Since Caroline Hattam was 12-years-old the only thing she wanted to be was an air hostess. When her father moved out to Australia from the United Kingdom she decided working for the airlines would help her see him more often.
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Last month, the Virgin Australia cabin crew member was one of the company's 8000 workers stood down when flights were grounded following coronavirus travel restrictions.
This week, Miss Hattam received the news alongside the rest of the country that the company had gone into administration.
The single mother of three said one of the most difficult things about being stood down during an economic downturn was doing so while social-distancing measures were in place.
I've had my team members crying down the phone to me this week and I can't even go around and give them a hug
- Caroline Hattam
"You're all very close as crew. You become family, you become friends. I've had my team members crying down the phone to me this week and I can't even go around and give them a hug," Miss Hattam said.
"It's very confronting emotionally because there's nothing you can do about it. That control has been taken away from you."
Around 30 air hostesses based in Canberra and another 27 based in Sydney have been without work since six of the airlines regional flights out of Canberra ceased operation in March.
Alongside pilots and ground staff the Virgin cabin crew members were asked to take annual leave while awaiting JobKeeper payments.
Miss Hattam praised the airline for "doing everything they can" but described the situation as "just bloody awful."
"I'm very worried," Miss Hattam said. "It's an emotional process. I've got to wait for the country to recover and that could take years."
Miss Hattam has begun working with the transport union to help ensure the crew get representation while administrator, global accountancy firm Deloitte, work out how the company might be restructured.
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She said the best possible outcome for cabin crew will be a buyer for the company. Miss Hattam said the airline monopoly resulting from Virgin's collapse would be bad for tourism, as prices would rise.
"The government needs to step up and help out the airline," she said.
"It's in their best interest."
Transport union representative Ben Sweaney said the Virgin employees were a vital part of the economy in the nation's capital.
Mr Sweaney said keeping Virgin afloat was the only way to ensure crews employed at Canberra Airport returned to work.
Alex Crowe
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alex covers science and environment issues, with a focus on local Canberra stories. alex.crowe@austcommunitymedia.com.au
