An Obituary to 2020
Tributes fail to pour in as the year 2020 dies aged 12 months:
After a long battle that near-exhausted streaming services'
back-catalogues, 2020 has succumbed to the slow passing of 365 days.
Tributes didn't pour in after the death of the year was announced.
"I haven't stayed up 'til midnight on New Year's Eve for years,"
one seasoned year-watcher said. "But I'm staying up this year to make
sure 2020's dead."
"This year was a bit like childbirth or a severe bout of
diverticulitis, in that it hurt like hell and left a terrible mess,"
another person, who's experienced more than 70 years, said. "But at
least we've emerged stronger, wiser and more appreciative of what we
have."
That observation was repeated in multiple reports on 2020's
passing, which had been widely expected to occur as December drew to a
close. Fireworks had been prepared for the non-mourning period but were
shelved due to continued reluctance by both authorities and consumers to
stand in close proximity to others.
The year had lived a tumultuous life marked by few highs and many deep lows.
2020 was born at midnight on January 1, during Australia's Black
Summer of unusually fierce bushfires. By March, the flames had consumed
186,000 square kilometres, destroying almost 3,000 homes and killing
more than 30 people, as well as innumerable beloved native animals.
But Australians showed 2020 what they were made of early in the
piece, throwing their hearts and wallets into fighting the fires and as
soon as the ground stopped smoking, Grey Nomads had their caravans
packed and were ready to venture forth into the fire-affected regions to
spend their hard-earned retirement income, which itself had been badly
impacted by a long period of ultra-low interest rates, with local
retailers and venues.
2020 went, though, from being a troublesome toddler to a teenager
in sharp need of some National Service, because as the bushfires died
down, Covid-19 quickly replaced them as the country's chief concern.
For some, 2020's teens were painful but bearable. Thanks to
Covid-19, some searched the supermarket aisles for toilet paper and
watched the queue to get into Bunnings go around the block, as their
cruises were cancelled and they argued over who needed the Wi-Fi more
while working from home. They grew accustomed to face masks and
rethought their secret wishes to 'just be left in peace for one damn
second' because every day is a long day in lockdown.
For others, though, those teen times of 2020 were life-changing
and, indeed, life-ending and not funny at all. Jobs were lost, incomes
smashed and lives taken too soon, and Australians mourned the impact of
the coronavirus on their family and friends.
But people grew as a result of their interaction with 2020.
They learnt they could vote without a sausage sizzle or homemade
lamingtons to ease the pain of choosing between a rock and a hard place;
they actually appreciated online banking for the first time; they
rediscovered the joys of books and of beating the family at board games;
and they saw the Mamils (middle-aged men in Lycra) that usually rule
the bike lanes be waylaid by mums, dads, grandparents and wobbly kids on
bikes that had been hauled out from the back of the garage.
Then, as 2020 matured into adulthood and settled down into the
daily grind of churning out the hours and days, Australians were
reminded of many things they knew but had perhaps forgotten. That
healthcare workers, cleaners and carers were deeply undervalued (and, in
some cases, badly underpaid for the vital work they do). That people
had taken Australia's economic prosperity for granted, when in fact they
needed the friendly faces at the local shops and service providers and
would truly miss them if they were gone.
Australians remembered that the close company and good health of
loved ones was a wonderful privilege not to be taken for granted. That
something lost, whether it be a dream overseas holiday or a regular game
of bowls at the club, could sometimes lead to something gained, like an
unexpected adventure in their own backyard or the rediscovery of old
pursuits (see bikes above, plus socially distanced neighbourhood walks
with the kids or grandkids and a return to the crafting, gardening or
DIY they'd given up as a bad job or was gathering dust in the spare
room). That $750 can make a big difference to a pensioner's ability to
make ends meet.
And people saw in stark relief that older Australians - whether
they be in a nursing home or simply unable to scrap fellow shoppers for
staples at the supermarket - were often not treated with respect and
that this needed to change. While the supermarkets reacted with
impressive speed with seniors-only shopping hours.
In its final months of life, 2020 mellowed a little in Australia.
Borders reopened, cruises for 2021 and 2022 hit the market, rain calmed
the fires on Fraser Island. Australians gave a cautious sigh of relief
and made some tentative Christmas plans - while congratulating
themselves on cleverly using their newfound online shopping skills to
avoid the shopping centre car-park queues.
Meanwhile, the almost 1.7 million people taken by Covid-19 were
mourned by family and friends, although not always in person due to
restrictions on group gatherings.
It has been noted by many commentators that 2020 never failed to
disappoint. For example, even on its deathbed, the year made what was
hoped was a brief resurgence, bringing a cluster of Covid-19 to Sydney
that threatened those longed-for Christmas plans. At the time of
writing, it remained to be seen whether Australians would be required to
not go forth bearing arms to stage a final battle with this most
memorable of 12 months.
2020 is survived by an even more resilient and lucky Australia.
The year will be buried at 12am on January 1 in private
ceremonies conducted in houses, bars, restaurants and parks, in socially
distanced groups of no more people than current health guidelines
permit.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy 2021.
