The weather played along for last Saturday’s premier social event on the Parkes calendar when 1,500 patrons attended the Parkes Picnic Races in their finest winter racing outfits.

People flocked to Parkes from all over Australia, with the Fashions on the Field competition drawing entrants from Canberra, Sydney, Mudgee, Dubbo, Orange and closer to home.

“I am amazed at the high quality of entries today,” said Fashions on the Field guest judge Anna Barwick. “It was very difficult to choose the winners, especially in the Elegant Lady category.” She said the men had also gone to a lot of trouble for the Elegant Man category.

“I just love winter racing for all the different fabrics like velvet, wool and furs,” said Anna, a former Peak Hill local and winner of several titles at country race meets, and the Miss Royal Easter Showgirl 2008 title.

Parkes local Nic Dolbel won the Contemporary category, with Josie Anderson from Cobar taking out the Millinery title, Elegant Lady was won by Michelle Meyers from Mudgee, and Stylish Man by Tommy Jeffs from Canowindra.

The event had three commercial tents and numerous private tents. The Railway Hotel’s theme was Woodstock and won the prize for the Best Private Tent. Terry Bros Parkes took out the Best Corporate Tent prize.

President of the Picnic Races Tim Keith was very happy with the “fantastic attendance” and the excellent condition of the facilities at the track. He thanked all the sponsors for their support saying “it is good to see so many people having a good time and enjoying the day”.

The day’s program featured five races. The Minstaff Survey Maiden Plate was won by Madam Ruby ridden by Tiffany Jeffries.

Simon Miller on Snipps Parade took out the Telescope Tyres Class 1 Handicap.

The feature race of the day, the Mcdonalds Coradgery Cup, was won by Waldo Waldorf ridden by Bryan Murphy and trained by Darryl Rolfe.

The Parkes Services Club Handicap was won by Wispadah with jockey Aaron Sweeney, while the final race of the day, the Agriwest Maiden handicap, went to Rufio ridden by Anthony Cavallo.

Australia is at a critical juncture on our journey to reconciliation.

National Reconciliation Week is held between 27 May and 3 June every year, and the theme for last week’s celebration was ‘Grounded in Truth Walk Together in Courage’ representing the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider Australian community.

This relationship must be grounded in truth and the journey towards reconciliation, and requires us all to walk together with courage to become reconciled.

Proud Wiradjuri Elder and Parkes local, Robert Clegg, said: “The Aboriginal community has had a bad history. The present is alright. But the future gets better.”

Robert was born on the banks of the Bogan River and is proud of the Wiradjuri people’s history and culture.

Robert believes: “We need to teach the language. Learn the language. Keep our culture alive. Once we as Aboriginal people learn who we are, and when the Australian people learn who they are, we can have a conversation to learn where we want to be. Because in the future everyone will know where we stand, and why we stand.”

As Australia moves forward, reconciliation needs to be adopted in the minds, actions and, most importantly, the hearts of all Australians. Doing this will create a strong Nation with respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

By Adam Nicholson

Much tougher penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol were introduced last week.

Drivers caught drink driving will receive a $561 fine and immediate three-month licence suspension, even if they are a first time or low-range offender.

Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Belinda Coe said: “Driving with the presence of drugs or alcohol in your system is not only illegal, it’s extremely dangerous and puts your life and the lives of all other road users at risk. This reform will ensure offenders receive swift and certain penalties to help protect all road users.”

Western Region Traffic Tactician, Inspector Ben Macfarlane said alcohol was one of the major factors in crashes that kill or injure people on NSW roads. “The 0.05 blood alcohol limit has been in place for almost 38 years. If you are caught drink driving, there is no excuse,” he said. “If you have an illegal level of alcohol in your bloodstream or have used illegal drugs, you can expect to be caught and charged by police.”

The latest change is one in a wave of drink and drug driving reforms introduced since July last year, aimed at reducing the number of crashes and fatalities. These include the extension of Mobile Drug Testing with the inclusion of testing for cocaine.

Kerryn Jones returned to Parkes after 38 years to be closer to family. Little did she know she would end up Manager Cultural, Education and Library Services.

“I am thrilled to be in this role,” said Kerrynin her new office at the Parkes Library.

“I am on a steep learning curve as I have alot to learn in the library area, but I’m lucky to have a very strong team here and in the other libraries at Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore.”

Kerryn left Parkes to attend Sydney University where she completed a degree in education, and worked in Sydney for about 18 years before she moved to Adelaide where she lectured at the university and TAFE. She tasted small town living again moving to Roxby Downs for three years. She returned to Adelaide to work with the Education Department, and in December last year she and her sister decided to move back to Parkes.

Initially she thought her biggest challenge was to start a garden at her newly bought house, but her new position is going to stretch her even more.

Apart from learning about library services, she will have to oversee the library expansion project, as well as moving the whole collection and all the library services to a new location during construction.

“It is a really exciting project flowing from consultation with community groups. The library is a fabulous community service and has excellent programs, but space was a limitation. With the expansion project completed by the middle of next year, we will be able to grow and respond better to community needs.”

Kerryn envisions the new space to become a hub for culture, education and library services offering lifelong learning to the community.

She is looking forward to connecting with all the cultural groups in Parkes to use the new space to its full potential.One thing Kerryn does not need to work on is her love of reading. “I have a wide taste for fiction and non-fiction, and especially Australian literature, as well as Australian movies and music.”

After a little bit of thought she did confess that the classic To Kill A Mockingbird was one of her favourite books of all time though.

