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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Shire Talkers I am writing this in late March. Such is the world of magazine deadlines; we often have to write well before publishing date. So, I thought I’d use this opportunity to reflect on the way of the world right now. In the last issue we were praising our firies and volunteers for their outstanding time and effort in putting out the bushfires. Now, we are turning our gratitude to our essential services – supermarkets, teachers, early childhood educators, independent grocers and retailers. We have seen clubs, pubs, leisure centres, gyms, community centres, libraries and places of worship closed; even our beloved NRL; all with the intent of “flattening the curve” and limiting the viruses spread. The message is simple. Stay at home. But with so many people not adhering to the social distancing rules, it just makes things harder. Many are in self-isolation or quarantine if returning from overseas. And that, is where it stands at the end of March. I hope that when the winter edition of Shire Talk Magazine gets published, that we have seen something positive; that the virus is on its way out; that our health system is not overloaded and that people are returning to a degree of normality. I also hope that whilst getting back to our day-to-day, that we can reflect on the time we have spent in isolation with our families as being valuable. That our kids have great memories of all the games we played and reconnecting we did. The image on the front cover was created by Kirsty Godwin and is named “WEREKATA” meaning, “Kookaburra” in the Awabakal language, the Aboriginal tribe that her family is from. She specialises in capturing Australian native flora and fauna in acrylic and this friendly fellow sat with her on a visit to Burnum Burnum park at Woronora. “The reason I chose him was that Kookaburras are a spirit animal and they symbolise laughter, happiness, joy, pleasure, amusement, the bright side of life optimism, community, family, help, team work, humour, unity, healing and cheekiness amongst other things. With everything that is happening in today’s world and how it’s left us all feeling, I can’t imagine anybody right now not wanting these things in their life as this combination or a mixture of it could only bring joy to us all.” Until next time, keep safe, keep smiling.
Julia Baker CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE Letter from the Editor.................................................Page 3 Corey’s Book Club.....................................................Page 4
THE SHIRE TALK TEAM Julia Baker, Managing Editor juliab@shiretalk.com.au
Corey Blake, Presenter corey@shiretalk.com.au
Lauren Holly, Writer & Presenter @happylaurenholly
Laurent Tartarin, Videography & Photography @LT_photographer
Joel Beatton, Sports Writer @joelbeatton Jessica Osborne @theshirefoodie_
Hannah Geraghty, Writer @Forty_feisty_fatigued
Ashleigh McLeod, Contributing Writer @missashleigh
Front cover designed by Kirsty Godwin @kirsty_godwin_art
What’s happening at Manoosh Pizzeria?...................Page 5
Brett Whipp, Editor-in-Chief brett@shiretalk.com.au
Covid-19 and the impact on local businesses.............Page 6 What can I do? What is allowed? How do I keep up?...................................................Page 7 Survive Covid with a healthy mindset........................Page 8-9 Your Talk..................................................................Page 10-11 How to manage your physical & mental wellbeing during lockdown......................................................Page 12-13 Home schooling? How’s that going?..........................Page 14 WIN with the Shire Talk Survey..................................Page 16
@ITimagery
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The Shire Foodie Goes Takeaway...............................Page 17
Twitter https://twitter.com/the ShireTalk
The Footy is Back!.....................................................Page 18
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Corey’s Book Club Some of our regular listeners to our radio show on 2SSR will recall our conversation with Corey about reading books. With everyone staying safe at home during the current climate, what better time to pick up a book! Shire Talk shines its spotlight on three local writers and their must-read novels. Which one will you read first? old , a six year A solo m-cuhmanging adventure and a life
d your made y?
