WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On the last day of 2021, and only three months away from a huge personal milestone, I like to post the two photos above, taken 50 years apart. The one on the left is of me as a press photographer at a German Bundesliga soccer game in the early 1970s, the second one is only two days old, with my new Covid mask on, taken here in Fremantle.

The milestone I mentioned will be on March 13, if I survive that long, when it will be 40 years since I migrated to Australia and started a new life in Sydney, and from September 1985 in Perth. March 13 is my personal Australia Day.

We are living in unprecedented times and the Covid pandemic is a huge challenge for all of us all over the world, but sometimes I feel that the constant reporting about it on social media contributes to that so many people are feeling down and are struggling with it.

We are getting very self-absorbed, even selfish, in modern times, with some serious narcissism, and mostly forget that we are lucky to live in a country that has excellent health care, unlike many third world countries. Here in WA we are double lucky to have had only a few Covid cases and a few minor inconveniences, with very short lockdowns and social distancing restrictions.

I am very aware about the heartbreaking discomfort of not being able to see families and not traveling, but even long before the pandemic many people could not travel and connect with their family because of financial restraints. Closed borders and restrictions are inconvenient and disappointing, but it saves lives, as has been clearly shown in WA.

It is too easy to blame our governments for it all, although the lack of urgency to deal with any Covid related issues out of Canberra is incomprehensible to me. We all need to take responsibility to try to make the best of the pandemic. That means wearing masks, even if it is not mandated, using the WA Safe App, so we can be traced in case of a Covid outbreak, and it means common sense and putting the community first over selfish desires. Unless you have a medical condition you should be vaccinated, to support all those around you!

NSW has 21,151 new Covid cases and six deaths today! How very lucky are we to live in Western Australia and how extremely lucky are we to live in this wonderful place called Fremantle!

I wish you all a very happy New Year! The Covid challenge will remain, and with the state borders opening in February, will get a lot worse, so let’s look out for each other. We are really all in this together!

Roel Loopers

THIS IS SOUTH FREMANTLE

Food shopping is a bit more of a journey, now that Coles has closed at the Fremantle Woolstores, and there is no longer a supermarket in the inner city, until IGA opens at FOMO in April next year.

The temperature today is 13C down from yesterday, so a lot more pleasant to walk to the IGA on Hampton Road, and from there take a bus back that drops me in front of where I live.

On my way down I took the above photos of the MOKOH Shop and WILD Bakery.

Roel Loopers

CHEAPER PUBLIC TRANSPORT!

• Significant McGowan Government election commitment to cap public transport fares delivered
• Will come into effect on January 1 with commuters paying no more than a two-zone fare
• Capped at $4.90 for a one-way cash ticket and $3.92 for a SmartRider with Autoload
• Commuters to potentially save up to thousands of dollars a year 
• Free public transport between midnight and 6am on January 1 for New Year’s revellers
• Masks are mandatory on Transperth services unless the commuter has an exemption 

A key McGowan Government 2021 election commitment to cap public transport fares will come into effect on January 1, 2022.

CATCHING UP AT FREO’S BATHERS BEACH

This early morning catch up scene at Fremantle’s lovely inner city Bathers Beach made for a nice street photo I thought, when I noticed it walking by this morning.

Bathers Beach is getting more popular, but needs a bit more TLC from Fremantle Council. A few shade structures would be nice and a public toilet should be a priority, as should be better connectivity and wayfinding to Victoria Quay.

Roel Loopers

FUNKY FREO VISITOR CENTRE WINDOW DISPLAY

The back of the new Fremantle Visitor Centre in the triangle of the Walyalup Civic Centre has a lovely quirky and colourful display, that includes poetry.

The centre is due to open in January, so just in time to deal with the influx of interstate tourists, when the WA state borders are re-opening in early February.

Roel Loopers

FREO NEW YEAR’S DAY CONCERT IS ON!

Good news for music lovers! Fremantle’s 14th NEW YEAR’S DAY CONCERT at the Fremantle Arts Centre will go ahead on January 1. Unlike other large events the FAC one is not cancelled because of Covid social distancing restrictions!

It’s a picnic event, so bring a rug, from 5-10pm in the central courtyard.

