• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Special Interests
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
    • Sydney Royal Easter Show Giveaway
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
    • What’s On
  • Special Interests
    • Women In Business
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

Little To Complain About

May 15, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Margaret Dwyer, better known as Mardie, is the author of four books.

As a 91-year-old resident of a unit in Southern Cross Village, I feel I had little to complain about during my enforced isolation.

I have a large family, four of whom live locally and one who bought our former homestead. She and her husband live in Sydney, and after isolating for 18 days, she decided to bring her laptop in one day a week and worked from my table, with me in another room.

This, and the very brief visits of the other four when they handed in yummy cooking, and/or groceries from the door, kept me from feeling lonely, as well as extremely well fed.

I realise how fortunate I am and know there are many who either don’t have family or they live too far away to be able to do this.

My kitchen cupboards have never been so organised, as well as my wardrobe. I had time to phone people who I knew might be lonely and vulnerable for a chat.

On the negative side, my spiritual life, which is so important to me, declined. Weekend masses were discontinued, as well as daily masses at the school chapel, which I rely on for spiritual comfort. Admittedly, Father Barry arranged for a home liturgy kit to be delivered to us over Easter with all the epistle and gospel readings for Holy Week. I am still receiving a weekly bulletin with all the readings for the current weekends, so all that is missing are my fellow parishioners and Father to share them with, plus of course Holy Communion.

On Anzac Day, Bobby Strickland and I, complete with a portable keyboard, took a stroll through the entire village about 11am, (no one would want 6am in this neck of the woods!) I played The Last Post, we recited the ode and finally Bobby sang the National Anthem. Residents came out of their units and some followed us from venue to venue. The help of Harry and Doreen Westcott was much appreciated by the two Pied Pipers!

There is no doubt my TV and online technology helped me to keep my spirits up when I missed the physical presence of those near and dear to me. I still consider I was very blessed.

By Mardie Dwyer

Filed Under: Articles, General Interest

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (314) of The Parkes Phoenix (2.2MB PDF) – 1st July 2022

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • News From PSCB July 1, 2022
  • One Night Outside To Help Homeless July 1, 2022
  • Top Chamber Music Outfit To Play In Parkes July 1, 2022
  • Snippets… July 1, 2022
  • Dire Health Care Situation Inspires Hannah July 1, 2022

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Address
7/113-127 Rankin Street, Forbes NSW 2871

Editorial Phone –  0403 080 085
 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales Phone – 0476 110 953
sales@parkesphoenix.com.au

View our Privacy Policy.
View our Conflict Resolution Process.
View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.
Want to advertise with us?
Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Recieve the Phoenix via email

* indicates required

Copyright © 2022 · Website setup by WebSysMan