Maggi Barnard

Do you feel like you have a novel, a memoir or a travel book in you, waiting to be crafted? Do you like to journal, write poetry or short stories? Sometimes writing can be highly rewarding but also a very lonely enterprise. It can also be a daunting one, if you haven’t written anything before, or when you realise how many words you still need to write!

There is a writer’s group in Parkes that provides the space and time for adult and teen writers of all skill levels to gather together to talk about their writing. Author-rised began 5 ½ years ago and has had a range of guest speakers visit to provide presentations, including published authors, editors and media organisations. Some members of the group have self-published their works in hard-copy books, or as e-books. Others have won awards for poetry competitions.

For those who are busy with work and family commitments, the writing group offers the time to get some words down. Dan Fredericks, the coordinator of the group, prepares a program for the evening based on the groups’ topics of interest. There is also time to Share if you Dare. This time provides the opportunities for writers to read their work
aloud to the others in the group and ask for feedback, if they would like it. Reading out loud is a great practice for writers, and for those interested in participating in the Elvis Poet’s Breakfast, this may be a good opportunity for you to practice performing your would-be winning poem.

Author-rised meets at the Parkes Library on the first Tuesday of every month, between 6pm-8pm. There is time allocated for a BYO supper at the end of the meeting. For any enquiries regarding the group, contact Dan Fredericks on 02 6861 2309.

Music has the remarkable power to stir us emotionally and physically, whether we’re nine years old, or 99. It is also incredibly therapeutic for people impaired with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Music can help to shift mood, provide a sense of control over life, manage stress, stimulate positive interactions with others, facilitate better brain function, and coordinate motor movements.

The residents of the three aged-care facilities in Parkes, Southern Cross Care, BaptistCare Niola and Rosedurnate, were each treated to a one-hour singing concert yesterday by Musica Arioso students. Musica Arioso is a local business owned by Gail Smith, who teaches music and singing to individuals and groups of all ages.

Gail prepared a group of her students with a variety of solo and group numbers to perform at the nursing homes. The group consisted of Gail Smith, Liz Naveau and five youths: Gracey Jones, Melissa McCreadie, Hope Kealley-Smith, Ruby Markwort and Lily Kealley-Smith.

“It went really well. The residents knew some of the songs, so they would sing along, for others they would clap or tap their feet. Some had big smiles and others a few tears. All in all, it was a lot of fun for all,” said Gail.

Last year the group did a Christmas concert at Southern Cross and Rosedurnate and have added Niola this time. Gail has also organised concerts at the nursing homes for the next two school holidays and hopes to do a Christmas one again, time depending.

Could hamstring injuries be back related? The short answer is – Yes. All hamstring injuries have some involvement
either directly or indirectly from our back and nerves and how we control movement of the pelvis. Our hamstrings attach to the bottom of our pelvis. They work to not only straighten the hip and bend the knee but to also help stabilise the pelvis. Any change in back position affects our pelvic position which in turn affects our hamstring length.

The nerves supplying our hamstrings originate in the lumbar spine. Any tightness or  stiff joints in the lower back can impact on the ability of the nerves to glide and move through the hamstrings. We know muscles protect nerves, so if we have a tight nerve coming from our lower back, the hamstrings will tighten to protect this nerve. This tightness puts the muscle at risk of injury when it is working hard. The load is magnified if the hamstring is working overtime to control the pelvis when the gluteal muscles or the joints in the lumbar spine are not working efficiently.

This is why sometimes you can stretch and stretch your hammies and they just won’t loosen up. They may be protecting a tight nerve. By stretching them you are putting the nerve under strain which actually makes the muscle tighten further. In this case we need to look to the lumbar spine to free up this tight nerve.

If you suffer from hamstring tightness or recurrent hamstring injury it is important to address what is happening in your lumbar spine and pelvic control before your hamstring can completely recover.

“For the fitness of you”
Linda Reilly