Author: Juanita Kees

Surreal. There is no other word for what is happening in the world right now. As I stood in my driveway at 6 a.m. with four tealight candles burning and a lone bugler playing the Last Post and Reveille in the park nearby, I was saddened to see that only a handful of people in our street had attended this call to a somewhat solemn and lonely ceremony in a time when we need a show of solidarity.

I’m not passing judgment, only observing, so please don’t judge them either. A large number of the residents on our street are migrant families. Perhaps Anzac day doesn’t hold the same meaning for them as it does for us. Everyone sees the world, our countries, our heroes and our wars differently.

I am a migrant too, but I’ve never been more proud to call myself Australian on a day like to today as all over our beautiful country people did gather at the end of their driveways to pay tribute to those who died for our freedom.

This year, Anzac Day took on a whole new meaning for me too. My thoughts were not only with the casualties of our Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, but with people all around the world who have ever had to face the tragedies of any war.

I thought back to how Italy joined together amidst the COVID-19 crisis, singing on their balconies. How, in Alabama USA, emergency vehicles came together to pay tribute with flashing lights. How, in the UK, people clapped their hands for their health care workers.

My thoughts were with my cousins in South Africa; one a doctor, the other a pediatric nursing sister. I thought of and prayed for my two beautiful nieces on the frontline at the NHS in the UK; one a nurse, the other specializing in physiotherapy for people with respiratory conditions. They’re in the line of fire and the world is at war with an invisible enemy.

Since the start of this virus, I’ve watched the John Hopkins COVID-19 map evolve. I’ve seen it soar from 498,000  (scary enough) to nearly 2.8 million people today.  I see the death toll and I think … that’s 195,920 people too many. I cheer for the 781,382 who have survived this monster. I watch on in horror when the site creates a separate map and algorithms as the enemy paints the USA red with a staggering 890,524 confirmed cases and 51,017 fatalities.

In my heart I know … the worst is yet to come for America. Worse yet are the statistics world-wide that have either gone unreported or untested, or have yet to be reported. I doubt we’ll ever know the true cost, both human and economic.

I have never been more grateful to be in Australia right now as we flatten the curve with a steady 6661 cases recorded, a recovery of 4124 but 75 fatalities too many. I count it as a blessing that our government has worked together to act quickly and smartly, no matter how hard the effects of lockdown have been and will be in the months to come.

The economic cost will be immense – as is the cost of any war – but the measures they’ve taken are working to isolate us from this unseen enemy. As we push to reopen schools and businesses across the world, and lift restrictions, I pray that we will do so with care and thought for the consequences if we don’t wait until our confirmed cases are zero or close to. We can’t operate a business or educate and raise our children if we’re dead.

We may be winning this battle, Australia, but the war isn’t over yet. Be patient, be kind, be considerate. We’re all in this together.

In closing, I’d also like to pay tribute to the four police officers who lost their lives in a sickening and tragic traffic incident in Melbourne, Victoria this week. RIP Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney, all who died at the scene of the crash on Wednesday night. On this one, I’ll let Karma be the judge.

Until next time: Advance Australia Fair, God Defend New Zealand and God Bless America (they’re going to need it).

Advance Australia Fair

God Defend New Zealand

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF NEW ZEALAND

God of nations at Thy feet
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific’s triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

Men of every creed and race
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.

Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.

Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame
Guard our country’s spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.

May our mountains ever be
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nation’s van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.

God Bless America