“Happy Christmas” – ending a not so happy year.

Perhaps saying 2020 was not such a happy year is somewhat extreme as Coronavirus restrictions applied across the nation, and the effects, were felt everywhere but more harshly in some places than others. We here in Yaraka had the same restrictions in place as Brisbane. One of the more frustrating lists of do’s and don’t’s was the decree that travel was limited to 50 km from home. When your nearest shopping centre to Yaraka is Blackall, a 162 km distance, it caused some creative scenarios for emergency travel.

However, the crackdown on travel, and rules on social distancing, together with all the other requirements, paid off for this region with no cases recorded.  The authorities’ greatest fears of an outbreak happening in these isolated regions was not so much the fact our hospitals were not equipped to handle such a situation but the logistical nightmare of attempting to get large numbers of people to bigger coastal hospitals where treatment could be undertaken.

And then there is Yaraka. If Coronavirus were to hit here our vulnerability based on average age would, in all probability, wipe us out. We felt that our isolation was a net of safety, and in a way, we were advantaged rather than disadvantaged.

The Yaraka Hotel was basically in lock down mode for most of the first half of the year. When the lock down started, Gerry and myself called an executive meeting between ourselves over a cuppa on the front veranda to make plans. The plans we made were that we now had this opportunity to catch up on all the jobs that had been on the ‘to do’ list for a number of years but the busyness of the hotel had prevented them from happening. The longer we talked the longer the list became and we became exhausted thinking about it all. It then dawned on us that we had another alternative to consider – we could take some time off and have a break ourselves!  The executives of the board made a unanimous decision right there and then that a few days rest and recovery programme should commence – immediately. We went home.

When we did get home, we discovered that we were tired – very tired. Does it have something to do with running out of adrenalin? We slept a lot then got into an afternoon habit of stretching out in comfort in front of the goggle box watching Midsummer Murders followed by New tricks followed by Father Brown. The word ‘watching’ is possibly exaggerated as intermittent dozing was frequent and at times it was difficult keeping up with the story lines. The days got extended,  then another extension was granted and – well – nothing got done in the end. However, we did both put on weight and caught up with a lot of sleep!

When the travel restrictions in Queensland were lifted,  we were ready for action as we were both becoming bored with our vegetative lifestyle. And action aplenty it was! The travel restrictions were lifted from midnight on whatever the date was and by the following afternoon we had three caravans arrived from the coast. We’re not sure how they made such good time here, and we didn’t ask!
And from then on it was very busy up till the latter part of November. And it was not just Queenslanders who arrived!  We had some interstaters who had entered Queensland prior to travel closures between the States and were stranded in the Sunshine State! Some of our Victorians friends, who visited Yaraka regularly, were in this position and came to Yaraka bringing friends with them (thanks Graham & Tina). It was lovely that they then used Yaraka as their base as they did further trips around Queensland.
We had six amazing couples help and support us during this period. A very big thank you to Graeme & Joanne, Bill & Carole, John & Jeannie, Steve & Belinda and Mal & Cathy. Without them and their individual styles and inputs in running the show, we would have been lost.

Mal and Cathy, our last helpers for the year, enjoyed their time here so much that they have booked themselves in for the whole of next year!   They were popular with locals and travellers alike and both had a wonderful work ethic. They took so much pressure off us and will do so again next year.

We are expecting a huge boost in numbers of travellers heading for these Outback regions in 2021. A number of visitors this year reminisced that whilst they found themselves here in Yaraka, their plans would have had them in Russia, Greece, Vanuatu, Norway to name just a few, all to be cancelled as a result of Coronavirus.  Many of them commented that the world had changed and they would be spending more time travelling around Australia rather than overseas in the future, appreciating what we have here in our own country.

Caravan and motorhome sales for this year have skyrocketed and confirm this trend for internal travel which gives regional areas like ourselves confidence for the future.
Confidence based on recovery from droughts, and in our case, the return of sheep and the continued support of travellers like yourselves,  with so many of you now bringing friends who have usually hugged the coast, and discovering their ‘outback change’ a delightful experience. Word of mouth will spread and greatly benefit these more remote regions.

Obviously 2021 is going to be an interesting year to say the least. And at my age I’m allowed to be cynical by saying that whilst I hope for the best I’m planning for the worst; and I’m referring here to the Global situation of on-going coronavirus issues; world-wide quantitative easing (let’s print more money); political leadership or lack of; and a country with a delicate name and bulldozer bullying tactics as it strives to dominate the world; and then the new epidemic of ‘my rights’ attitude around the globe where more and more people believe it’s all about them. We seem to live in a highly dysfunctional world and I must cease these comments for ‘health’ reasons!

And the Yaraka township received 30ml of rain recently! It wasn’t widespread unfortunately but we are believing that we could be in for a big wet over the next few months, including areas which are still desperately dry. Bring it on!

In a previous Yaraka.com.au newsletter, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ telling you of the shenanigans happening here in Yaraka had an amazing response . We received so many emails of support that we were overwhelmed and also thank you for your interest. The latest news is that last week we had two Australia Post managing executives visit here to investigate the situation. It is our belief that they found their time here informative, interesting and a contradiction of what they had been told – and believed. Time will tell and we will keep you informed.

We wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas and hope that in 2021 you will come again and share the peace and tranquility of Yaraka with another wilderness experience, in our beautiful region.

Cheers
Chris (and Gerry)