"Waited 332 days for this": Dan Andrews reunites with mum
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been reunited with his mother Jan after 332 days of forced separation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrews took to Instagram to share a photo of the reunion, along with the caption: “Waited 332 days for this.”
Jan Andrews resides in Wangaratta, a two-and-a-half hour drive northeast of Melbourne.
The photo shows the mother-son duo sitting outdoors at a small table in his mother’s garden, with the both of them wearing face masks.
The Premier was unable to see his mother Jan after Victoria went into a full lockdown twice due to the pandemic.
Before COVID-19 hit Aussie shores, his meetings with his mum were put on hold due to the bushfires.
After Andrews posted the photo fellow Australians shared stories of their own family reunions.
"Awww that's lovely," said one Instagram follower. "Saw my mum and dad this week too."
"I saw my mum and dad for the first time in seven months on Monday Dan," said one of the Premier's Facebook followers. "It sucked being apart for so long but they are both in their 70's and have their own health stuff so while it was a long wait, at least they were there to be seen at the end of the long wait. Hope you and your mum enjoyed some quality time together today."
"Beautiful," commented a woman named Lisa. "And today I saw my own son in Williamstown for the first time since January. A wonderful day."
One woman has to wait another four weeks until she can see her children after which it will be "1 year and 1 week since I would have seen them" due to their occupations as a police officer and a nurse.
"I can't wait," she adds.
Daniel Andrews was born in Williamstown, southwest of Melbourne to parents Bob and Jan Andrews. The family moved from Glenroy to Wangaratta in 1983.
Andrews moved to Melbourne to attend Monash University before entering politics and becoming Victorian Premier in 2014.