But while it might not be a blow-for-blow replication, life in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic is eerily similar to the way of the world 101 years ago as the Spanish Flu took hold.

As COVID-19 continues to change the way we live, businesses and community events in Moyne continue to do it tough, but thankfully our communities have so far been spared the traumatic health impacts the pandemic has caused in many parts of the world.

There has been just one case of COVID-19 related to Port Fairy, with Moyne Health Services not having admitted any patients with the condition, nor have they recorded a positive case in their testing clinics.

But history shows, relaxing the measures in the fight against COVID-19, even so far from the bigger, more densely populated cities, could prove disastrous.

The Port Fairy Historical Society - through the work of author Richard Patterson, has kindly provided the Moyne Gazette and The Standard with reports from life back in the day when the Spanish Flu threatened global health.

By November 1918, reports had stated 82,000 people in the USA had lost their lives to the flu.

The historical society's records show the first case of Spanish Flu in Australia was recorded in January 1919.

This case was in Melbourne and was believed to have been brought in by a returned serviceman.

Melbourne had quickly become a hotspot for the flu, making the city a place to steer clear of.

As is the case today, South Australia was a no-go for Victorians, with all trains between the two states grounded.

Port Fairy was a popular destination for city people looking for a day by the seaside, with excursion trains running from the state capital to the town.

But the flu outbreak put an end to this, with the excursion trains to Port Fairy and all country resort areas cancelled.

The arrival of the flu had been delayed compared to many parts of the world, but through the pages of local and metropolitan newspapers, Australians knew of the magnitude of this sickness.

The severity of the flu and how contiguous it was meant restrictions were put in place to limit person-to-person contact.

This included banning meetings of over 20 people, while Sunday schools, libraries and art galleries were closed.

Church services were allowed to go ahead, as long as those attending wore masks, while it is believed hymn singing may have been banned for a period.

Factories were to stay open if safe, while plans were in place to convert state schools to temporary hospitals should the rate of sickness continue to rise.

While all these restrictions and planning measures were in full swing in Melbourne, remote country areas like Port Fairy were seemingly oblivious to the scale of this health crisis.

The Gazette newspaper of the day reported the local council had received correspondence from the state's chief health officer, suggesting people should not kiss anyone with a sore throat and should exercise caution when sneezing, coughing and spitting.

Reports continued to arrive about the carnage being caused by the flu, with one letter from a Melbourne resident stating "the influenza is very bad here at present and people seem to be dying all over the place. it is to be hoped that no cases appear in Port Fairy".

Despite this warning, the people of Port Fairy appeared to be somewhat flippant about the dangers, believing the flu could not conquer the tyranny of distance.

Social distancing rules were ignored, as big social events continued unabated.

These included a large wedding at the Yambuk Hall and a Naval Dance in Port Fairy's Drill Hall.

Transport was included for this event to bring people from as far afield as Koroit and Dennington.

But pandemics do not discriminate and can travel at lightening speed, with cases of Spanish Flu soon recorded in Port Fairy and district.

By May 13, Port Fairy Hospital had recorded it had 27 in-patients with Spanish Flu.

By the end of the month, this tally had grown to 51, and it was assumed the district had many more cases, with many believed to have suffered the sickness at home.

One resident of Crossley said at the time "it was pitiful that sufferers in that district were having to leave their beds to milk the cows then crawl back between the sheets".

The situation was becoming grimmer by the day, with 38-year-old Bridget McMahon from Rosebrook the first in the district to die from the flu.

She was followed soon after by Nellie Smith, a 24-year-old Port Fairy nurse.

The next to die from the flu was Mary Ann Lane, of James Street in Port Fairy.

It was a heartbreaking story, with Mrs Lane eagerly awaiting the return of her son, a solider, from service in Europe.

Unfortunately Mrs Smith was to fall ill from the flu and soon before her son was to return, she was found dead in her bed.

Three more deaths were reported in Port Fairy and district, with a further three men dying after contracting the flu in Europe before returning home.

This took the reported number of deaths to nine, contributing to a national toll of 12,000 by the time the worst of the pandemic had subsided at the back end of 1919.

Despite the carnage caused by the pandemic, there were those in the community who had theories on how the flu could be controlled and how they were defiant it would not affect the normal run of their lives.

An example of this came at the height of infection numbers in Port Fairy when The Gazette reported the mindset of movie-goers of the time, who were bizarrely promoting the medicinal powers of cigarette smoke.

"A slight deviation from the usual routine of patrons of picture shows in the Lecture Hall was given on Saturday night last, when smoking was greatly indulged in by the majority of the gentlemen present," the article said.

"This was considered to be a preventative for influenza. It is expected the ladies will be at it next".

It of course was to be a misjudged attempt at dealing with one of the world's most lethal pandemics, with those putting their faith in keeping their distance and wearing face masks fairing better.