Australian Brothers and Sisters Back to Their Kingdom Halls on the 31st of October 2021

[hatcheckgirl]

So we've had our last zoom meeting today 😭, and were given instructions for our next meeting on Tuesday at the hall:

1. Remain at home if unwell.  The zoom meeting will still be accessible, but at this stage not for participating.

2. Use the QR code for check in or use contact sheet.

3. Sanitise or wash hands when entering

4. The WA government recommends and encourages physical distancing of 1.5m, so we are not going to sit too close to each other, only family groups can.  So, no hugging.  There will be spacing between seats and rows.

5.  To keep the hall well ventilated, it was recommended to wear warm clothes as it will be chilly.  From now on, ventilation will mean the hall will be colder than what we're used to normally.

6. A new cleaning regime will be implemented in line with government requirements - touch points sanitised, etc

7.  There is no mask requirement by the government, but we are welcome to wear them if we want.

[Jothob]

5 hours ago, hatcheckgirl said:

So we've had our last zoom meeting today 😭, and were given instructions for our next meeting on Tuesday at the hall:

1. Remain at home if unwell.  The zoom meeting will still be accessible, but at this stage not for participating.

2. Use the QR code for check in or use contact sheet.

3. Sanitise or wash hands when entering

4. The WA government recommends and encourages physical distancing of 1.5m, so we are not going to sit too close to each other, only family groups can.  So, no hugging.  There will be spacing between seats and rows.

5.  To keep the hall well ventilated, it was recommended to wear warm clothes as it will be chilly.  From now on, ventilation will mean the hall will be colder than what we're used to normally.

6. A new cleaning regime will be implemented in line with government requirements - touch points sanitised, etc

7.  There is no mask requirement by the government, but we are welcome to wear them if we want.

Please do let us know how your first in person meeting goes….🤗

[Tortuga]

7 hours ago, hatcheckgirl said:

Use the QR code for check in or use contact sheet.

How does the QR code check in work? I've used a QR code check in on LDC projects and it logs you into the LDC Builders Assistant but how does that work at a KH?

[daydream]

We use the same dedicated contact tracing app/QR code through out the whole country. We check into a public place and check out when we leave the place. I don't bother to do that. I just check in and check out at the same time. A real hassle but a necessary tool to keep track of the virus. We have to use the app before we enter a public area, say a mall and at every outlet in the mall, we have to again use the app and have our temperature taken. Even with these precautions, the virus is running out of control because the state borders have recently been removed and no one is doing any contact tracing. All these rules are only for show when the virus has gone into the community and is untraceable.

Edited October 23, 2021 by happiness IS

[Sofia]

First meeting at KH after months at the zoom…

[hatcheckgirl]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

How does the QR code check in work? I've used a QR code check in on LDC projects and it logs you into the LDC Builders Assistant but how does that work at a KH?

Ours is run by the state, and every state in Australia has their own version. It logs when you enter a premise (we don’t do it when we leave), so that contact tracers know to contact you if there’s an outbreak. Then you can isolate and get tested and quarantine.

Edited October 24, 2021 by hatcheckgirl

[Tortuga]

50 minutes ago, hatcheckgirl said:

Ours is run by the state, and every state in Australia has their own version. It logs when you enter a premise (we don’t do it when we leave), so that contact tracers know to contact you if there’s an outbreak. Then you can isolate and get tested and quarantine.

Thanks, I had misunderstood that it was something set up by the brothers.

[mramirez720]

On 10/22/2021 at 6:05 PM, jwhess said:

Zoom has a button to improve your appearance.  I guess I will not be able to use that at the hall.  (are we getting off-topic?)

It does?!! I need that!

 

[New World Explorer]

22 minutes ago, mramirez720 said:

It does?!! I need that!

 

Conversation in the Kingdom Hall

Sister: Who was that young, wrinkle free brother giving a talk on zoom? 

Brother: That was me...

Sister: Pushes his arm ..you funny ..I mean the the good looking brother, 10 years younger than you...

Brother: I told you that was me... 

Sister: hmmm... 

Brother: Ok..ok ..I pressed "beautifying" button 🤣

Both laughing. 

[jwhess]

2 hours ago, mramirez720 said:

It does?!! I need that!

 

It is still there.

 

[shali]

I tried wearing high heels today after almost two years and my feet wouldn't have it for 5 minutes! I'll be in crisis mode if I have to go back to my kingdom hall anytime soon. I always do my hair and makeup and put on a dress still but I haven't worn pantyhose or high heels in 2 years. And I kind of really enjoyed that, it's a uncomfortable experience on both counts. Argh! I better start preparing now so I can work my meeting shoe wearing up to 10 minutes! That should get me into the Kingdom Hall and back out again! LOL!

Edited October 24, 2021 by shali

[Thesauron]

I tried wearing high heels today after almost two years and my feet wouldn't have it for 5 minutes! I'll be in crisis mode if I have to go back to my kingdom hall anytime soon. I always do my hair and makeup and put on a dress still but I haven't worn pantyhose or high heels in 2 years. And I kind of really enjoyed that, it's a uncomfortable experience on both counts. Argh! I better start preparing now so I can work my meeting shoe wearing up to 10 minutes! That should get me into the Kingdom Hall and back out again! LOL!

