Unto the populace of Lochac does Countess Beatrice Maria Malatesta send warm tidings.
One of Lochac’s greatest strengths is that of our community. We know that we can rely on each other when faced with challenges.
At this time our Kingdom is under siege from an unprecedented scourge.
The Novel-coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting significantly on our lives, and this is being felt across our Kingdom and indeed the Known World.
We have seen the action being taken by both the Australian and New Zealand governments. It is our turn to make decisions with the concern of the health and safety of our populace, with many people working behind the scenes to assess the current advice and determine practical ways to protect our people.
To this end, I am advising our Seneschals across the Kingdom to suspend all in-person events and activities for the months of March and April.
This decision has been made in consultation with SCA NZ, SCA Ltd, the Crown, and the Seneschallate.
Essential activities should be moved to a digital medium such as our Discord servers. Further administrative advice will be developed regarding the handling of events that are already at a late stage in their planning. Further information will be disseminated through branch Seneschals.
We urge all branches and event stewards to consider how this may impact other events in coming months. We encourage the populace to think creatively, including about what digital community activities might be possible during this time.
We would ask for patience as we work through all the ramifications of this decision, both financial and non-financial.
Please work with your seneschals, who are my hands, in helping to protect each other. It is in our community’s best interests that I make this difficult decision, and ask for your trust, courtesy, good faith and judgement in this situation.
I am committed to open communication with the Kingdom and will provide updates.
With your support, this challenge will pass, our Kingdom will endure, and grow even stronger, ensuring a healthy future for the SCA and all its members.
In service to the Crown and dream,
Countess Beatrice Maria Malatesta
Lochac Seneschal
Resources:
- WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020
- Gatherings of more than 500 people to be cancelled, Australians urged not to travel overseas amid coronavirus fears – 13 March 2020
- Coronavirus: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vows tighter New Zealand border restrictions – 13 March 2020