Having quit her corporate career, sold her possessions and rented out her house, Evie – along withher six-yearold daughter, Emmie – embark on an epic two-and-a-half year backpacking adventure that will change their lives forever. Backyard to Backpack follows their journey toward happiness and self-acceptance; from camping on the Great Wall of China, hanging from train doorways in Sri Lanka, swimming with mantas in Indonesia, and praying in Buddhist temples in Taiwan.
vie Farrell left her g she owned, rented an an epic two-and-age their lives forever. emanding job, a hefty for a new life lived exploring the world
n train doorways in d much-needed blood ephants in Malaysian ere chased by monkeys self-acceptance, they world around them
Backyard to Backpack is the inspirational true story that will have you asking yourself what might be if you took a chance, stepped off the path of expectation and created your own adventure?
l true story that be if you took a on and created
Evie Farrell
@mumpacktravel MEMOIR
‘Backyard to Backpack’, Evie Farrell.
Evie and Emmie Farrell are still travelling, four years later. When they are at home, they live in Burraneer.
Evie Farmurempllack travel Creator of
‘Thursday’s Child’, Tracey Friday
T hursday’s Child
Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go ...
Maggie is a spirited girl growing up in an English country village, surrounded by apple orchards and hop fields. Set during the 1940s, Maggie’s life would be idyllic if not for the unwelcome intrusion of air raids as WWII rages around her. Maggie is Thursday’s Child, a spirited girl growing up in
an English country village surrounded by apple orchards and hop fields. Neighbours are friends and the local
landowner, the Squire, is a fair, decent man to his workers.
Life could be idyllic, if not for the unwelcome intrusion of air raids.
This is 1941 and WW2 is raging. When peacetime is finally declared in 1945, it seems the war is over – but through tragic circumstances Maggie realises that war comes in
many guises. Life changes from one of happy frivolity to loneliness and rejection.
However, the village, her friends and a deep fascination
with a four-penny stamp from a country far away that she
A tale of love, loss, deceit and courage
Although peacetime is declared in 1945, Maggie realises through tragic circumstances that war comes in many guises and her life changes from one of happy frivolity to loneliness and rejection. Maggie draws strength from her village, her friends and a deep fascination with a particular four-penny stamp, to ultimately learn the most valuable of lessons: to believe in her dreams and in herself.
A tale of love, loss, deceit and courage
has never seen but yearns for all give Maggie the strength to keep moving forward.
Ultimately, Maggie learns the most valuable of lessons to believe in her dreams and in herself.
ISBN 9780987639004
Tracey Friday is a proud Sutherland Shire resident, having lived in Gymea for 14 years.
FicTioN / HiSToricaL
ISBN 9780987639004
Tracey Friday
Thursday’s Child is a tale of love, loss, deceit and courage. The book’s compelling sequel, From Orchards to Outback, is due for release in May 2020 after eight years in the making.
Tracey Friday
9 780987 639004 9 780987 639004
‘The Knowing Room’, Neil Stanners The Knowing Room is the much-anticipated sequel to Neil Stanners best-seller ‘The Magic Room’. While Stanners’ first book details the story of a young boy, a German soldier and a young woman finding sanctuary in a ruined building during the fall of Berlin at the end of WWII, The Knowing Room takes up the story of the boy, Hauke Kluge, who is left for dead when the German soldier and the young woman, whom he shared the secret room with, escape the city. It follows Hauke’s fortunes until he is forced to confront the horrors of the extermination camps and those who ran them. Should they leave the truth alone or try to make amends for their country’s crimes? Based on actual events, both books provide insight into life and survival at the close of WWII. Neil Stanners lives in the Sutherland Shire, dividing his time between his writing, stock photography and playing blues.
