South Lismore postmistress Tracy Ward launches StoryBook Gardens Program to lifts spirits of Lismore during floods rebuild

A former behavioural scientist who now owns a key northern NSW post office has launched a “campaign of kindness” to build connections between school students and the elderly in care. Find out more.

A former behavioural scientist who owns a northern NSW post office has begun a storytelling program – a “heartfelt campaign of kindness” – to build connections between school students and the elderly.

South Lismore Post Office’s Tracy Ward hopes the StoryBook Gardens Program helps lift the regional city’s spirits during ongoing reconstruction after the historic 2022 floods.

As part of the program which begins this month, Ms Ward called on schoolchildren to fill in as Santa’s elves, in a letter sent to schools.

“We have received an urgent directive from the North Pole. Santa has informed us of an impending crisis,” she wrote.

“Our local Christmas Eves are ill. Christmas cheer is at an all-time low, and our once-happy town is losing its heart.

Former behavioural scientist and South Lismore postmistress Tracy Ward wants to connect kids and elderly people through the program.

“Santa has declared that 1000 local positions must be urgently filled and has extended the traditional role of Elf to human children.”

The honoree elves must commit to six challenges to help kickstart the heart of Lismore.

Ms Ward said her idea has been evolving for years as part of bigger programs focused on helping children overcome adverse childhood experiences.

“My intention for this is to actually start to buffer trauma while it is occurring within the community (after the floods),” Ms Ward said.

She said Storybook Gardens was designed to help children develop sovereignty and awareness to improve behaviour and help the community more broadly.

Each month participating schools are presented with a challenge. Santa’s challenge for July is “pictures for older persons” in residential care. Students are asked to create 1000 pictures depicting happiness using any medium.

The kids are asked to think about evoking happiness in the elderly recipients.

Ms Ward said: “I go to the schools’ assemblies, where we talk about the new challenge for the month then the students return to their classrooms.”

“All you have to do is put your hand up and say ‘yes, we want to be part of the rebuild of the hearts of the community of Lismore’.”

Tracy Ward shows how high the water reached in the 2022 floods.

More than ten primary schools have jumped on board, including Woodlawn College.

Schools will get six visits from post office staff delivering Santa’s monthly challenge, providing a post bag and a “Good Deeds Gauge”.

The postal service will deliver contributions to the residents of our aged care facilities.

Ms Ward hopes children and recipients benefit from the program.

“While adversity is easy to identify, it can be challenging to offset, especially in childhood – where emotional regulation is forming – and in aged care – where residents may experience limited access to a broad range of positive stimuli,” she said.

“When children have the opportunity to develop executive functioning they make healthier choices and exhibit self-control and mental flexibility.

“When they engage in learning that supports the needs of the extended community, children develop a sense of autonomy.

“They are empowered to seek and share target values with others.”

South Lismore postmistress Tracy Ward (right) and South Lismore stalwart Kathleen Wilcox promoting Story Book Garden.

Students place stickers on the gauge, showcasing program achievements with a visual reminder.

Ms Ward said the program was “really simple but ought to be really effective in starting to help pass down the older values to the younger generation”.

She also said the program would “remind the older persons how much they matter and how much their story can actually impact the lives of the younger people in our community”.

Students wanting to sign can sign a special book at the South Lismore Post Office. Once stamped, it constitutes a “binding magical contract”.

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