COVID is no laughing matter, but there is still room for humour. A scene in ‘The Simpsons’ TV series portrays the family’s home town of Springfield about to be wiped from the face of the Earth. Panicked worshippers hurry from the church next door to Moe’s Tavern. Moe’s regulars hurry into the church.

The cost of COVID is staggering at a national and local level. Apart from the human cost in illness and worse, businesses continue to be suffering. Supermarkets are reporting that some product lines are unavailable because of supply chain issues – some 20 per cent of workers who normally handle shipments are home in isolation. Farmers’ produce is being returned to its source after arrival at some stores because there aren’t enough people to unpack the food. All kinds of businesses have been hit, but closer to home in Tamworth, the pubs and hospitality venues that rely heavily on the annual Country Music Festival for a significant part of their annual revenue now learn the festival is postponed.

The visiting Dubbo dragon boat paddlers were impressed with the Narrabri Lake on the weekend. “This is a fantastic stretch of water,” one said, a view echoed by several of the visitors. “But where is the aquatic activity?” They were surprised there were no other vessels – canoes, sail boats or boards out enjoying the water. Maybe the sight of the new Narrabri dragon boat in action will attract some more lake users.