After more than seven months Tasmania reopened its borders to Victoria on Friday.
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At Launceston Airport, there were plenty of heartfelt reunions to be found.
The last time 18-month-old Charlie Davis saw her godmother Jodie Roach, she could not even walk.
But on Friday her mother Sarah Roach couldn't hold her back as the family embraced once more.
"It's all very exciting. The last few months it's just been Facetime and texting and just constant back and forth messaging," Sarah said.
"I know it's been hard for her [Jodie] because all her family are here [Tasmania]."
It was a similar story for mother Laura McBain and daughter Harmony Hughes, who last saw each other in February.
"We had been over in Melbourne on March 18 - I can remember the day. We knew it was touch and go, whether they were going to close the border or not," Ms McBain said.
"Then they did, so we flew back and that was it - that was the last time I saw her."
It was a day for celebrations at the airport, with the first flight bound for Victoria sent off with a water cannon salute.
There was 18 flights expected at the airport on Friday, compared to only a couple the day before.
Airport chief executive Hans van Pelt said it was big boost for morale.
"It's terrific after more than seven months to see people being able to travel again freely," he said.
"For the regions it is such a big lift. Victoria has been our biggest inbound market for tourism and the biggest trade market.
"It's great to see some of the aviation jobs return around the precinct."
Mr van Pelt said the reopening of the border to Victoria would allow the airport to reintroduce the majority of its pre-COVID flights.
By December the airport is expecting to be operating at 60 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
"We have 118 flights next week, which is up from about 25 and we expect more through to December and January, so it's a really quick restart," Mr van Pelt said.
"We are seeing more rental cars go out. We are seeing more people travel for work.
"But really dominating that is visiting family and friends. People just want to reconnect after a year when they haven't seen each other."
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
