Her story, like many, is one of separation, isolation, and tragedy.
“It has been an extremely hard year for me,” Leanne said.
“I arrived back in Australia in March 2020 after I said goodbye to my dad, who was terminally ill.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would still be living in the pandemic (and it) would make it impossible to travel out of the country or even out of the state.”
Bowtell’s big mural workshop to draw crowds to Wangaratta art festival
Sadly, in August Ms Hinds’ father passed away — and even at that stage there was no way Leanne could make it back.
“For me, being a New Zealand passport holder, it was extremely painful and hard to apply to leave the country, then apply to enter New Zealand, book quarantine and pay for it.
“Then the heartache of trying and get back into Australia.”
Ms Hinds said the rules required travellers visiting New Zealand to initially stay for at least six months — then there was no guarantee of when, or if, they could re-enter Australia.
Tomorrow Today host come and try sports day
“It was actually impossible to leave a job for six months,” Ms Hinds said.
“And not knowing if and when you could get back into a Australia when you're a New Zealand passport holder and your husband, and kids, and grandchildren all live in Benalla.
“My mum made the decision not to have a funeral for my dad until I was able to be there with her and the family.
“But we didn’t think it would be a year down the track before I could get back.
Benalla and District raises more than $120,000 for Good Friday Appeal
“To make matters worse, my mum was diagnosed with cancer and that added another blow to the heartache of not being there to care for her.”
Ms Hinds has, for the past seven years, been travelling back and forwards to New Zealand.
She never thought there would be a 12-month period where that might be impossible.
“I've been going over quite a lot, looking after them when one of them got sick or was in the hospital, so it was extremely painful knowing my dad was so sick and I couldn’t be there to support Mum,” she said.
Waminda House - supporting youth in 2021
“I know I’m not the only one in Benalla that is going through this. I was at Benalla pathology and a lady who took my blood is going through exactly the same thing.
“She also said it was extremely hard to give up work and have to stay in a country for three to six months without income.”
Ms Hinds was at Benalla Travel on Wednesday picking up her tickets and cannot wait to fly out.
“I'm so excited the New Zealand Prime Minister has finally announce plans for the trans-Tasman bubble,” she said.
Molyullah to get new $120,000 tanker
“Today Steven at Benalla Travel booked my flight, he said it was the first international flight he has booked in 14 months.
“I always use Benalla Travel and to be able to keep supporting them was important to me.
“I fly out on the second flight leaving for NZ on April 19.
“I'm looking forward to seeing Mum, but we'll also do something special for Dad.
“None of us have had closure, so we'll be able to do something, and I will Zoom the boys so they can say goodbye too, as sadly we can't all go.”
If you would like to send a letter to the editor on this, or any subject, click this link
21°C