“I’ve always been hands-on nan, but having seven grandkids actually living under your roof is a something else all together,” she said.

Mrs Chilstone is not alone and now Junee and Riverina grandparents in the same position have been granted a much-needed reprieve.

On Sunday, 48 grandparents and grandchildren from around the region left for a four-day beach-side Sydney trip organised by the Salvation Army in collaboration with CentreCare’s Grandparents Doing It Tough support program.  

The trip rewards grandparents with some much-needed downtime, while social workers occupy the kids.

“Just the fact I won't have to prepare three meals a day is going to be a really big thing for me,” Mrs Chilstone said.

Grandparents Doing It Tough facilitator Lyn Reilly said the trip would also provide a holiday for those who might not have had one all year due to financial pressures.

“Lots of the grandparents already had their lives and retirements planned,” she said.

“Then suddenly they had to give a lot of things up without receiving much support in return.”