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Manoosh Pizzeria, Caringbah The past month has been tough on so many small businesses across the Sutherland Shire. It is important for everybody to help out their fellow Australians during these trying times and keep spirits high. Like many other businesses in the area, Manoosh Pizzeria in Caringbah have felt the effects of the coronavirus but are staying as active as possible for their customers. Co-owner Margaret admits there was a level of uncertainty at first but they were focused on “making sure staff keep their jobs and customers keep receiving their food”. As a business that mostly utilises takeaway and delivery options, most of the changes they made were in regard to hygiene and safety. “We had to pack our tables and chairs in order to conform with new regulations,” Margaret said. “In addition, we had to make sure the hygiene procedures were increased… Our drivers now carry a hand sanitiser with them to use before and after deliveries.” To keep up with demand, Manoosh Pizzeria successfully launched their newest dessert – Biscoff Biscoff – and will be launching a new side soon. Stay tuned! Manoosh Pizzeria is family-owned and active across the community. They use only the freshest ingredients and top-quality products. Their prices are very competitive for the quality of products they use and they are passionate about making good pizzas. Not only do they sell pizzas but they also cater for “on-the-go” customers with their range of freshly baked wraps that can be consumed anytime and anywhere. “It’s always important to support local businesses to keep them going,” Margaret said. “It’s important for us to support our local community… We have been involved with churches and sports teams in our local area.” If any Sutherland Shire locals would like to support Manoosh Pizzeria, you can contact them on (02) 9131 4123 or visit them at 1/277 Kingsway, Caringbah.
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Covid and the impact on local businesses Disclaimer: This was written in April and comments on the situation as at that time. Shire Talk are aware that circumstances may have changed by the time this goes to print.
The term “unprecedented times” has been bandied about over recent weeks. Politicians, business owners and officials all tell us how we have never seen anything like this before, that we are in a situation no one has ever seen in peace time. Which is why all the steps the government are taking to close our society is an attempt to stop the virus in its tracks. No one wants the economy to stop or slow down; no one wants high levels of unemployment; no one wants education to be distanced. But it has and it is. We are practicing social distancing, which has inevitably led to this. So, what of our Shire economy?
Local businesses have been forced to close, go online or pivot. With a push for only essential services remaining open, many businesses are suffering. So, what can you do to help support our local economy? 1. You don’t have to spend money to give support. Liking, commenting and sharing social media posts are just as important in keeping business alive. 2. Buy a meal or cup of coffee from one of the local restaurants and cafés still operating. Use their own delivery services, if you can. 3. Many of your favourite shops have gone online. Check out their social media and online shops for special deals they are running during this time. Some gyms and exercise classes have gone online, with gym memberships on hold, now is a great time to get involved with this. 4. Consider shopping local and independent for your essential groceries. Some restaurants and shops have changed direction to provide these as well.
We’re all in this together. We will get through it together. Stay active on social media to get updates on the businesses around you.
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5. Practice social distancing. Whilst the rules are hard and isolation is tricky, the more we adhere to them, the quicker we will all be out of this, allowing our economy to attempt to recover.
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What can I do? What is allowed? How do I keep up with what’s going on? In the early days of this pandemic, it was simple. Stay at home. Now, as restrictions are easing, there are some simple guidelines to make sure we all stay safe. 1. Practice social distancing. Keep a minimum distance of 1.5m between you and others. This means when you’re out and about, if you’re visiting someone at home or at the shops. 2. Wash your hands. Simple enough, for at least 20 seconds under warm running water with soap. After being outdoors or interacting with others this is especially important, but do it regularly after moving from one task to another inside your home. 3. Keep your home and workspace clean. 4. Avoid vulnerable people. According to the NSW Government, this includes people aged over 70, those aged 65+ with a medical condition, anyone with a compromised immune system, and, members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who are aged over 50 and have a chronic illness. Of course, it’s necessary to check in on your elderly or sick family and friends, but please ensure you practice social distancing and take additional steps to reduce contact. 5. Stay home, unless participating in one of the allowed activities as set out by the NSW Government. If it’s not safe for you to be at home, you can call the Family & Domestic Violence Support Line anytime on 1800 65 64 63.
