As nine towers in Melbourne went into hard lockdown at the weekend, residents of the public housing flats reported vastly different experiences of being plunged into sudden isolation.
Key points:
- About 3,000 people in public housing towers have been placed in lockdown
- The residents come from a range of cultural backgrounds
- Many residents support efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus but question how the lockdown is being managed
Many residents hail from an array of cultural backgrounds, which has sparked concerns about the heavy police presence, access to information in different languages, and even the provision of food.
While some have welcomed the lockdown as a key safety measure and are grateful for the government response, others have reported confusion, frustration and a lack of communication.
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Some 3,000 people have been put into lockdown, with race discrimination commissioner Chin Tan saying many of the public housing residents had fled civil unrest in their home countries.
"Seeking to victimise and increase stigma for people who came to Australia looking for a fair go is shameful and it's important we call it out."
'It is beneficial for ourselves and others'
Yin Yongsheng, from the Federation of Chinese Association (FCA), an umbrella organisation based in the city, estimated there were about 200 Chinese migrants in the locked-down towers and the majority were over the age of 60.
One of them is 85-year-old Gong Kehui. She moved to Australia in 1995 and lives in one of the North Melbourne towers.
She said she supported the lockdown.
"The [lockdown] measure could find the source of COVID-19 and stop it from spreading," she said.
"It is beneficial for ourselves and others.
"I genuinely think many people failed to behave themselves with realising the circumstances."
When asked if she was worried about her wellbeing in lockdown, Ms Gong said: "There is no use in worrying."
She said the Chinese community in the area where she lived had been cautious about the virus.
"We haven't had any group activities since the Christmas celebration, when our shopping and square-dancing events were cancelled," she said.
"Until now, we only have seen each other online, but we have not caught up in person."
Ms Gong said she had a basic level of English, and used Chinese social media app WeChat as her main source of information about the pandemic in Melbourne.
She has now moved her social interactions online because she cannot see her family and friends in person.
"We share information and take care of each other," she said.
"Since our lockdown was reported by media, my sisters and brothers in those WeChat groups sent their condolences to me immediately. It was very warm and lovely.
Samoan woman locked down with seven children
One Samoan woman, who asked to be known as Lucy because she is a domestic violence survivor, lives with her seven children and their dog in one of the locked-down towers.
"I found out on Friday afternoon when I came back from the shops. They didn't tell me that we were going to be on lockdown, they said just, 'Go downstairs, do your COVID test,' and that was it," she said.
"I then saw it on the news and I went downstairs and they said, 'You can't go anywhere, just go back upstairs and stay inside.'"
Lucy said she was not prepared — she had a little bit of food and some meat in the fridge but did not have vegetables or milk or bread. She was given a number to call to ask for food.
"I was waiting all day and all night [on Sunday] and they came at midnight. I opened the door and it was one soup packet and five meat pies and that was it. There are eight of us in the house."
"I have friends and family asking if they can bring me food, but when I ask the police they say, 'No, they're not allowed to come.'"
Lucy said the police presence seemed unnecessary and had put her children on edge.
"My kids keep asking me, 'Why are the police here?' because sometimes they're so scared. And they ask what happened downstairs, 'Why are the police there?' I don't even know how to answer them."
East Timorese couple still waiting to be tested
Kuon Nhen Lay, 70, and his wife Lucy, 65, who are both originally from East Timor, live in the Flemington public housing estate.
They said they were lucky to have purchased groceries on Friday, before the sudden lockdown, to see them through the week.
But Mr Lay was frustrated about not being able to get enough information, such as when they will be able to be tested for COVID-19.
"I believe it has the most impact on elderly people.
"I am very worried about it when I hear things about our building. I hope I can get tested soon and be aware of my own test result."
He said there were roughly 40 families from East Timor living in the Flemington housing estate.
The couple would normally expect a visit from their daughter and grandchild on Sundays, but the lockdown prevented that on the weekend.
Mr Lay said he was worried about the health of his family members, but understood why the Victorian Government was taking this drastic measure.
"If citizens work with the Government, the pandemic will end quicker," he said.
Nappy delivery at 3:00am for Eritrean mother
Eritrean mother of three Kay, who asked not to disclose her surname for privacy reasons, lives in one of the public housing buildings in North Melbourne.
Her youngest child is just three months old. On Sunday afternoon, she called the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) because she needed nappies for her baby. DHHS staff asked what size and brand she required, saying they would get them for her.
But it was not until after 3:00am that the distressed mother was called to collect them from downstairs.
"At 3:18am they rang," she said. "They said they were downstairs and I said, 'Look, my baby's asleep, I've got other three children who are asleep. Is there someone that can take it upstairs and just leave it in front of the door? … They don't have to be in contact with me.'"
"She said, 'No, unfortunately no-one can do that.'"
Kay said deliveries of frozen food in a sealed bag had been placed at their doorsteps on top of a piece of paper, but there was no knock on the door to let her know it was there.
"The paper was already drenched because I'm assuming the food would have been sitting there for a while. It's obviously frozen and it's been thawed," she said.
She said she couldn't be sure what was in the food or if it was halal.
"I'm not touching it … I don't even know if this is food, I don't know what I'm bringing inside the house," she said.
"To me, it looks like dog food."
Kay said being locked down with the young children and without access to essentials was upsetting, but she was heartened to see that people from the Muslim community and other faith groups were donating essential items, though she had yet to receive them.
DHHS has been asked for comment about the reported delay in delivering donated food items.
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Volunteers from the Sikh community were seen donating food items to the towers under lockdown.
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is delivering 1,000 vegetarian meals a day starting from tomorrow, as part of the Moving Feast network providing 3,000 meals to the sites to be distributed to residents.
"ASRC Catering is a social enterprise with expertise in cooking and delivering nutritious, culturally inclusive food," ASRC CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis said.
Mr Yin from the Federation of Chinese Associations said the group is planning to purchase frozen Chinese dumplings and spring onion pancakes to deliver to the nine towers, so people who prefer Chinese food can have it.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA3LTA2L2NvbW11bml0aWVzLXJlYWN0LXRvLWJlaW5nLWxvY2tlZC1kb3duLW1lbGJvdXJuZS10b3dlcnMvMTI0MjU5NjjSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI0MjU5Njg?oc=5
2020-07-06 10:05:06Z
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