Regular shoes are fine, though. High heels might “look good” but aren’t a necessity and are quite bad for you.

[hatcheckgirl]

Really enjoyed our meeting tonight. Flowed much better than on zoom with a lot more participation (some didn’t answer on zoom). We avoided sitting next to anyone not in our family and were spaced out. The best thing was the singing and seeing the elderly still going strong. And our teenagers have grown 😱
 

Everyone was smiling and any apprehensions we had dissolved. Was very nice to be back home. 
 

(Bad weather, heavy rain and unseasonably cold weather could not dampen our enthusiasm). 

[Sofia]

1 minute ago, hatcheckgirl said:

The best thing was the singing

I miss that too 🙏🥰🥰🥰

[MullumMiss]

So glad to know it is a common feeling of what/how to wear proper meeting clothes again.  Around 6 months ago I decided my covid weight gain had to go before our summer so thankfully I have lost a little weight.  It is definitely the shoe thing.  I broke out for the memorial this year and wore heels.  It nearly killed me.  I've grown to love my slides/flipflops/slippers and of course the occasional no camera because too tired to change thing.  Oh well we here in this part of the world haven't received direction to go back to the halls but I suppose it won't be too long.  Another friend in Launceston Tasmania is going back to the hall next week. 😵

[Lee49]

On 10/24/2021 at 4:20 AM, Thesauron said:

High heels might “look good” but aren’t a necessity and are quite bad for you.

We had a sister that insisted on always wearing heels to the meeting, despite the fact she seemed to always fall down several times a month while trying standing up!

 

[blue-jay]

On 10/22/2021 at 7:43 PM, hatcheckgirl said:

 

 

But all vaccinated and unvaccinated 100% capacity at our meetings here in WA.

Interesting. I wonder if that's the case everywhere where meetings are back on?

[Shawnster]

38 minutes ago, blue-jay said:

Interesting. I wonder if that's the case everywhere where meetings are back on?

From what I've read it appears this might be regulated by local government ordinances. For example, some governments may still be regulating the number of people that can meet together. 

[hatcheckgirl]

We had another brilliant meeting yesterday, and had a young couple and their two children join us from the territory as well! The friends made them feel welcome. They had been studying the Bible all on their own, and had attended one assembly prior to the pandemic. Not sure how, but they found out about our meeting and joined us yesterday.

 

The service overseer and his wife, also a young couple, talked to them after the meeting and it looks as if they've accepted a personal study with them! They were among the last to leave as they chatted with everyone. Wow!

 

And a Bible student who has had many issues to overcome, was at the meeting, answered up and even was helping with the cleaning afterwards! He said he’s really trying to work towards baptism now.

 

We have a smallish congregation but the buzz at the meetings is really bursting with encouragement among ourselves, and seeing those interested ones there as well is just amazing!

[New World Explorer]

22 minutes ago, hatcheckgirl said:

We had another brilliant meeting yesterday, and had a young couple and their two children join us from the territory as well! The friends made them feel welcome. They had been studying the Bible all on their own, and had attended one assembly prior to the pandemic. Not sure how, but they found out about our meeting and joined us yesterday.

 

The service overseer and his wife, also a young couple, talked to them after the meeting and it looks as if they've accepted a personal study with them! They were among the last to leave as they chatted with everyone. Wow!

 

And a Bible student who has had many issues to overcome, was at the meeting, answered up and even was helping with the cleaning afterwards! He said he’s really trying to work towards baptism now.

 

We have a smallish congregation but the buzz at the meetings is really bursting with encouragement among ourselves, and seeing those interested ones there as well is just amazing!

Wow, wonderful. What a lovely report.

Looks like you do not miss Zoom meetings? 

[GeordieGirl]

I am not going to bore you with the details but I'm still Zooming. Hoping to get to the hall this coming Wednesday.

[New World Explorer]

54 minutes ago, GeordieGirl said:

I am not going to bore you with the details but I'm still Zooming.

That's very old fashion now.. LOL (kidding)

[GeordieGirl]

1 hour ago, New World Explorer said:

That's very old fashion now.. LOL (kidding)

Which bit? Not Zooming - or not boring you with the details? 😂😂

[Peak Pelka]

For Zambia the pilot meetings are starting this week.

 

One thing I have learnt is that Kingdom halls selected are those in areas where vaccination rate is high and infection rate is low.

[MullumMiss]

35 minutes ago, Peak Pelka said:

For Zambia the pilot meetings are starting this week.

 

One thing I have learnt is that Kingdom halls selected are those in areas where vaccination rate is high and infection rate is low.

Here in Australia it seems to be very low, in fact zero infection but vaccination rates are lower compared to other areas of the country where infection is high.  We have 6 States and 2 Territories.  2 States have resumed.  There are 0 cases in those States.