PAGE 2 – BELLINGEN SHIRE NEWS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2022 g Bellingen Welcome to play-time post-Covid-19 NEWS SHIRE HOW TO CONTACT US For stories, news and letters, email our content manager at editor@ bellingenshirenews.com.au For advertising and sales inquiries email Brad McCosker at sales@ bellingenshirenews.com.au or 0411 717 555. DEADLINES(all prior to the next publication) • Advertising - Noon Wednesday • Editorial - 5pm Wednesday By ADAM NORRIS parents, and to the community morning tea for the fi rst time and hall at St Margarets • Sport - 9am Monday or more than a decade the in general. since before Covid, so that was Church. • Letters - 5pm Wednesday FBellingen Community “But weve been welcoming exciting. “Th eres a lot of free play,” Playgroup has been bringing new families, when weve “Lots of people, and it was a Lisa said. “We have a great CIRCULATION AND DELIVERY young children together to been able, throughout Covid. nice vibe, and the weather was collsection of toys and things, 3500 copies are distributed as follows: socialise, make friends, and Probably weekly well welcome amazing. and the swings and slippery- hopefully not have someone someone who is new to town. “So at this stage, were trying dip are always popular. But we Bellingen town x 1500 home delivered. throw your favourite Ewok toy Its a great starting point for to raise awareness. also have the sandpit, we have Bundle drops at IGA Bellingen, KOMBU down a nearby storm-water people.” “Th ere used to be another Play-dough, bikes and all sorts Wholefoods and the Providore, North drain – though maybe that was While the Playgroup has playgroup on Tuesdays before of things. specifi c to me. successfully navigated the Covid, and today, we had “Its a great way for kids and Bellingen, Fernmount Fire Station 50, Thora Yet it isnt just children ongoing hurdles of meeting someone who saw our Facebook adults to connect. Its been great Store 100. who benefi t from attending during the pandemic, a legacy post who said, its so good to for my son, hes been going for Urunga and the seaboard receives 1200 Playgroup. As coordinator of widespread lockdowns has see another playgroup start up so long now hes used to playing copies at various drop off locations from Lisa Cross explained, parents seen a decline in the number of now! And I was like, but we with lots of kids from diff erent and caregivers themselves – regular visitors. were always here! age groups, so its great for their Mylestom Store, North Beach Bowling Club, particularly recent arrivals Lisa suspects that many parents “So we need to basically socialisation.” Urunga Golf and Bowling Club and in Urunga to town – also benefi t simply became accustomed to raise awareness and visibility. Bellingen Playgroup will be CBD at Spar and Foodworks supermarkets, tremendously. having to organise their own Th ats what wed like, and hosting a stall at the front of the “I started going when my son entertainment and one-on-one once people start coming a bit Bellingen IGA on August 13th, Hickeys Shell Garage as well as BP and the was three months old,” Lisa said. playdates, or have forgotten that more regularly, we can talk to and Lisa encourages anyone Stihl Shop on the Pacific Highway. “I was relatively new to the the Bellingen Playgroup exists them about maybe coming in interested to come along and Copies are available in Dorrigo at Spar and area, and the friends I had here in the fi rst place. for a more active role on the introduce themselves to the all had much older kids. “Our Open Day went really committee.” team. IGA supermarkets as well as Pam’s Fruit and “I didnt know many people well. People saw our posters on Each playgroup requires a You can also learn more about Veggies. with younger kids, so that Facebook, so we had quite a few $3 attendance fee, which goes specifi c playgroup dates by was my connection to other new people, and we had a shared towards renting the playground visiting their Facebook page. Online shopping OPEN MON TO SAT 7AM - 7PM is now available! FREE HOME DELIVERY * Conditions apply Head to bellingeniga.com.au and 71 Hyde St Bellingen follow the links to our online store. Ph 6655 9500 Choose from free home delivery* or click and collect. *Free home delivery only available to within 5km of town. Minimum order amount $50.