What should I do if I have symptoms? The NSW Government is telling everyone to get tested, even if you have mild symptoms. You can arrange this through telehealth with your GP. Please phone your GP surgery before you attend so they can make provisions for you. Or you can visit one of the testing centres at: Sutherland Hospital (in the old emergency department) Follow signage from Kareena Road Entrance, Ground Floor, Kareena Road, Caringbah Telephone 9540 8998. 8am until 8pm daily. Sutherland COVID 19 Drive-Through Testing Centre Sutherland Multi-Purpose Community Centre 123 Flora St Street Sutherland (enter via Belmont Street) 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on public holidays. No referral or appointment required Please adhere to the rules. If we haven’t followed them, we could see the number of cases rise. Stay safe and follow the advice at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules 7 ShireTalkWinter 2020
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SURVIVE COVID-19 WITH A HEALTHY MINDSET Two months ago, my household of five had a rotating door. With some on nights, others on shifts and still others with your conventional nine to five, there was always someone on the move. Then, that door stopped swinging. The COVID crisis swept through like a hurricane in more ways than one. Suddenly our long hours, busy schedules and extensive to-do lists blew away on the wind and left us staring blankly after them. When businesses began closing, most of my house were stood down. When I deemed it too risky to continue seeing clients, I closed my doors too. For a moment there was a breath of peace. A quiet novelty that felt like we were playing hooky from work. It only took a moment of media to bring the new reality crashing down. At first, we worried – for our health, for our lack of income, for homeschooling stress and for adjusting to a whole new routine. Then, we smiled. We’re all adjusting to a new reality. Whether you’re self-isolating or facing daily risk as an essential worker (thank you), for many this is a time of heightened anxiety, loneliness, sadness, boredom, fear and much more. But whatever we’re facing, we have the ability to reframe our mindset to cope with what’s ahead. “We can’t change what’s happening, but we can change how we think about it and that makes all the difference.” The day we started smiling again was the day we each picked a frame. You’ve heard the expression “frame of mind” and what I refer to is exactly that – identify the frame that you will build your reality in. Perhaps “I will operate according to what is best for my immune system during this time” or even “I will contribute to my goal of (insert dream/goal) during this time” are attractive to you. When you have a frame, you now have a guiding light to measure your decisions and actions against. 8 ShireTalkWinter 2020
For example, if you’re prioritizing your immune system you know you need eight hours sleep each night, balanced meals, limited toxins and regular exercise. With this frame, you have a reason to be in bed at a certain point (and not lie awake binging Netflix), avoid constant snacking and be out for a walk each day. These things add routine and get you moving. By operating to a frame, you can stay focused and engaged. (P.s. If you’re having trouble selecting a frame, ask yourself: what’s important about life right now? Your answer will be your frame.)
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While frames help us structure our days to beat the lethargy, frustrations or bad habits of isolation, reframing involves changing how we think about a situation to see a bright side. Consider a client I had some weeks ago. After selecting the frame “I will keep myself and my family content and engaged during isolation”, she called after a hard day and told me how stressed, tired and overrun she was trying to manage working from home, homeschooling, managing the house and being a single mum of three. She’d reached the end of her rope and felt as though she’d failed in operating to her frame. All it took was a change in thinking for her to be re-energised. When times are tough, reframe by asking yourself: how can I view this as beneficial or of value? In this client’s case, the following thoughts put her back in her desired frame of mind: - I am so lucky to have a flexible workplace where I can continue to earn an income - My family is safe at home and healthy - Life skills can be part of homeschooling. The older kids can help around the house or cook their favourite meals while the younger ones can set the table or feed the pets. - This is a great opportunity to bond as a family No matter your situation – be it in isolation or on the frontlines, how you think about your situation impacts how you’re feeling. So, operate to a frame and, when times are tough, use the reframe technique to find a better way of thinking about it. As always, contact The Business of Wellbeing’s Facebook page to learn more or send a message for free support during COVID-19. Stay well, Lauren
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Your Talk
Our talking team, Corey Blake, Julia Baker, Gloria Gervasoni and DJ Stu – Stuart Redman, were gracing your airways on the Shire Talk weekly show on 2SSR 99.7FM right through the summer. As COVID started to rear its ugly head at the beginning of March, we no longer had guests coming into the studio in light of social distancing rules. As people started to bunker down into isolation, we sadly had to pause our broadcasts. We hope as restrictions lift, we will return to the studio, but for the moment, we bring you some of the highlights of our last couple of months on air.
