Last week The Parkes Phoenix said farewell to our Sales Executive Sylvie Everingham-Potts who is starting to get ready for a totally new chapter in her life: motherhood. We are very lucky to have found an enthusiastic and lively team member in the person of Rochelle Frame who joined our ranks this week.

“I am the mother of two of the best kids, wife of one very lucky husband and owner of a big old dog who still thinks that he is a puppy. My family and I recently moved to Parkes from North Queensland as my husband joined the team at the Northparkes Mine as a geologist in late 2019.”

“I am originally from NSW, having grown up on the Central Coast before moving to Queensland. I have spent the majority of the past ten years following my passion: portrait photography. I absolutely adore capturing real life moments, be it lively family gatherings or quiet, delicate newborn shoots.”

“Other than photography, I am a bit of a hot chocolate fanatic and appreciate the occasional glass (or two) of white wine.”

“I have been lucky enough to join the Phoenix team where I hope to meet and work with many members of the community of Parkes and get to know everyone and explore this beautiful area.”

Our doors might be closed but the library is still here for you!

In response to the COVID-19 virus the Parkes Shire Libraries closed their doors last Wednesday, including access to the 24-hour library service in Trundle and Tullamore. Returns can be placed in the returns chutes at each branch, but we will automatically extend all loans until we re-open. All programs, activities and face to face borrowing will be suspended until further notice, but the fantastic range of online resources will remain available for members and can be accessed from the Library section on the Council website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au

Now more than ever we need to act with kindness, be considerate of others, and support our local community and businesses.

Reach out to an elderly neighbour
Leave some flowers and a note on their doorstep. Make sure they have your phone number. Call out over the fence. Offer to pick up some groceries. Just let them know they are remembered.

Jump off email and onto Zoom or Facetime
With many people working from home or having to stay at home, we will miss the nuances of face to face contact. Instead of emailing or texting, choose instead to video call with someone.

Shop online locally
Look up your favourite local physical stores to see if they have an online option – many will have.

Keep local restaurants and cafes in business
You can order direct with them, support them and help to keep their staff numbers up. Practice exceptional hygiene by washing hands as soon as you receive and unpack the bag.

Share a laugh
Don’t forget that humour can be a great mechanism for coping with stress. Positive jokes and witty conversation can make you feel closer to the people around you and socially supported. Another important aspect of humour is that it helps us to look at the same situation in different ways.

Take care of each other everyone!

Parents who have undertaken the decision to homeschool have done so after much deliberation and research. But this week parents across our community have been literally thrown into the deep end with the Premier’s advice to keep children home from school

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from homeschooling my kids for over a decade, is that it’s possible to have fun being at home and to enjoy learning together.

Much of the thinking that goes into preparing to homeschool are decisions about curriculum. In this case local schools are providing lesson content so parents can take a supervisory role.

School at home is quite different to homeschooling where there is much more integration in life and lessons, but many of the same strategies in dealing with kids at home apply.

When we embrace learning as an adventure, we can have a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards our children’s learning. For work that seems a little more tedious, what we need to help them realise is that, like any exercise, we might feel a little strained when we’ve used our brain to learn something new, but the more we practice the easier it gets.

It’s about equipping our kids with the tools they need to become independent learners. We have to change our expectations when our kids are learning at home.

Our home environment also becomes a work environment so there is going to be more mess, especially if we want to encourage creativity. Learning to pack up and do some household chores together to keep the house in order can be part of the experience.

Think of fun things to do together such as reading a great story. When you can, spend time in your garden. Get the kids involved in the kitchen. Use screens (sometimes you need a break), but don’t be afraid to let your kids experience boredom. This is often when creativity is sparked. If they are idle or mischievous, giving them a chore to complete is a good idea.

This is a very uncertain time for all of us, but we can embrace the positives which is surely getting some unexpected quality time with our kids. Use it as an opportunity to cultivate your relationship with them.

“It’s a devastating blow,” said Parkes RSL Sub-Branch Secretary Paul Thomas of the decision by RSL NSW to cancel all Anzac Day commemoration ceremonies and activities.

This includes the dawn services, gunfire breakfasts, dinners, marches and flag ceremonies.

Paul said the decision was understandable under the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra also closed its doors to the public indefinitely on Tuesday. The War Memorial will host a private Anzac Day commemorative service in the Commemorative Area and Hall of Memory on Anzac Day. The event will not be open to the public but will be broadcast live across Australia by the ABC and streamed online via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The traditional Dawn Service, National Ceremony and veterans march will not take place.

Australians have rallied on social media to get the word out about honouring veterans while maintaining a safe social distance. The initiative calls on Australians to stand at the end of their driveways as they observe a minute’s silence at 5:55am on Anzac Day, Saturday 25th April. People are also encouraged to display red poppies on their post boxes on the day.