gave a much-needed one hour to many parents to answer calls and work on endless emails. So thank you, Matt.

Then there are the stories of those who usually dedicate their time to help out others but due to coronavirus have had to self-isolate, people like Max, who is a regular volunteer at Meals on Wheels, people who have had to look after themselves though they would rather be helping and looking after others.

There are countless stories of businesses that have adapted and changed to help the community, places like Shobosho, a restaurant on Leigh St, Adelaide, that has been creating pre-packaged, convenient meals for our healthcare workers. While this has been a strange and uncertain period in our state and indeed in the entire world, it is these stories of the kindness of the stranger, the neighbour and the friends that have proved—

Time expired.

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