Darrin from
uty Bank
Denise from the Bea
Denise is Operations Manager for The Beauty Bank, a charity that supplies life’s little luxuries to those in need. She told us about the sorts of products you can donate as well as the support you can offer. @TheBeautyBankAU
@Out of Of
Amy from The Bridal Bar
Darrin used to be our drone photographer, but left just over a year ago to pursue a dream of travelling around Australia in a caravan. Along with his wife and 3 children, they completed their journey and came into the studio to talk about his adventures.
ShireRewards Partner, Amy from The Bridal Bar spoke to us about the beauty services they offer for both women and men as well as the #SorryNoMore campaign.
fice
@BridalBarAu
@OutOfOfficeAus
Do you follow us? Find us, follow us, and join our groups!
@ShireTalk
@Shire Rewards
@Shire Health and Fitness
@ShireTalk #ShireTalk #eyeoftheshire #shiretalkmagazine
Shire Talk
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Kristy and her daughter Annabella chatted to us about their organisation, The Volunteer Hub. After being affected emotionally by the impact of the summer bushfires, she created this group as a way to connect wildlife carers, project makers and event organisers with volunteers after our bushfire crisis.
Lauren from The Business of Wellbeing (see her article on page 8) talked Corey through a perfect date on Valentine’s Day! @TheBusinessOfWellbeing
@The.VolunteerHub
Producer Julia’s Playlist Julia likes to theme the songs according to what we’re talking about – our guests, the news, sport or even celebrity birthdays. Can you guess what we were talking about by the playlist? •
Beautiful Day by U2
•
Rihanna & Kanye West
•
Unpretty by TLC
•
Dance Monkey – Tones and I
•
You’re Gorgeous by Babybird
•
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
•
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Deep Blue Something
•
We Are the Champions –
•
New Rules – Dua Lipa
•
Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
•
Penny Lane – The Beatles
•
This is our House – Bon Jovi
•
California Dreamin – The Mamas
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Learn to Fly – Foo Fighters
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Fly Away – Lenny Kravitz
•
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
•
Kite by U2
•
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) –
•
Four Five Seconds – Paul McCartney,
Remastered 2011 – Queen
and the Papas
The Proclaimers
Sutherland Shire Business Network Share your experiences with other business owners and managers in our noncompetitive, positive group. Join us for discussion, strategies, trends, news and tips and gives you a fantastic opportunity to team up with other members of the local business community, for events, cross-skilling and contra deals. We believe everyone has something to offer and is a place to learn and grow professionally with each other. The Sutherland Shire – Local Deals, News & Events Join our community group where we invite comments, discussion and news about everything and anything to do with The Sutherland Shire. We encourage you to share your events, whether that be a garage sale, fundraiser or community day. You can also post about your business! Add your friends and family – anyone who lives in the Shire – to grow our community. FREE Fitness, health education and fun Through these turbulent times, we want to be there to support our community wellness. Whilst health and fitness may look different, we have an opportunity through social media and technology to come out of this together, thriving, and stronger than ever with classes, talks, recipes and more! @shiretalk 11 ShireTalkWinter 2020
@theshiretalk
shire talk
shire talk www.shiretalk.com.au
And I’m sorry to say, texting is not going to cut it as our primal brain will not recognize a text or email as a form of social connection. We need to see, feel and sense people if we are going to connect on a human level of interaction. We cannot feel at the moment, but we need to see and sense. Organise with a friend, every day, to meet up and go for a walk, whilst obviously still practicing social distancing. If you live in an apartment block, connect with a neighbor and have a faceto-face chat someone outside, even if you just chat for thirty minutes over the fence. We all have something in common now, so finding shared ground will not be hard. This is absolutely vital if you are going to stave off depression and anxiety, even if you believe that you feel absolutely fine at the moment. Skype and FaceTime will suffice, but seeing someone in person is much better for our mental health.