FAC info:

Offering an exquisite selection of music, relaxed vibes, great people and heartwarming tunes performed with love under the big ol’ trees in our Front Garden. On the bill this year is a diverse line-up of premium reggae, gospel, blues, afro and world music, including: SUNSHINE BROTHERS WEST AUSTRALIAN BADASS GOSPEL CHOIR DAN HOWLS BAND JAMBULANCE and DJ BUTTER CHICKEN

Please note the following so we can all have a safe and happy time together on the first day of 2022: Tickets are still available . We have limited our capacity to ensure social distancing in our beautiful gardens is possible. The event is outdoors so masks are not mandatory but they are recommended. We all have to stay seated so BYO low chair or blanket to stretch out in the shade picnic style. Food and drink will be available to purchase but once you collect it you must return to your spot. No dancing or standing – we will all just have to dance (seated!) on the inside. See you there! More info via: https://www.fac.org.au/whats-on/post/new-years-day-2022/

Roel Loopers

ROLLING UP FOR WA @ FREO’S BATHERS BAY

Good to see about a dozen people turning up for the 10am start of the Covid-19 mobile vaccination clinic at Fremantle’s Bathers Beach this morning. When I told my neighbour Richard he turned straight around to get his Booster shot there as well.

The big bus will be there until 4pm today, so take advantage of it Freo people. Get the jab!

Roel Loopers

GET COVID JAB AT BATHERS BEACH TODAY!

There is a mobile Covid pop-up clinic at Fremantle’s Bathers Beach today between 10am and 4pm.

Go get the Booster jab you need, while having a swim, or before or after lunch in the Fishing Boat Harbour. There might even be a bit of a seabreeze at our lovely inner city beach.

Get the jab! Protect yourself, your loved ones, your community and your work mates!

Roel Loopers

COVID RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED IN W.A.

NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE NEW YEAR’S CONCERT AND OTHER BIG EVENTS! COVID RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED IN W.A. UNTIL JANUARY 4!

The only event that can go ahead is the Perth Cup horse racing, where people will need proof of double vaccination and will be required to wear a mask all day.

This is also a big shock for nightclubs, who are not allowed to be open, and for the rest of the hospitality venues it is sit down service only.

Here the official notification of the WA Government:

The following public health and social measures will continue from 6am Tuesday morning, December 28 until 6am Tuesday morning, January 4 (pending the latest health advice):

• ·         Masks are mandatory for indoor public venues, including in the workplace and on public transport. Exemptions apply including when undertaking vigorous exercise, for medical                    reasons and primary school aged children or younger. People should use common sense and take a mask with them whenever they leave home;
• ·         Mask wearing is recommended for large outdoor public events, when you cannot physically distance;
• ·         Anyone who has been in Perth and Peel since December 16 and enters another regional area is required to wear a mask as per requirements in Perth-Peel;
• ·         Seated food and beverage consumption only for all licensed venues and events;
• ·         Music festivals and large high-risk events remain cancelled, dancing (except for weddings) is banned and nightclubs remained closed; and
• ·         Travel to remote Aboriginal communities remain restricted.

In addition to the public health and social measures, proof of vaccination will also be required at the Perth Cup 2022 and masks are mandated in all indoor and outdoor areas at the event.

Roel Loopers

IT’S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY ABOUT COVID!

Tomorrow, Tuesday December 28

The former president of the Australian Medical Association WA, Dr Andrew Miller, has an excellent opinion piece in the West Australian today, criticising the NSW Premier for his handling of the Omicron crisis, and rebuking Prime Minister Scott Morrison for comparing the wearing of masks to wearing sunscreen. Sunburn is not contagious, Dr Miller writes, and Covid is nothing like the normal flu either. The flu does not cause diabetes, liver or lung disease, but Covid can.

Dr Miller also writes that Western Australia has done very well keeping Covid out, and that brings up the question if it would be sensible for WA Premier Mark McGowan to open the state borders in early February. There is so much pressure from the business lobby, but how good would it be for the WA economy? In other states many businesses have to close because many staff have Covid, public services are also affected, so is that what we want for WA? What if hundreds of medical staff, police officers, emergency services get affected and the systems collapse? Is that better than keeping the WA borders closed for a while longer?

Here in Fremantle the anti-vaxxer owners of the Moore&Moore cafe want Fremantle Council to declare our city a pro choice local government area. The choice to infect a deadly virus upon others, Simon and Ali Naber? The choice to not be able to run your business because too many of your staff have Covid?

That brings me to the point of how effective the control of the hospitality industry is by the WA Health Department and WA Police. How sure can we be as customers that the staff who serve us have been vaccinated against Covid and that they are healthy and get tested when they feel unwell? Might not anti-vaxxer hospitality operators just shrug it all of and believe the nonsense they read on the internet and promote on their social media pages? Can we trust them to be responsible, when they believe that they are the enlightened ones, and that the rest of us who got vaccinated are merely naive sheep, mislead by our governments and the gullible medical profession and media.

Covid has entered WA after two years of near normal life and bliss, where most of our businesses have done well, because there were only a few short lockdowns, and short periods of social distancing restrictions. Are we going to give up all that freedom to appease some business groups, antivaxxers and right wingers? I hope not!

Roel Loopers