The end of lockdown was in our sights as the rules began to ease in the middle of October, the Pathway Forward was finally announced revealing the road out of restrictions, and unrestricted travel between the three hotspot states and territories – ACT, NSW and Victoria – was about to start. A gas leak was reported in Dickson, which turned out to be a Durian fruit kicking up a stink, op-shopping boomed in lockdown via Salvos’ online store, and the Wartons in Ngunnawal spent time in lockdown turning their backyard into a neighbourhood putt-putt course.

Slight changes announced ahead of 15 October ACT lockdown end date

With the ACT lockdown due to end on Friday 15 October, as outlined in the “Pathway Forward”, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced some slight changes as to how restrictions would ease. Mr Barr said the decision to ease restrictions and end lockdown was spurred on by the Territory’s high vaccination rates. Cross-border travel arrangements with NSW also changed when lockdown ended on 15 October, at which point the ACT expanded the standing exemption border postcodes to allow travel from a larger area of immediately surrounding NSW.

Durian fruit source of reported gas leak in Dickson

When is a reported gas leak not a gas leak? When it’s a durian fruit! On 15 October, ACT Fire & Rescue were called to the Dickson shops to investigate reports of a gas leak. After an hour on the scene, firefighters found the source of the incident – a durian fruit. While crews were searching, the owner of a tenancy above the shops advised them of the potential source of the smell. A short investigation confirmed the durian was indeed the culprit. No exclusion zones were put in place, however, the community were asked to avoid the area during the investigation.

Salvos Online: your op-shopping fix for lockdown

For those who didn’t hear the fabulous news, Salvos opened an online op shop in May 2020 – although it’s more like an op-megastore, with about 60,000 items listed and 1,700 new items added per day on average. Even though the project had been in the works for a while, Salvation Army spokesperson Wendy Hateley said the website’s launch was fast-tracked because of the pandemic. From Victoria to WA, 220 of Salvos physical stores are listing their products online, separating their digital presence from other major Australian op shops that mostly stick to listing vintage and valuables. An avid lover of all things second-hand, CW fashion editor Anja de Rozario had to get onboard. After purchasing multiple packages from Salvos stores all around Australia, she listed some pros and cons she found of op shopping through the net.

Unrestricted travel between ACT, NSW and Victoria from 1 November

The ACT Government moved to permit unrestricted travel between the ACT, NSW and Victoria for both ACT residents and visitors from both states from Monday 1 November. The move meant restrictions on travel to approved postcodes within NSW no longer applied. Travel restrictions were instead managed by identifying “high risk” interstate geographical areas. Double vaccinated commuters from high risk areas in NSW or Victoria were permitted to travel to the ACT for any reason, with exemption documentation to be automated to minimise travel delays.

Backyard putt-putt course in Ngunnawal

In a suburban street in Ngunnawal, at the back of the local golf course, you’ll find Mr and Mrs Warton’s house and their particularly unusual backyard. A keen golf enthusiast, Mr Warton decided to transform his yard into a six-hole putt-putt golf course for his wife, grandkids, and neighbours to enjoy. Three of their grandchildren live around the corner from the couple, and they all like to come around and play mini golf with them, especially their granddaughter. During lockdown, the course was a wonderful distraction for the grandparents, who say they play 18 holes every day.

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