2. Get outside
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING DURING LOCKDOWN
We are still allowed to leave our place of residence, and until we are not allowed to leave under any circumstances, you absolutely have to get outside as much as you are allowed. I have spoken with clients at length about developing strategies about how to do this and I have developed a simple routine that provides the opportunity to get outside, with reason, at least three times per day. The first is the obvious one, to exercise, and this is the only time in my professional life that I have encouraged people to exercise every day. But you have to do it – every day – even if it is only a walk in the sun. That counts. The second reason to get outside is to buy food from a grocer or fresh food store and the very simple strategy is to buy your fruit daily. Whatever fruit you plan to eat that day (yes, you should be eating fruit), you can buy from your fresh food grocer. It might be that you travel to the grocer to spend a few dollars and purchase two pieces of fruit. Yes, it seems like a hassle, but by doing this you are leaving your house, interacting with people and getting some critical vitamin D. Multiple studies have shown strong links between a lack of vitamin D and depression.
We are living in a truly amazing time, where we are doing things and living in ways that, even two months ago, would have seemed unbelievable. Due to the isolation that we are all experiencing, however, there are certain strategies that we need execute if we are to stay as mentally and physically healthy as we can. The time to be creative with how we manage our mental and physical health is now, and it isn’t necessarily easy to do. Prioritising your health is now more important than ever, because you may have had a lot of purpose in your life stripped from you, depending on what has happened with your work and business situation. The stripping back of your life can present issues that may not even be present yet, such as anxiety and depression about future lost potential and hopes. This is why staying on top of your mental health is so critical right now, as the new ‘normal’ continues on well into the future. Bearing in mind as well that social contagion is real and that you are not immune to your community’s own collective anxieties and stresses, even if you think you don’t feel them.
1. Stay connected This is clearly hard to do right now, given that the very aim of the lockdown is to keep people disconnected and isolated. You need to find ways around that as human beings are social creatures – very social. Staying connected, if you are living on your own even more so, is absolutely critical and I cannot stress this enough.
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Again, we are living in an incredible time, where we will need to fight for our health harder than we ever have. And if you have dependents you will need to stay as healthy as you can, for yourself so that you can be strong for them. Finally, try not to despair, reach out if you need it. Now is not the time to be tough – we are all in this together. If you would like some personal advice on how to manage all of this, reach out to us at Totum Health. We’ve got a great community of people that are all working for each other. Be well and stay strong.
The third reason you can offer to get outside is to get a coffee. This will again allow you to have a chat, interact, and break up your day. You will feel less like a prisoner in your own house. If you are trying to save money, as we all are, ration some money each day for a coffee or tea, or whatever you like to drink. The small cost will help to preserve your mental health and it will be a very small price to pay – I can assure you of that.
Chris Dounis is the Co-founder and Director of Totum Health. He is an Exercise Physiologist with 10 years’ experience, specializing in helping clients understand their behaviour through the biopsychosocial model and applying Motivational Interviewing techniques to ensure that real change can be achieved. Empowerment is the key to success!
3. Move your body Human beings did not evolve as stationary animals – we know this because our entire physiological structure dictates it. We are highly physical creatures with a body and physiology that needs to move. Have you heard of the phrase ‘move it or lose it’? It is true, truer than you may realise. As I touched on earlier, now is the only time in my professional life that I am imploring my clients to exercise every day. Why is that? Because our capacity for incidental movement has been completely removed from us. As an experiment, I have asked some clients to wear their pedometer around the house on a day where they are not planning on leaving. The lack of movement has been shocking, with some clients taking less than five hundred steps! They may as well have stayed in bed all day. What I will say here, as I have maintained for most of my career, is that the type of exercise actually doesn’t matter, as long as you do something. I am very strongly advising all clients, friends and family that a walk should become part of your routine at least five times per week. And in that walk you must stop and smell the roses – literally. If there are no roses to be found, smell the grass. Or a tree. Smell something other than your own house. I’m not trying to be funny – it matters. And with the limited amount of exercise equipment that you more than likely do not have access to, a small routine of bodyweight exercises involving things like squats, calf raises, lunges and some core exercises on the ground is important. It is hard for me to prescribe much here as I don’t know what you are capable of, but work within your capabilities and make sure that you do it, preferably outside, during your walk.
