Here we are past halfway through 2020 and what a year we have had so far with the worst bushfire season on record following a drought (still on going in some areas) and that in some areas was followed by floods when the rains finally came. Add to this the COVIO -19 pandemic which has swept the world and now cases of bubonic plague.
I think our Government has done a great job of getting us through the pandemic so far especially compared to other developed countries. I saw an article that made me feel that we were lucky to be in our current position so I will share some of it with you…. it made me think of my grandparents.
Imagine you were born in 1900. When you are 14 years of age World War 1 starts and runs until you are 18 years of age. That war claimed over 22 million lives. Later that year a Spanish Flu pandemic hit the world and lasts until you are 20 years of age…. it is estimated to have claimed around 50 million lives.
By the time you are 29 years of age the Great Depression begins and the unemployment rate is at least 25% and the global economy is in tatters.
The Depression runs until you are 33 years of age.
Following only a few years of recovery, World War 2 starts and you are now 39 years of age. This war lasts until you are 45 years of age and claims approximately 75 million lives.
By the time you are 50 years of age the Korean War is happening although Australia have a lesser role in this conflict as part of a UN Force. Over 5 million lives are lost.
By 55 years of age the Vietnam War stars and runs for 20 years. Over 4 million lives are lost.
When you are 62 the Cuban Missile crisis happens. Potentially our planet could have been devastated but the leaders of the day managed to prevent that from happening.
The Vietnam War finally ends when you are 75 years of age.
Think of everyone you know or have known that was born around 1900 and why their perspective on life may be different from someone born at a much later time. They saw many lives lost through wars and pandemics, they experienced unemployment, rationing of food and goods and they really valued every possession they had and did not waste anything. They were the original recyclers and they had things repaired where possible rather than just throwing it away and buying another item. Compare that to our lives and by comparison from my perspective, we are very lucky!!!
This article was published in Hills Heritage News, the newsletter of The Hills District Historical Society, and is reprinted with permission.
