Looking at the definition of a lockdown - Is a restriction policy for people or community to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks to themselves or to others if they can move and interact freely. The term "stay-at-home" or "shelter-in-place" is often used for lockdowns that affect an area, rather than specific locations. The Age on Saturday suggests that in a best case scenario, we will be in an average of 1 in 4 days of lockdown towards the end of this year.
Here we go again – As predicted we are in lockdown and our venue Kooyong Tennis Club is shut. Very frustrating but the resilient nature that we have as a club will keep going, thinking of better days to come. Interestingly, Britain’s experiment of opening when they had a high number of vaccinations doesn’t seem to have shown increased infections and deaths! So maybe we might follow that social experiment in the future?
Marie Curie is quoted as saying “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” The fear we have is that there is a great unknown and we are all part of a social experiment in the world with different nations tackling the same problem in different ways. Unfortunately, all the answers are not in. If you have never heard of an epidemiologist, you do now being constantly bombarded by their reporting on social media. We are all statistics in a way. Just we all don’t want to be a “bad statistic”.
With venues in mind, our Board tried to think of various venues we could go to conduct face to face meetings. David Fallick had organised a pub meal for our Tuesday meeting tomorrow, however the lockdown has brought us back to zoom. I hope to see many smiling faces tomorrow night as we sort out entertainment for us.
A great way to get out of social isolation is to be involved in the Farmer’s Market and Salvo Bread run. Good excuses to get out of your home for a few hours. The Farmer’s Market is still full steam ahead and we need your assistance in volunteering. Come down and say “Hello”.
The Board meeting on 3 August addressed many issues. The most important one was the volunteer situation for the Farmer’s
market. Asking people to voluntarily put their name in the roster isn’t working. The numbers required has been pared down per roster. For next year, there will be allocation to ALL club members. It is an obligation of being a club member to help, since the Farmer’s Market is the reason, we can subsidize many of our events, with less out of pocket to you (The Changeover price is a good example of how we could keep ticket prices lower than many other changeover events). This decision will not be popular but is important. I have requested that a choice be allowed like in the “old days”. People not able to make up will have to find an equivalent volunteer. This should start in January onwards.
market. Asking people to voluntarily put their name in the roster isn’t working. The numbers required has been pared down per roster. For next year, there will be allocation to ALL club members. It is an obligation of being a club member to help, since the Farmer’s Market is the reason, we can subsidize many of our events, with less out of pocket to you (The Changeover price is a good example of how we could keep ticket prices lower than many other changeover events). This decision will not be popular but is important. I have requested that a choice be allowed like in the “old days”. People not able to make up will have to find an equivalent volunteer. This should start in January onwards.Note that the Grand Official Opening of the Yarra Bank reserve playground is being postponed to Sunday Sept 12th from August. Same time, same set up. Luckily the Mayor and our DG, Dale Hoy can be in attendance for this gala opening.
October 5th – There will be a larger fundraiser for Lift the Lid, masterminded by our club member Elizabeth Dumonic. It will be at Kooyong Tennis Club and plans are in the making already. Elizabeth has the Board’s backing in this adventure. She has great ideas to compliment this night. Please support her initiatives and if you want to be involved, contact Elizabeth now.
President Mark