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If you would like to see how an EP can support your health and fitness, visit www.totumhealth.com.au Totum Health are proudly partnered with Plus Fitness who have many convenient locations around The Shire. www.shiretalk.com.au
HOME-SCHOOLING? HOW’S THAT GOING?
With so many schools only taking essential workers’ children and the program of learning being delivered online, doing the best for your child can be tricky. Here are our resident teacher’s biggest tips for getting through this time and for homework beyond. 1. Don’t try to replicate school. You’ll run yourself ragged, setting a strict schedule. If the school has sent out a sample schedule, follow that as best you can, they’ll understand if you don’t get everything ticked off. 2. A happy and positive home is more important during a stressful time than having ALL the work completed. If you can’t get them completing all the work, having them read a book might be a compromise. Break the day into smaller chunks of time rather than trying to replicate an 80-minute period that many high schools follow. 3. Spot check the documents your child is uploading. Some children have been “fake” submitting tasks by submitting a blank document and assuming the teacher will simply check that it is “there.” Here’s the hot tip kids - teachers will open the file! 4. Don’t be too quick to assume your child is “lazy” if they aren’t doing much work. Behind “laziness,” there may be a range of other emotions such as fear, anxiety, or depression. Chat to them about their lack of motivation or ask how they are feeling. The answer may come out of that discussion. The School Counsellor and Learning Support Teams are still available to support students if you are concerned. 5. Contact your child’s teacher if you need a little support. Teachers have undertaken rigorous training and ongoing professional development to perfect their craft. Cut yourself some slack. 6. Talk to your kids about the facts of Covid19 and ignore the sensationalised stories and urban myths. It’s an excellent opportunity to look at the media and a range of social issues such as racism critically and embed the values of your family. 7. Prepare your child for returning to school. Discuss the importance of personal hygiene and social distancing. Coming into cold and flu season, this is a timely reminder that should help your child avoid other viruses that float around. 8. Do what you are comfortable with and best meets the unique needs of your child and family. Take the advice of the medical professionals who know your family’s health needs. Until there is a full return to school, take it one day at a time. If your child has any symptoms of cold or flu, keep them home. 9. Be kind to yourself - you’ve done the best job possible under very difficult circumstances. Read the full article online at www.shiretalk.com.au
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WIN A HOLIDAY! Just enter our survey and we’ll send you a $200USD Hotel Saver Card Shire Talk are constantly looking for new ways to support the Sutherland Shire community and our survey is just one way we can do this. Plus, everyone who completes it will receive a free travel voucher to use at thousands of outlets. Simply open your phone camera and scan the QR code.
http://bit.ly/shiretalk-survey
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The Footy is
Back! Rugby league fans rejoice! The NRL is set to return to our television screens on May 28 following a 67-day hiatus.
