Coronavirus small town asking Grey Nomads to stay away

Tony Bev · Guru

Coronavirus small town asking Grey Nomads to stay away

Mike Harding · Guru

It seems the mayor doesn't want GNs because Robe's very limited medical resources cannot cope but says they should go to Mt Gambier instead. I imagine Covid-19 cases would be transferred to Mt Gambier in any event.

"If they're not supported by people who can maybe do some grocery shopping for them, they will have to go out into the community to get supplies," she said.

Fortunately, the caravan park owner said she is happy for GNs to self-isolate at her park.

If wonder if the mayor will want us, and our money, back again when Covid-19 has passed?

Kebbin · Guru

As travellers are the spreaders of the virus the Mayor is trying to protect the people and their few resources from indiscriminate spreading by people that do not care about anyone else.

Flags2 · Veteran Member

Hi Kebbin,

I think it is a little disingenuous to group Grey Nomad travellers with people returning from cruises as spreaders of the virus. From my observations in caravan parks over the last 8 weeks, travellers like us are actually complying with the restrictions. I cannot say the same for locals!!!!!!!

Kebbin · Guru

Flags, I never mentioned Grey Nomads but as travellers they are disregarding the ' non essential travel ' orders just read between the lines, there are members of this forum and the other that are still travelling.
How is it that Grey Nomads are separate from other travellers? Have Grey Nomads an immunity to the virus and so won't spread it? Travelling from one van park to the next and continuing your travels is a sure way of spreading the virus.
A total disregard for other people and communities.

JayDee · Guru

If we were on the Road at this point in time.:-

Firstly we are fully self contained travelers.

Secondly we are great lovers of bush camping.

We would only visit a town for the essentials such as Groceries, Petrol and Water.

We are sort of loners, so if on the road now, There would be very little contact with other travelers.

LOOK, WE COULD HOOK UP AND GO TOMORROW, BUT NATURALLY WE WON'T.

Plus, we do not know when the Coromal will be back on the road again.

Jay&Dee

Tony Bev · Guru

I have been through Robe, but never stayed there, but I have stayed up the road at Kingston SE, so I know just a bit of this area

I am a Grey Nomad, when on the road, but fortunately at home base, self isolating, as I have only recently returned home

I actually support the Mayor, as she is pointing out, the lack of medical facilities, if the virus breaks out in that area, as a lot of people in that town are older folk

Snip from the article
Robe - a town of 1,000 residents - has one doctor, one clinic, and one chemist. The ambulance is run on skeleton staff and the resident doctor has had trouble accessing personal protection equipment.

While no legal barriers are in place to stop visitors entering the township yet, the council is one of the first in the state to strongly encourage people not to visit.

Ms Nunan said she observed a number of visitors on the weekend who were there to self-isolate.

"It was very clear that people had made a beeline for Robe, and I can't blame them for that. If I was going to self-isolate I'd like to self-isolate at Robe," she said.

"It was very evident that people were not observing social distancing."

While a popular destination for grey nomads without a permanent base, the Mayor warned them to stay elsewhere given the current climate.

On the other hand the Robe Holiday Park, is telling visitors to come, as they have 30 acres of land

Perhaps, (and this is just my opinion), if/when travellers go there (or other populated places), to self isolate
The traveller should agree to stay around their RV's, and someone from the local community, should run errands for them

Flags2 · Veteran Member

Hi Kebbin.

I think you did infer Grey Nomads as travellers although not specifically stating so. We have no home or base to return to. We are in a caravan park in an area ravaged by bushfires in January lending a hand to those in need. The owners are happy for us to stay because we have been here already for a month and have no signs of the virus and they have had huge cancellation numbers. If we kept going you would be correct about irresponsibility on our part.

bgt · Guru

If we apply Robe's policy across all small country towns then Australia is in big trouble. It's just a case of moving any potential problem onto someone else. I know Robe. This doesn't surprise me.

dogbox · Guru

if people stopped an stayed in one place that would be one thing but if they stay a couple of days then move on that is what will bring things to a head
heard talk that they are tracking peoples phones overseas to monitor their moments if they are suppose to be quarantined

Brownie 64 · Veteran Member

kebbin, Everyones circumstances are different, we have been travelling for 22 months & are currently in S.A. We have been offered the use of a vacant house that a family member has, and our family want us off the road for the foreseeable future.

