In fact with an hour-long flight and car drive of about 1.5 hours from Sydney airport he was happy with the knowledge he could be back in the Southern Highlands whenever he felt like a home-cooked meal.

But the former Chevalier College student has recently missed his sister's 21^st birthday because he has been in lock down in Victoria for the past three months.

Celebrations for his grandfather's 70^th birthday were also halted earlier in the year due to the original lock down. Meanwhile, his brother has postponed wedding plans three times due to the pandemic and associated restrictions.

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The opportunity to pursue his musical passion has also been halted. Will was selected in the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and the university choir, but plans were put on hold at the third rehearsal.

Will is the first to admit that he has it better than some caught up in the strict Melbourne restrictions, but there is little doubt he would rather be back in his NSW home town of Mittagong right now.

After graduating Year 12 at Chevalier College in 2018, Will headed overseas for a gap year of extensive travel.

By early 2020 he was ready to settle into studies and was about to head to Victoria where he was accepted into a commerce course at the University of Melbourne.

That plan was put on hold when news broke of a global Caronavirus pandemic. Will was fortunate to be at home with his family when the nationwide restrictions were introduced in mid-March.

However, as the rules eased he decided to head to Melbourne to begin his course in the second semester of the year.

He moved into a small apartment in Carlton with someone he met in the southern state and was looking forward to a true Melbourne and university experience as he anticipated a further easing of restrictions.

Will had high hopes of making new friends, socialising on campus, taking in the city nightlife and culture, and immersing himself in musical opportunities.

It was a great plan, but unfortunately it has not yet been realised.

The second wave of COVID-19 in Melbourne began to be recorded not long after Will moved to the city.

"I kept a close watch on the daily announcements, but within two weeks of settling into the city I was watching the news and heard that anyone wanting to return to NSW would have to go into 14 days quarantine," he said.

With that news Will prepared for lock down once more, this time in a new location - a long way from home.

Securing a job has not been possible at this stage, but he said he had been fortunate to access Youth Allowance while he studied.

"That's been propping me up at the moment," he said.

"As a first year uni student my best option for work is in hospitality, but that has all been largely shut down."

Will acknowledges the positives in the situation and has immersed himself in his studies with lessons currently pre-recorded and online

"I have managed to dedicate a lot of time to studies," he said.

"I've put the distractions aside and developed a good work ethic. It is being reflected in my marks.

"I have also purchased a digital piano so I've kept the music in my life."

Will said that he felt the time in lock down had passed quickly.

"I don't remember a time in my life when time had gone by so fast," he said. "The days blur into one another.

"I talk to my family often. They are able to get out and have lots to tell me and sometimes I go to tell them something that has happened down here and I realise I've told them before and it happened several weeks ago. Not much changes here.

"Without Netflix and study I think things would go a bit slower."

Will said he is fortunate to share an apartment so he has someone else to chat to.

"It is a small apartment so we spend a lot of time with each other," he said.

"I feel sorry for people on their own. I have met a few who are always keen to see other people."

Will is looking forward to the restrictions easing and getting out more, but he is especially keen for the current 9pm to 5am curfew to end.

He said he'd had to rush home a few times when he had lost track of the time.

"I certainly don't want to cop a fine," he said.

"I also look forward to having a little more freedom, getting a job and getting back on track."

But a top priority is getting back to NSW and the Southern Highlands when he finishes the current university semester and exams.

He especially wants to be home for Christmas.

"I'm excited for that. There is no place like home for Christmas," he said.

The likelihood of returning to Melbourne to complete his studies there is still up in the air.

"I've decided that in light of what has happened this year I will hold off making plans," he said.

"I would like the full Melbourne experience, but if a better opportunity comes along I will take it."

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