The Port News is asking locals to share how they are adapting to changes and life amid the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis.

The family of graziers has already seen the destruction and heartache of a ferocious Werrikimbe blaze which burnt the family-run sawmill, paddocks and fences last November.

How are you coping with working and managing other commitments without leaving your house on a regular basis?

Mrs Porter said the family had to make drastic changes to continue operating their third generation property after being 'literally wiped out by fire and drought'.

"We've had to sell our cattle because of the fire and since then we have leased our property because we had lost our sawmill and had no cash flow. We pretty much have no income," she said.

"Self-isolation is slightly easier for us because we have got our kids home from boarding school now. The issue that we have is that my husband, Brett has had to go to WA to drive livestock road trains for an income and we're not sure he can come home.

"It's not a viable option for him to come back for two weeks and then go back to work. Although he's earning an income while he's there which is a benefit many people in the retail sector don't have.

"We were forced to do that because of the lack of income and we were not eligible for any government subsidies because of last year's tax returns from the sawmill."

Who are the people/person you are spending majority of your time with now?

Mrs Porter is now spending more time with her children, who have returned from boarding school and Brett's parents who require home care.

"I spend a lot of time with Brett's mum and dad with home care for them. The children, Ann is in year 12 so her priority is school work and Tom is in year 11," she said.

"Having the kids home is good because they are good company but they are under stress as well. Our daughter is studying for HSC this year, we don't know what will happen in the future and what will happen when she applies to universities later in the year.

"There's not a lot else to do other than checking fences and cattle. For us we have been working through this since November so now we are watching the world go through the same problems.

"It's a tough thing to be a trucker's widow, but you take solace in the fact they are doing something they love and the job is crucial to keep Australia afloat."

What do you miss the most about not being able to be out and about anymore?

The Porter family's property, Wonderhill at Forbes River is considered remote and Mrs Porter said they are already social-distanced by their location.

"You miss your social aspects of course and it can be hard keeping teenagers in isolation because they are very social," she said.

"Although I think that struggle would be harder in town because we're already self-isolated by geography."

Is there anything you believe our community could be doing better during this time?

"I don't know, but I think here in our remote community we are doing the best we can," Mrs Porter said.

"I think it would be unfair to comment on what's happening in town because I don't know what's happening there".

What are your top three tips for keeping sane during this time?

Mrs Porter sticks by some handy advice she received after the November 2019 bushfires.

"After the fires a lady said to us "good times never last but neither do bad" and I think that keeps me grounded that this too will pass," she said.

"To be fair we survived death in the fires in November so if we survived that, we can survive coronavirus.

"They are the two focuses for me other than the knowledge that one day the whole family will all be back in the one house."

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