A three step plan with Step 1 in May, Step 2 in June and Step 3 in July at such time it is hoped we are approaching something like normality.

Now let me see if I can work my way through Step 1 as is relevant to Boorowa.

We will be allowed non-work gatherings up to 10 people and five can visit a home in addition to normal residents.

It is felt childcare centres, primary and secondary schools will slowly return to full attendance.

Retail stores will open and cafes and restaurants can open up to 10 patrons at one time.

Entertainment and amusement centres will remain closed as will indoor physical activity venues including gyms.

Outdoor gyms, playgrounds and skate parks can operate up to 10 people.

Places offering accommodation, and aren't they being heavily utilised currently here in Boorowa - little has changed regarding accommodation.

Weddings and funerals and religious services, their restrictions have eased a little with 20 mourners indoors and 30 outdoors at funerals. Religious services and weddings have had their restrictions lifted to 10.

Hairdressers and barbers can operate as has been the case, but not beauty therapy or massage therapy venues.

There you have it.

Slowly we open up, not a huge change, but restrictions will ease, all being well.

If we continue to observe social distancing, good hygiene and dare I say it, download the COVID-19 app.

Hopefully I have outlined correctly what will happen, but don't be alarmed if the State Government doesn't fall instantly into the timeline, I mean to say, here in NSW we have the most cases and most deaths, so to err on the side of caution is only human.

WITS

It's astounding the number of vans occupying the caravan park lately, the number of vehicles outside places where people find accommodation.

Boorowa has been inundated, I add fortunately inundated by workers, there is a lot going on here at the moment.

Construction associated with the windfarms, extension to Burrowa House, roof painting and construction/repairs at the Ex-Services Club, repairs that are almost complete.

All these workers need a place to stay and the bottom line must be very helpful to those business owners benefiting from their presence.

While mentioning the Ex-Services Club, carpet is to be laid throughout the club including the auditorium.

The carpet will actually not be down for a while due to delivery delays, but when done and the club re-opens, be nearly like walking into a brand new club.

WITS

Carinya Court is going very well with all units being currently occupied.

Work is also happening here with three units having been refurbished including new kitchens, bathroom upgrade and carpets.

At the moment new awnings and shutters are being installed on each unit, a great benefit in those sunny summer months.

Not resting on their laurels, Carinya Court is in the planning process to build two new two-bedroom units.

Planning is in the early stages and the committee is chasing a government grant to help get this development up and running.

As said, the units are full, but if you would like to make enquires as to future accommodation, Manager Trish Riles will be happy to talk to you, maybe put you on the waiting list.

Trish can be contacted on 6385 3264.

WITS

Last Friday evening we watched 'Hidden Figures' for something like the fourth or fifth time.

I have recommended this movie in WITS twice, I hope you saw it last Friday night.

This is a movie about three very intelligent African American women who face racial prejudice and prejudice against women in America in the early 1960s, but their brilliant minds solved the problems enabling John Glenn to be the first American to orbit the earth.

The prejudice these women experienced and how they turned things around still has me reaching for the tissues.

When the library reopens, 'Hidden Figures' can be borrowed from there.

I also have a copy you could borrow.

Movie Rating: Brilliant.

WITS

Much has been said in recent times about the falling educational standards in Australia,

I too, in this column, have expressed my concerns and my thoughts on where the problem lies.

When educators sit down to write a curriculum, they could do well to follow the tenet in the following quote, a quote I must say coming not from some educational journal or publication, but from a work of fiction, a novel, this is not a piece of educational jargon:

"What is education? It's training and equipping children to live their lives, to survive in this world, to have the right attitudes and life skills to adapt to a rapidly challenging social environment."

This was written by Frank E Peretti in 1989.

How relevant is it today?

WITS

What can stop the Merry Widows? COVID-19 can.

This mercurial group of women, and widowers, are due to meet again very soon, but restrictions created by the virus have meant the fun times will have to wait a month or two longer.

Urge the widows and widowers to keep in touch and Esma Berry can be contacted on 6385 6221 if you require information.

WITS

You sometimes wonder what makes people tick.

Last weekend in Melbourne we saw protesters scuffling with police in what were somewhat confronting scenes.

These protesters were upset about our lockdown situation, putting their self-interest before the health of their state population and the country as a whole.

We are facing and fighting a very deadly virus, one that transmits very quickly, yet these self pitying individuals are upset they are being told what to do.

A very sad aspect is, that upon looking at the televised footage, one doesn't see any older people attending the protest.

To beat this virus, someone needs to tell these yobbos we all have to work together.

WITS

On a lighter note, let us reflect briefly on how things have changed.

Take last year for example, we were being encouraged to stay away from negative people, 2020 stay away from positive people.

Then again, this virus has done what no woman has been able to do ... cancel all sports, shut down all bars and keep men at home.

Someone asked the other day if it was all right to take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands.

As mentioned earlier we have protocols we should adhere to during this difficult time, but I never thought the comment "I wouldn't touch him/her with a six foot pole" would become a national policy.