Victorians stranded in WA due to coronavirus loving life in Esperance

Some 2500km away from home and sitting on the sidelines watching a game of country footy, Tim and Suzanne Spokes could not be happier.

The couple have been in Esperance since February and became stuck when WA’s borders with the rest of Australia were closed to stem the spread of coronavirus in April.

Not that their predicament has caused any dramas though — the Spokes’ said they were enjoying their time away from home.

“My wife and I are on our trip around Australia and we are stuck here in Esperance,” Mr Spokes said.

“My first thoughts (when the border closed) were that it wasn’t a bad loss. I don’t want to go back to Victoria.”

The couple have filled their time doing farm work in Scaddan, watching local footy on the weekends and exploring the region’s parks and coastline.

Even when the border does eventually reopen the couple said they were more interested in heading north than heading home.

Their freedom is a far cry from what friends back home are experiencing.

Residents of regional Victoria have for weeks only been allowed to leave home for essential supplies, study, work, health care and exercise, and must wear a mask when doing so.

There has been no competitive sport either and only two hours of outdoor exercise a day has been permitted.