These days, the use of the word ‘unprecedented’ is, well, unprecedented. We’ve got nowhere to run for guidance, except to history.

Hence, the frequent references to wartime and to previous epidemics, especially the 1918 Spanish Flu.

In recent days, our suburban GP clinic has chosen to run to a different reference point: Ned Kelly.

Old Ned may have been sadly misguided in his chosen life path, but he got one thing absolutely right: When faced with an emergency, innovate.