The trials of traffic duty due to the Victoria/NSW border closure are not just a recent event.
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In an exhibition on Saturday, January 30 at the Old Courthouse, Pambula, photos and descriptions from over 100 years ago revealed local police were involved in similar activities to those of our current police and ADF members.
NSW closed its border to Victoria in January 1919 to stop the spread of what was called the Spanish Flu.
A local constable, John (Jack) Dunbar was sent to the border. The 23-year-old constable had arrived at Pambula in March 1918 from Cooma, serving as a member of the mounted police.
Masks wearing was encouraged and quarantine camps were set up. Historical reports show that about a quarter of NSW had been inoculated with the two doses by late 1919.
President of the Genealogical Society Liz McIntyre said tents were used for quarantining people.
"They also used the pavilion at Kameruka, before it was pulled down, as a medical centre," Ms McIntrye said.
Then as now the effects of the pandemic were widely felt, affecting people's jobs, family lives and social life.
In 1920 Constable Dunbar transferred to Bega but his marriage to Olivier Beatrice Cole of 'Rosehill', South Pambula ensured a continuing involvement with Pambula.
As part of the exhibition at the Old Courthouse, the lives of a number of police who had served there over the years, were highlighted.
They included Constable Adam Ballantyne who is remembered for capturing the mutineers from the ship Junior in 1858 while they were on the run in Merimbula.