Wishing all our Readers and Members of the Sydney Times Community a Happy and Successful NEW YEAR!
The world including Sydney and NSW experienced perhaps the quietest New Year’s Eve in decades as the coronavirus pandemic forced most of the festivities to take place without an audience. The mood was sombre and whilst in december 2020 many of us were prematurely congratulating ourselves on having the COVID-19 pandemc under control,..in late december ,.we suddenly discovered that it had control of us.
This comes at a time when many have grown tired of bad news and feel angry or perplexed by the chaos surrounding the various vaccination programs and the challenges we now confront. Leaders and our communities have become more perplexed with the virus outbreak — and, especially, with how it is shaping our lives and impacting on our economy in tandem with the Chinese Trade problems.
Whilst the beginning of the New Year was largely symbolic, without Sydneysiders lining the shores of our magnifucent harbour to welcome in the New Year with the usual fanfare and Firework display which is watched around the world...it is clear that everybody is still looking towards 2021 as a fresh beginning and a fresh start in our battle to resume our normal lives.
Hopefully this will come with the launch of the National vaccination Programme in the second quarter of 2021 and this will give us the impetus to fully control the pandemic,.. and resume a more normal Lifestyle without the constant Lockdowns and social distancing regimes that are wearing us all out.
The common thread that ran through the speeches of Global leaders in their New Year’s speeches, was their making an appeal for social cohesion,.which is essential to rise and meet the future challenges!
Many have already expereinced serious restrictions on their freedom to move being in iquarantine or isolation or much worse losing a loved one.
People have grown tired of bad news and feel angry or perplexed by the chaos surrounding the constantly changing Covid regime and the uncertainties surrounding vaccination program.
In these difficult times,…together with the recent Bushfire damage, Floods and coastal erosion due to climate change not to mention the continuing Trade problems with China,..it seems as if we are like a Fishing Boat bobbing on the seas,…so we need to maintain a sense of purpose and unified strategies ,..We need good leaders to pilot us and remain moderately optimistic about our place in the world,..,as in relative global terms the Australian outlook is not all that dire,.. and we can be confident about our future.
We need to come together as a community to strengthen our resolve to defeat the adverses circumstances ,..with the spirit, resolve and determination that have made Australia a great nation.
I personally wish all of our current and future readers and community members a Happy and Confident New Year,.. and assure you that we are here to serve the Sydney community in these tough times as best we may!
Axel Ritenis
Editor in Chief & Custodian of Your Sydney Times
