EVENTIDE Homes announced its facility was in lockdown from Thursday afternoon. Resident Harold Blake said he didn't mind, if it kept everyone safe from the coronavirus.
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The 95-year-old, keeps active by riding his exercise bike for about 20 minutes a day.
Mr Blake has lived through various viruses and pandemics before. He said his mother had a simple way of keeping her 11 children healthy.
"There were different scares at time such as scarlet fever, infantile paralysis (polio), the ordinary flu and diphtheria to name a few," he said.
"Most of us survived. My mother was a smart woman. If there was something going on like a flu or epidemic, she made little bags, put a block of camphor in it and tie it around our necks."
Talking about the panic in the supermarket, Mr Blake said when he was growing up there wasn't a thing such as supermarkets.
"I can remember when there was an awful depression and there were a lot of people on the dole," he said.
"They used to move around because they couldn't collect any money at the same place twice in a fortnight.
"At the Navarre racecourse you could see 20-30 fires of where they were camped. They survived on very little.
"It's a shocking thing that's happening at the moment. I am tipping there will be a lot of people out of work."
Mr Blake said he couldn't remember a situation, like the one many across the world were facing.
"The impacts of this is going to be much worse than what I've ever seen," he said.
"The times after the war weren't so bad but everyone worked together.
"I remember when my mother would save all of yesterday's bread and hand it out to those in need."
Mr Blake is a passionate Sydney Swans supporter and grandfather to two-time premiership player Jude Bolton.
"I can never remember a time where football was stopped," he said.
"Even the war. In those times we formed a special league which had two teams from Stawell, Joel Joel, Landsborough and Navarre. We played during the war."
The government announced on Wednesday all inside gatherings of 100 people or more were banned.
"I think that's a good thing," Mr Blake said.
"It's a shame in a way things are cancelled but I think it's very wise."
Mr Blake welcomed the decision from the nursing home to lock-down the facility.
"They've done a pretty good job up until now as well," he said.
"They were taking people's temperature before they came into the facility.
"I didn't want relatives even coming in. If one person was to get it we would all be in a bit of strife.
"Someone asked about my own kids and the fact I wouldn't be able to see them. I said 'that's alright, I can talk to them on the phone'. It's easy to communicate with people now.
"It's a pretty dreadful thing. You've got to be pretty drastic to combat it and I think we're doing the right thing."
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