In our final episode we check back in with Dr Pat Charles and Dr Andrew Casamento - both from Austin Health - for some final thoughts and an overview as to where things currently stand with Covid treatment and services, and how the health care system is holding up 2.5 years into the pandemic.

This episode features Dr Pat Charles and Dr Andrew Casamento.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

‘Underlying health conditions’ is a phrase we have heard repeatedly throughout the pandemic.

Today we talk to Katia - who has a range of autoimmune illnesses and some other underlying health conditions - and her mum Sue about their family’s pandemic experience more generally and their recent bout of Covid more particularly.

This episode features Katia Lenzi and Sue Lenzi.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Today we talk with Alistair who uses heroin, about his experience of the pandemic. The pandemic has truly posed many unexpected challenges for our society, including how to support people who were regularly using drugs when everyone was required to stay at home.

We also talk to Peter who explains what happened to his friends who were homeless, and to Dr Nico Clark, who runs the injecting room facility in North Richmond about the public health response.

This episode features Alistair, Peter and Dr Nico Clark.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

A sad story on our podcast today … Ray Sneddon talks about his wife Marilyn, a nurse who stepped out of retirement to help with the quarantine program, and who lost her life to Covid in November 2021.

She spent four weeks in ICU at The Alfred before her death, and amongst other things, Ray talks about the hospital experience for families who couldn’t see their loved ones when they were so ill.

We also talk to Dr Andrew Casamento who is an ICU specialist currently at Austin Health to learn more about the pandemic experience from the perspective of a doctor working in ICU particularly and in the Victorian hospital system more generally.

This episode features Ray Sneddon and Dr Andrew Casamento.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Today our podcast is all about missing out … mainly on travel! Fleur tells us about her aborted Singapore holiday plans in January 2022 after her family of six caught Covid, and then we also talk to David about his delayed plans - including a trip to Antarctica.

David also provides some insight into the impacts of the pandemic on Australian and international musicians and artists he regularly works alongside.

This episode features Fleur Warburton and David Bridie.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Chloe’s partner Don was in remission with leukaemia when the pandemic started and she was particularly worried about the potential health impacts for him and vigilant about avoiding bringing it into their house. This is her story.

This episode features Chloe Hooper.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

The inbound travel industry ground to a halt virtually overnight back in 2020 when international borders closed due to Covid. In this episode we start with Simon’s story, and then also hear from Terry about the impacts of Covid on their separate but related businesses … how they have managed through the pandemic, and how they are feeling 2+ years on.

This episode features Simon Greenland and Terry Smit.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

When Sally caught Covid she wasn’t anticipating feeling exhausted just walking up the steps to her house months after her illness. In this episode Sally talks about her experience of catching Covid and the impacts of her lingering symptoms on her health and wellbeing, her social life and her work.

We also talk to Dr Pat Charles from the Austin Hospital to find out more about long Covid.

This episode features Sally Rippin and Dr Pat Charles.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Mubarek recently got married overseas - in Cairo, Egypt after waiting more than 2 years to be able to travel again. And unfortunately he also caught Covid on the same trip - whilst visiting his grandparents in Eritrea.

This episode explores the differences in approaches to managing Covid in the community in different countries, and the additional complexities that couples who wish to marry have faced in these extraordinary times.

This episode features Mubarek Imam and Shaykh Mohammad Ramzan.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Steve and his family are self-described 'poster children' for Dan Andrews ... ultra careful to avoid catching Covid. But finally it has struck.

In this episode Steve talks about how he caught Covid, how he's feeling mid-illness, how he’s managing work and being sick at the same time … and the broader impacts of the pandemic on his family.

This is his story.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

This episode is about loss and grief.

When Kathy’s mum and dad chose to move to a nursing home Kathy had no idea that a global pandemic would mean that she would be monitoring their declining health via limited visits, phone calls and facetime.

Hear Kathy’s story and the range of unexpected difficulties her family faced due to the pandemic.

This episode feature Kathy Brunning.

A picture of Kathy as a baby with her mum and dad.

Kathy with her brother Geoff and her mum and dad.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

When Trish’s family contracted Covid for the second time the health impacts were of most concern. First time round they were more worried about all the unknowns …

In this episode Trish talks about her family’s most recent Covid experience around New Year’s 2021/22 and how it unfolded, the unusual side effects she experienced and her lingering fatigue.

She also discusses the differences with their first experience of Covid in mid 2020 when her primary school aged daughter was one of the first in the community to test positive.

This episode features Trish Fradkin.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

When Danny contracted Covid he noticed some unexpected side effects.

In this episode we hear Danny’s story and also talk with Dr Ed Poliness who explains how holistic thinking is now more-than-ever a pre-requisite for GPs as they help patients manage the multi-factorial impacts of the disease.

This episode features Danny McGinlay and Dr Ed Poliness.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

When Mubarek's dad caught Covid his family were quite taken aback with how sick he became.

In this episode Mubarek talks about his family’s experience of Covid and also offers a glimpse into how communities within Victoria's public housing estates worked together throughout the pandemic to ensure quality information and support was available for everyone.

In this episode we also talk with Laura from North Richmond Community Health who led the government’s Covid community engagement and vaccination program across the Richmond estates.

This episode features Mubarek Imam and Laura O’Shea.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Ged’s father-in-law Mike died from Covid very early in the pandemic - before vaccination was available. This is her story.

In this episode she talks about how this tragedy unfolded, how it impacted her family and also how it has influenced her thinking and actions as a public official (Ged is our local Federal Member of Parliament).

This episode features Ged Kearney.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

Over the last year many school camps have been cancelled. Elise's Covid story helps explain why.

When her grade 6 son Hamish headed off the Canberra for school camp Elise went along as a parent helper. All went swimmingly until 4 days in … when Covid struck. Hear what happened and how the school planned for the situation, learn about the raft of logistical difficulties faced … and also how Elise’s family fared. It’s a fascinating story, wholly unique to Covid times.

This episode features Elise Coughlin and Hamish Mann.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.

When 15 year old Polly contracted Covid her family went out of their way to protect her younger brother Jack who has cerebral palsy.

This episode documents Polly's experience of Covid - how she caught it, what she missed out on whilst sick and who she passed it on to. It also explores how her family has worked together over the last two years to keep Jack safe.

Mandy Hose, disability advocate from Too Peas in a Podcast provides some broader commentary and international context around the worries and challenges for families living with disability in these times.

This episode features Jack Wilson, Polly Wilson, Alice Wilson, Tamsin Wilson and Mandy Hose.

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Alphington Community Centre is pleased to document and present this series of local Covid stories. The podcast was conceived and produced by Leanne Coughlin and Tony Wilson. The original theme music is by David Bridie. The fabulous graphics are by Lee Arkapaw.

You can contact us at info@alphington.org.au or visit our website www.alphington.org.au.

This project was funded by the Victorian Government.