It was 10:02am as I pulled up behind a line of 14 cars in front of the Vandenberg Hotel, and within a few minutes there were more cars in line behind me. I felt a wave of relief wash over me to see so many others waiting to be tested for COVID-19, although this was not my first test.

Two months earlier I presented myself at Forbes Hospital with what I knew to be an all too familiar case of tonsillitis, I was given a mask and told very assertively by the receptionist to “step back!” from the marked line I was already standing behind. When the only other patient in the waiting room saw me, she slouched back and used her collar to cover her mouth. Thankfully, the nurse who took the swab was friendly and patient with my dramatic display of discomfort during that infamous nasopharyngeal swab which has since been replaced by a much gentler nasal swab.

The first time I was tested I was sure that I did not have COVID-19. However, this time upon hearing about last week’s case in Parkes, I wondered if this cough of mine was due to a change in season or a mild case of COVID. If it was the dreaded COVID, how many of my friends, contacts and family members would be forced to self-isolate? How many people did I, at best, inconvenience greatly or, at worst, put at risk? Would I be lynched? Word spreads quickly in small towns and it would not take long before I became the hottest topic in town.

These fears of mine were eased in seeing so many others in line to be tested on Monday, and while it meant that I had to wait over half an hour to be tested it will be a relief to have a negative result back.

The Lachlan Health Council, which represents both the Forbes and Parkes communities, is looking to fill a vacancy and is seeking community members from all ages and backgrounds who are not only passionate about health and wellbeing, but also willing to speak on behalf of their community when it comes to health issues.

Lachlan Health Council Chair Carolyn Rice said, “The Health Council provides an opportunity to bring health issues from both the Parkes and Forbes communities to the attention of Lachlan Health Service and to Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).”

“Health Council members are committed to giving both Forbes and Parkes communities a voice on health issues.”

“Our local knowledge and experience is valued by the Health Service when we work with managers and clinical staff in the planning and delivering of services for our community.”

“The Health Council has a strong community voice and we are encouraging people from all backgrounds to nominate so we can continue to represent everyone’s interests. We would like to particularly encourage young people and Aboriginal community members to apply,” said Carolyn.

At a minimum, membership requires attendance at monthly meetings of the Health Council, but there are also opportunities for wider participation on committees and workshops in areas of personal interest. The Health Council meetings alternate between Forbes and Parkes locations and there is the option to phone or video call into meetings if you are not able to attend in person.

Application kits can be obtained by contacting Kylie Higgins, Senior Admin Support on (02) 6850 7103 or via email Kylie. Higgins@health.nsw.gov.au. Applications close on Friday, 25 September so be sure to get in quickly for the chance to give the community a voice where it counts.

Updated health advice announced this week will ensure that NSW public schools can continue to operate full time with face to face teaching and learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools remain safe however, school communities must remain vigilant.

From Wednesday, 19 August, all public schools in New South Wales will be required to adopt the changes to ensure school communities remain safe inside and outside the school gate.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is prohibited from returning to school until a negative test result has been reported.

Under additional measures for Term 3:
• Students must remain within their relevant class or year group to limit mixing.
• Schools must not travel outside their local community or zone, including between rural and regional areas.
• Interschool sport and zone carnivals are restricted to 100 people per venue and must be held in the local area.
• Spectators, including parents and carers, are not permitted within school grounds or at sporting events held during school hours.
• All group singing and or other chanting activities, as well as the use of wind instruments in group settings are not permitted.
• Dance activities and drama group work can continue under a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• School formals, dances, graduation, or other social events are not permitted. Schools may hold a Year 12 assembly at school without parents to recognise the completion of school or consider delaying events until later in the year.

Students and staff required to support HSC students are permitted to undertake activities to meet their HSC requirements with COVID-19 safety measures in place.

Organisations that use school buildings or grounds must have a COVID-19 safety plan in place and encourage strict compliance with that plan.

The new restrictions will complement existing health advice for schools, including maintaining good hand hygiene inside and outside the classroom, physical distancing for adults and banning non-essential school visitors.

Ground-breaking research from the University of South Australia confirms that the act of smiling can trick your mind into being more positive, simply by moving your facial muscles.

Since government restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an alarming rise in anxiety and depression amongst Australians and around the world. However, the study, published in Experimental Psychology, evaluated the impact of a covert smile on perception of face and body expressions. In both scenarios, a smile was induced by participants holding a pen between their teeth, forcing their facial muscles to replicate the movement of a smile.

The research found that facial muscular activity not only alters the recognition of facial expressions but also body expressions, with both generating more positive emotions.

Lead researcher and human and artificial cognition expert, University of South Australia’s Dr Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos says the finding has important insights for mental health.

“When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the world around you in a positive way,” Dr Fernando says.

“In our research we found that when you forcefully practise smiling, it stimulates the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain, which releases neurotransmitters to encourage an emotionally positive state.”

“For mental health, this has interesting implications. If we can trick the brain into perceiving stimuli as ‘happy’, then we can potentially use this mechanism to help boost mental health.”

The findings demonstrate a strong link between action and perception. So perhaps there is more to the term “fake it ‘til you make it” than previously thought.

With World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) running from 1-8 August, now is the chance to reflect on breastfeeding. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) is supporting Australian mothers throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, finding new ways to stay in touch, support, encourage and empower women throughout their breastfeeding journey.

The benefits of breastfeeding are widely known and accepted, the qualified breast- feeding counsellors within the ABA recognise it doesn’t come easily to many mothers and are able to offer guidance and ideas to help overcome challenges they may face. Forbes mothers are able to contact a counsellor via email at abaparkesforbes@gmail.com to discuss any issues.

The national helpline is also available 24/7 on 1800 686 268, where counsellors can be reached day and night. With COVID restrictions in place, our face to face Breastfeeding Education Classes have been replaced with Breastfeeding Education Live, a new online and interactive education experience for expectant parents. More information on these classes can be found at www.breastfeeding.asn.au.

The theme for WBW 2020, ‘Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet’ brings awareness to the impact of infant feeding on the environment. Breastfeeding contributes to general health and food security and breastmilk is a natural, renewable food that is produced and delivered to the consumer without pollution, packaging or waste. When we protect and support mothers and breastfeeding, we are also reducing the impact on our air, water, and land, protecting our young ones and future generations.

Due to COVID-19 the Parkes/Forbes ABA group has temporarily ceased their monthly meeting. To keep up to date with local happenings check out the Australian Breastfeeding Association Parkes/Forbes Group on Facebook.

Despite the benefit of having ample space in the Forbes Shire and safety measures in place, it is still crucial that residents continue to maintain COVID-19 safety measures to ensure that Forbes Shire remains COVID free.

This week the Western NSW Local Health District has reported a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The case is currently in isolation in Orange but has a residential address outside of the Western NSW Health District. The case is linked to a known cluster in Sydney.

The Public Health Unit has contacted all close contacts. They have been provided with Public Health information which includes to be tested for COVID-19 and remain in isolation for 14 days.

Currently WNSWLHD is urging residents in the region to get tested for COVID-19, regardless of how mild the symptoms are. It is vital that individuals take the right precautions to ensure the safety of the community.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19:
• Wash your hands regularly.
• Take hand sanitiser when you go out.
• If feeling unwell, get tested.
• Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
• Wear a mask in situations where you cannot physically distance.