There will still be teams of 13 players competing against each other on a 100-metre long field but season 2020 will look unlike any other season in Rugby League history. Fans are expected to be absent from stadiums for the entirety of the season, the season will be shortened from 25 rounds to 20, the Grand Final will not be held until October 25 and State of Origin will take place following the Grand Final. The New Zealand Warriors will be based in Tamworth for the foreseeable future, whilst the Melbourne Storm have secured a training facility in Albury. All other teams have been placed under strict regulations to ensure that the season’s return is not compromised. Despite the plethora of off-field drama, the on-field action should remain no different and excitement levels should be through the roof. The first two rounds of the season gave us a glimpse of what season 2020 could look like for some squads. Parramatta, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Penrith all went undefeated through the competition’s opening two rounds, whilst the Titans, Warriors, Bulldogs, Dragons, Roosters and Sharks were all unable to secure a victory. The Eels started off their campaign with a gritty win over the Dogs, before throttling the Titans on the Gold Coast. Newcastle gave fans a taste of what to expect under new head coach Adam O’Brien, holding the Warriors scoreless in Round 1 and putting on 42 points against the Tigers in Round 2. Following an embarrassing 58-0 defeat to end season 2019, the Brisbane Broncos scraped by the Cowboys and Rabbitohs to start season 2020, on the back of 20-year-old superstars Payne Haas and David Fifita. The Cronulla Sharks opened their 2020 campaign with a pair of narrow losses to South Sydney and Melbourne. The two-month long break has given Sharks stars Bronson Xerri and Matt Moylan an opportunity to recover from preseason injuries and should give the side a much-needed boost. Sports fans across the world should be excited to see the return of the NRL. With live sporting action so hard to come by in 2020, the NRL hopes that its worldwide popularity could see an uptick over the coming months. Sydneysiders will be eager to see our game return after weeks of speculation and controversy.
18 ShireTalkWinter2020
www.shiretalk.com.au
Welcome to As you can see, this edition of Shire Talk Magazine, along with our social media feeds have been full of Shire Rewards. We are truly excited to be launching this amazing platform that allows businesses to network and the people of the Shire to benefit. We have a number of businesses who have jumped on board with our launch offer and as you can see from the logos below, there is a whole range, from cafes, beauty to fitness and car maintenance. You will also see their profiles throughout the magazine. In fact, there were so many that wanted to join that we didn’t have space to include them all in this issue, so we will introduce you to them next quarter.
We are LIVE!
So how does it work?
Where can I use my points?
Shire Rewards is a loyalty program that gives you money back on your purchases. That money is stored as points on your app which you can then spend at any retailer within the Shire Rewards Network.
At any retailer within the Shire Rewards Network. They will display our sign at their point of sale. We already have several businesses involved, but this is growing on a daily basis.
Does it cost me anything?
How do I redeem my points?
No, it costs nothing to set up and the app is free
This is all done via the app. You select the number of points you wish to redeem and the retailer you wish to spend them with. You then show them that you have used some points with them in order to reduce your bill.
What do I have to do? It’s simple. All you have to do is download the app from the App Store or Google Play, set up your account and away you go!
How do I earn points? When you make a purchase, just take a photo of your receipt and upload it to the app. The points are then calculated based on the percentage the retailer is offering, and then added to your Shire Rewards account.
How much are my points worth? Each 100 point is worth $1.
Can I use my points for anything else? Yes, each month, we will choose a local primary school or charity. Instead of spending your points, you can choose to donate your Reward Dollars to them.
Are there times when I can earn bonus points or get a special offer? Yes. Using the latest technology, you may receive notifications via text message of special offers that are only available to Shire Rewards customers. This means that you can also win prizes or additional points just by being in the “right place at the right time!”
THE X3
JOY IS COMING. BMW X3 sDRIVE20i FROM $69,900 DRIVE AWAY.* Look forward to the road ahead in the BMW X3 sDrive20i. Its precision handling delivers comfort on all roads as LED headlights illuminate the way ahead. BMW Head Up Display informs at a glance while Apple CarPlayÂŽ connects and entertains. Visit Sylvania BMW to find out more. Sylvania BMW 101-107 Princes Highway, Sylvania. Ph (02) 8543 5450. sylvaniabmw.com.au DL 14727 *Recommended Promotional Drive Away Price for a new BMW X3 sDrive20i with M Sport Package. Offer applies at participating BMW dealers while stocks last to vehicles ordered by 30 June 2020 and delivered by 30 September 2020 and cannot be combined with any other offer. Stock may vary between BMW dealers. Excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. Consult your participating BMW dealer for further details. BMW Australia reserves the right to change or extend the offer. Apple CarPlayÂŽ is a trademark of Apple Inc. Full terms and conditions at bmw.com.au.