We have missed the opportunity to cross to W.A. without isolation as our motorhome is having accident damage repaired because of some one elses stupid actions, we are hold up in a caravan park cabin at the moment but this not financially long term viable, so we will be crossing the W.A. border a going to the house where we will self isolate for the 14 day period then see out this bloody virus in the surrounds of this house as per our families wishes.

And for the record neither of us have any signs of the virus & are obeying all the recommendations about distancing & we are not going about as if we are still on a travelling adventure.

I do hope this is okay with you.

dogbox · Guru

all this talk of travelling makes me think a lot of people are not taking this virus seriously, did hear one report that 30 Italian doctors have died treating patients

Tony Bev · Guru

Here is a copy and paste from the ABC news, (a reputable source, in my opinion)

West Australians were yesterday told to cancel their holiday plans and stay home instead of travelling within the state as the Government grapples to contain the number of COVID-19 cases.

The number of confirmed WA cases of the virus stands at 205 after another 30 were recorded overnight.

I had read elsewhere that the West Australian Government, is now telling non essential travellers, not to travel

West Australia is made up of nine regions, as well as the metropolitan area

Easter time is usually the last good weather, for camping holidays, in my regional area

I had read that the government is considering, stopping people from moving from region to region, unless it is essential travel

My gut feeling is:-

That the West Australian government, has now started to listen to the health people

There is a cruise ship (Vasco da Gama), docking at Fremantle on Friday, to the best of my knowledge, it has no cases of coronavirus
800 passengers are Australian, they will be quarantined at Rottnest Island for fourteen days
The international passengers, and the crew, will be forced to stay onboard, until the ship leaves

I do feel for the Grey Nomads who are continually travelling

But, in my opinion
The inconvenience of staying in one place, is much better than to keep travelling, and perhaps contacting/spreading the virus

Edit to say, I have found a link to some of what I have mentioned above

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-24/wa-coronavirus-travel-restrictions-explained/12086310

-- Edited by Tony Bev on Wednesday 25th of March 2020 06:07:50 PM

Possum3 · Guru

Branxton in NSW has a prominent sign that states "We have two Cemetery's but no Hospital" - they are referring to Road Safety but it would be typical of many small towns in Oz. Not a good place to contract a deadly disease.

Kebbin · Guru

Brownie the problem is you won't know you have the virus for 3-7 days and some will not get major symptoms at all, so with people continuing to travel that's a problem because that is the only way it's spread.
Lockdowns are next, because we are ignorant as a nation to the scope and seriousness of the situation!

Brownie 64 · Veteran Member

Kebbin, unfortunately we cannot be just `beamed up` like Scotty, so we have to travel to our destination, we are doing our best to stop the spread by going

to the house, then we have 14 days of self isolation to look forward to, we are currently able to do this, so this is our best option long term.

Tony Bev · Guru

Looking back in hindsight, (a wonderful thing to do)

Unfortunately I was correct, and the small town of Robe, was the thin edge of the wedge
As we now all know, that it will not be too long, before we are in shutdown mode

Just to keep the record straight, I actually agree with the Mayor of that town, and other small towns

In my opinion, the health of others, will always come before my own personal pleasures, of travelling, and meeting new friends

Edit to say, I have just found the below article, which I have copied and pasted from a reputable source, this town is perhaps 50/60 K's from Robe

A school in regional SA has had to close its doors

Kingston Community School in the state's south-east has closed from today after a student returned a positive test for COVID-19.

"The Department for Education has enacted its COVID-19 protocol and shut the school for a minimum of 24 hours from Friday, March 27," the state department's statement read.

"Parents/carers are currently being contacted. Public health officials are carrying out contact tracing and the Department for Education and SA Health will inform anyone who needs to self-isolate."

The department said the school would be "thoroughly" cleaned to prevent transmission of the virus.

Link below

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-27/coronavirus-live-updates-covid-19-latest-news/12094804

-- Edited by Tony Bev on Friday 27th of March 2020 02:23:25 PM