Pom in Oz: What if we as individuals are ready for COVID onslaught, but the system we live in is not?

We do truly find ourselves in a bizarre situation in WA and particularly here in the Mid West. As I type this we currently have zero cases in the Mid West and we are averaging now around 200 a day for WA. This is while our eastern states are averaging several thousand and many claim are now over the peak and heading into clearer waters. All the while countries like Denmark, UK, Finland and other First World nations are ramping down restrictions and moving towards a new normal. Over here in WA, we are bracing for what our leaders are calling our most challenging six weeks yet. Has the delay of our State’s exposure been a blessing or will we pay in the long run? Have we had it “easy” for so long that it’s going to feel like a freight train has hit us when, or if, we do get to thousands of cases a day and people passing away before their time every day due to COVID? What have we actually done to brace ourselves? If we believe the pollies then our health system, logistics and freight, education system and all essential services have been preparing for the last two years for this to happen. But If you actually talk to ground troops in these areas you will hear a very different story. Most people I have spoken to would tell you that actually apart from restrictions, very little has actually happened. But only time will tell who is right in this case. Is our health system ready? AlI I can comment on is my own personal experience and that of people close to me. Which sadly has left me worried about a current system that can give correct instructions to a very small number of people getting tested and an emergency room that still has a six-hour waiting time (like I say in my personal experience). Do I personally feel ready? Well yes, I guess so. But what can we do as individuals when the system we live in simply does not reflect any personal readiness? My house is ready, we have all our bits and bobs in place. My family is ready, we all know our roles and responsibilities if the need arises. My work is ready, thanks to our hard-working staff, parents and students. So I wait with fingers crossed that the people in power who claim to be ready are not pulling the biggest bluff of the 21st century. I am optimistic, not for our leaders but for our people. I am optimistic because I remember just how well we held it together a couple of years ago, how people rallied round to help each other. I remember our local supermarkets and the efforts they put in to help our old and vulnerable people (thank you Rigters IGAs). I remember the clear and well thought our communication that our Mayor sent out (yes, I know he’s a political leader but he’s also “one of us”). But above all I remember how the majority of us were there for each other, offering a helping hand or a supportive voice. So yeah, this whinging Pom is still whinging but he also is still happy he lives in the Mid West and especially in Gero. Derek Goforth is a teacher at Geraldton Christian College