AN Australian living in Jersey is looking forward to an emotional return to his homeland to see family after the country reopened its borders to vaccinated arrivals following two years of strict Covid-travel bans.
It has been five years since John Davis last visited his home city of Sydney with his family. The local businessman moved to Jersey in 2006 and lives in St Ouen with his wife and daughter. They are planning a trip back home in six weeks’ time.
Mr Davis described the trip as ‘exceptionally important’ for daughter Tayla (who has dual nationality) to see her grandmother, and for them to see his sister, who has been unwell recently.
In March 2020 Australia imposed a travel ban in response to the pandemic. Fully vaccinated arrivals were allowed back in from midnight yesterday.
He said: ‘This trip is considerably more emotive, in seeing family and friends, because of all that families have gone through in the last few years. It is particularly more significant this time. We are going out for two/three weeks. All the family are looking forward to it.’
Mr Davis said he was also looking forward to the hotter weather and warmer waters, with the sea temperature in Sydney currently 25°C, compared to a bracing 9°C in Jersey.
He was full of praise for the Australian High Commission, which handles diplomatic and travel queries and applications for Australians in the UK and Jersey.
The Island has no honorary Australian consul, but Mr Davis said he had helped three Australians living in Jersey make their travel plans home, as an ‘unofficial link’ to diplomats in London.
Hundreds of Australians live in the Island, said Mr Davis, describing them as a tight-knit community, which had been brought closer together in their campaign for an honorary consul to represent them.
Mr Davis helps organise events for Australians in Jersey, organised an official visit for Australia’s High Commissioner in 2015 and also commemorations on Anzac Day, a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand on 25 April for those who have died in wars and conflicts.
While restrictions have meant events have been cancelled recently, Mr Davis hopes that more can be put on this year.
