7 stories / 7 days - Life-shifting moments from the last rounds of lockdown.
Lockdowns create a showcase for the theory of cause and effect. Amongst the negative impact on livelihoods and carefully laid plans, rise tiny moments of triumph, connection, and beauty. Moments which are extraordinary for the simple truth that they could not be recreated under any other scenario.
Melbourne, whilst you stay safe and resilient, let’s stay connected through our stories of authenticity, positivity, and hope.
7 stories / 7 days as told by our team.
| Krissy, our Marketing Analyst, was living in Barcelona and studying Spanish when COVID-19 hit last year. She came home to Melbourne and went straight into lockdown. “I’ve always wanted to learn Spanish and was living the dream in Barcelona when it all came tumbling down in March 2020. Having taught some English in Spain, I found an online network of Spanish and English learners that connected people from all over South America, Central America and Spain every week. Yes we practised our language skills, but we also spoke about our experiences in lockdown. Despite different cultures, states of play and ways of living, we were all connected through our shared feelings of uncertainty, fear and compassion. Whilst I was alone physically, I was more connected globally than I’d ever had the chance to be before. It was a time I'll take with me forever." |  |
 | Emma, our HR Manager, experienced every parent’s worst fear last year when she was informed her then 2-year-old had tested positive to Covid-19. What followed was weeks of highly monitored quarantine and social isolation. She recalls a moment that brought tears to her eyes. “Last year I faced some of the toughest months of my life as I bunkered down at home to look after my covid positive toddler. As a family unit, we decided it was best if my husband and 8-month-old isolated separately during this time to reduce the risk of infection. I was left alone, with fear for my son’s wellbeing, a sense of isolation due to the stigma of covid and no one to support or comfort me physically. One day I opened the door to receive an unexpected package. Members of the CFA brigade (for whom my husband regularly volunteers) had sent us a large delivery of groceries with a beautiful card expressing their support and compassion for me and my family. The gesture bought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of the genuine kindness, unconditionality and care that exists within people and wider communities Sometimes you see the best of people in the worst of times”. |
| Sharan, our Head of MCBD, spent last year's lockdown like many Melburnian parents, juggling home schooling and a sudden shift in day to day life. She recalls a memory she will always cherish. “The timing was serendipitous. My kids and I had just finished listening to The Ugly Duckling audio book a day before. We took our hourly walk, this time at a local nature reserve, and we happened across a baby swan. Over the coming days and weeks we would look out for the little swan during our walks, sometimes heading out especially to catch him. We'd watch him figure out his way between obstacles, and pop out from under his parents wing when we least expected. On reflection, whilst it seemed a simple thing to observe, it could only have happened during a time in our lives when we weren't 'on the run' and juggling school, extra-curricular activities and various social outings. We had a moment in life to stop and enjoy the simple beauty of nature, rather than being pulled into the fast paced nature of our human lives." |  |
 | Din, our Tax Manager, was experiencing isolation along with the rest of Melbourne. He didn’t have to look far to see the true spirit of humanity in the hardest of times. He recalls a very touching moment and was reminded of the beautiful nature of community. “We had a knock on the door one night and found a big plate of dinner and cookies left at our doorstep with a note attached. The kind gesture alone was very uplifting, but the supportive message and making the effort of listing down all the ingredients knowing our specific Halal dietary requirements really touched me. To know that our neighbour had gone out of their way to cook my family a special meal gave me a real of a sense of belonging and reminded me that even in the worst of times, the simple act of thinking about what someone else might need, can make a huge impact. Being a part of a strong community that took the time to think of us really lifted my spirits and that is something I will never forget.” |
| Benedicte, our Managing Director of Transfer Pricing, made the most of her time during lockdown and had the opportunity to pursue her passion for fashion and turn her talent for styling into an online business. She recalls a fun strategy to help get her through the lockdown. “I worked out that for me to cope with the lockdown I would dress up as if I was going to the office everyday and that really motivated me but I also encouraged my neighbours and friends or strangers I would run into on my daily local coffee shop to do that same. I have been operating in the fashion industry for decades so I used this time to work on my online styling community for women to join and learn from their home. I had more time to explore digital marketing, developing a website and creating video content for my styling guidelines with tons of unconventional tips on how to build the fundamental wardrobe. Fashion has long been a passion of mine and sharing with it the world and creating a community really brought a smile to my face. I loved having the extra time dedicated to following my personal passion but most importantly, I have lots of fun doing it!” |  |
 | Cam, our CEO, reflects on how last year’s lockdown allowed him to pursue some long-held passions. "As many founders would know, your business becomes your focus. Having started A&A 11 years ago, a lot of my time and energy over the past decade has been centred around client delivery and creating a wonderful team and culture. Over this time I’d amassed a small wish list of personal and educational development courses I’d promised I’d do ‘one day’ plus a few specific books I’d wanted to relax with. Slowing down in lockdown gave me the chance to make these things happen. Some of the highlights were a Strategic Alignment Course I undertook through Oxford, and a Cooking and Cocktails course that connected people from all over Australia to create a fun and supportive social network." |
| Natasha, our Associate Managing Director of Global Mobility Tax, reflects on a special moment she shared with her son whilst home-schooling over lockdown. “One day during lockdown my 11 year old son asked for my help with an ‘Egg-Drop’ experiment as part of a STEM project his school had given him. I had a busy week at work and hadn’t been spending a lot of time with him on school tasks. Mum-guilt got the better of me and I relented. The experiment involved placing a raw egg in a plastic cup, tying balloons to the cup and then dropping it from a considerable height. I found all the pieces, and with some quiet cynicism, worked closely with him in pulling it together. I was adamant about not dropping it inside the house from the stairwell (convinced we’d have raw egg all over the floor) so after much negotiation, we went outside where I climbed a 1 metre retaining wall and held out the ‘project’ carefully, dropping an egg placed in a cup attached to the balloons from a height of nearly three meters, not really believing that this would ever work …. my son watched, ready to record. I’ll never forget that moment of quiet anticipation, and of our shared joy when the egg was dropped and although the balloons did not really seem to help in slowing it down, an egg landed in the cup on the concrete without a crack! Believe it or a not – the “project was a success!" |  |