From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 19 April

It is a puzzlement that some people are not staying at home in self-isolation. Indeed, they continue to carry-on as though nothing has changed, the gravity of the current situation notwithstanding!

ONE has to ask: which part of the directive – STAY AT HOME – do you not understand? We are not talking MENSA.

A Federal government $30 million radio, television, and newspaper advertising campaign has begun. Curiously, it lacks any sense of urgency. It became obvious in 1987 that urgent action was required to stem the deadly spread of the AIDS virus. Then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, together with Treasurer, Paul Keating, provided $3 million of funding for the controversial Grim Reaper television advertising campaign. Created by Siimon Reynolds, and voiced by actor John Stanton, the campaign had an immediate effect. The success of the Grim Reaper was the bleakness of the content, and the power of John Stanton’s authoritative voice. He sounded like the voice of doom – which is exactly what is needed to stop those who are not listening, or adhering, to government directives. This is a matter of life and death. Perhaps a similar approached is needed to deliver the message regarding COVID19.

Recently, the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, admonished the 16,000 travellers who defied the overseas travel ban, arguing their self-centredness amounted to “wilful defiance”; and he is correct, absolutely.

This is not the first time we have been ordered to self-isolate. The polio epidemic, 1954, required serious public co-operation. In Western Australia, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were visiting, 26 March to 1 April. Everyone stood back six-feet from the royal couple; there were no handshakes, and bouquets of flowers were placed on tables set in front of The Queen. Domestically, everyone was advised to have a washing dish of antiseptic water at the front door to keep hands clean, while children were ordered to stay in their own backyards.

The goldmining townsite of Leonora/Gwalia is 233 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. The West Australian newspaper, 6 Jun 1919, reported: It will be remembered that recently three Italians were reported to be suffering from pneumonia at Leonora; subsequently it was ascertained that the cases occurred at Gwalia. Consequently, the three patients died; the cause of death being given as bronco-pneumonia, which led to the action taken by the Commissioner, who said: “In view of the occurrence of a further case of bronco-pneumonia at Gwalia amongst the contacts of the previous cases, and in view of a report that there is a number of cases of influenza, one of a severe nature in the district, steps have been taken to quarantine Gwalia and Leonora.

“With this end-in-view, the outlets will be patrolled and the passenger train service interrupted.  Goods will be run into the Gwalia siding, the trucks dropped, and the train crew will return immediately without contact with the station staff or the public at Gwalia. Passengers may enter the quarantine area by train but will not be permitted to leave.”

On 10 June it reported: The position at Leonora and Gwalia is more serious, twenty new cases having been reported, necessitating the commandeering of the State Hotel for service as a special isolation hospital, the accommodation at the ordinary hospital being already overtaxed.

In Perth, anyone hoping to leave the quarantined metropolitan suburban area was medically examined prior to departure.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom. A poem was published for light relief:

Laugh and the world laughs with you,

Sneeze, and you sneeze alone,

For-away we sprint at the slightest hint,

That we’re in the microbe zone.

Joke, and your friends will join you;

Cough and they turn and scoot,

A germ proof mask and the whisky flask,

Are the objects of their pursuit.

The message is simple: Do as you’re told. Stay at home!

Roland can be heard on RADIO 3BA, every Monday morning at 10.45 and contacted via [email protected].