By Maggi Barnard

 

More than 60 excited pre-schoolers gathered at Parkes Library for the 19th annual National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday.

Children from Central West Family Daycare, Parkes Early Childhood Centre, Cabonne Family Daycare and Nurture One were enthralled by Matt Cosgrove’s Alpacas with Maracas. The story was brilliantly performed by Parkes Library’s Dan and Ann Marie as the Alpacas and Jill, Debbie, Teena and Ellie as the four mice. Reader Sandy held the children’s interest throughout the performance and Leon and Sally looked after the technical side of the presentation.

National Simultaneous Storytime brings together thousands of children across the country to read the same picture book.

Events were held in libraries, schools, preschools, childcare centres, family homes and bookshops across the country.

This year’s book selection of Alpacas with Maracas has been reviewed as short, engaging and fun making it perfect for three and four-year-olds, who request it a lot.

The author, Matt Cosgrove, is an artist and illustrator of children’s books, based in Sydney.

He has a first-class honours Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication majoring in Illustration and received the University Medal for Academic Excellence. He has worked in the publishing industry as an author, illustrator and designer for over twenty years, and is a former Creative Director of Marie Claire, an Australian fashion magazine. His most recent books, written and illustrated by him, include A Stack of Alpacas, Macca the Alpaca, Alpacas with Maracas and Macca’s Christmas Crackers.

By Beth Thomas

The recent Trundle ABBA Festival might have grabbed the headlines, but the night before an extraordinary event took place that put the town’s real heart on show.

The Pink Night was not only filled with many moving stories, but raised an incredible $20,458 for women’s cancer. “We laugh a lot, and we always cry,” said Carolyn Keep, who organised the event with Debbie Veale for the fourth time this year.

“It’s a night filled with emotion, compassion and determination to help in any way we can to end the loss from cancer,” said Carolyn, who was diagnosed three years ago.

When Carolyn secured celebrity sports presenter Michael Cain from Channel 10 to host the night, she knew it was going to be great. Michael managed to collect some amazing sporting memorabilia for auction with the NRL premium grand final tickets getting the highest bid of the night. A woman from Forbes, who lost her husband to cancer, bought it for $1,275.

“And that’s how the night rolls – so many beautiful people all with a cancer story.”

Another highlight was Janette Fry’s story about how dragon boating has become a big part of her life since surviving cancer.

Carolyn could not thank her community and donors enough for the support. “We don’t ask for any donations or advertise for helpers, it just comes. Everything in the auction is dropped off leading up to the event. We had over 36 prizes and items in both raffle and auction.”

The Trundle Central School’s student representative council joined in and held their very own Pink Day selling lollies and cupcakes and managed to raise $400. The school captain Harrison Williams presented the money on the night providing another “warm, fuzzy moment”. According to Carolyn the school principal also insists on printing its newsletter on pink paper every year. “Need I say any more about the true beauty of this event?”

As live music played at the back of the Trundle Services and Citizens Club keeping the dance floor packed, the Pink Night has become a fun filled event for the community and ABBA fans with a five star feel good rating.

“I feel so lucky to live in Trundle, the tiny town with the biggest heart on the planet,” said Carolyn.

By Maggi Barnard

The small town of Trundle transformed into a paradise of white boots, glittering hotpants, platform shoes, sequined jumpsuits, ponchos, retro hippie outfits and colourful psychedelic dresses as thousands of ABBA fans sang in unison ‘Thank you for the music’.

More than 5,000 people came from every state in Australia, and even as far as the UK, South Africa and New Zealand for ‘the time of their lives’, and they were not disappointed.

“This is the happiest place in the world,” said one fan on Facebook. “If you have ever thought to come here, don’t put it off.

It’s just amazing fun!”

Other glowing responses include: “We love you Trundle”, “It was a fabulous day, thank you Trundle!”, “First time and what a great time it was!”

Festival Organiser Pete Docwra said the highlight for him was seeing everyone having a great time. “We could not have hoped for more than that.”

Pete also thanked Trundle residents and the Parkes Shire Council for all the support in making the event such a success.

A major positive spin-off of the event is the economic benefit to the towns of Trundle, Parkes, Forbes and Condobolin. Pete said the region received a boost of about $1.3 million.

Parkes Shire Mayor, Ken Keith, who donned his signature Benny outfit, thanked the crowd as he welcomed everyone to the festival and said their support meant a lot to the community during one of the worst droughts ever in the region.

The Mayor and three representatives from the Swedish Embassy in Canberra helped to hand over the prizes for the popular Fashions of the Festival that include the Celia Vild Memorial Trophy. This year it went to a group from Melbourne who attended for the first time.

But it was the 85-year-old Margaret from Adelaide who enthused the crowd with her spirit and love of life. She won the individual Fashions of the Festival prize, and stood right in front of the stage singing and dancing as the world famous tribute band Bjorn Again served up all the ABBA favourites.

The band, who returns to Trundle every year, glowed with pleasure as they let the massive, colourful crowd take over the singing.

The entertainment line-up included five other acts this year, with the popular Parkes group Amitie energising the crowd to channel their inner ‘dancing queens’.

With ‘absolutely overwhelming positive feedback’ to the organisers, all that is left to say is: “Mamma Mia it was fABBAlous!”

By Maggi Barnard

Local author Margaret Dwyer was not only the most popular person in Parkes on Saturday, but a new title was conferred on her.

At the double celebration for the launch of her fourth book and marking her 90th birthday, Councillor Bill Jayet told the more than 100 people attending “Mardie is Parkes’ Barbara Cartland!”.

Mardie, as she is known, sparkled and radiated youthfulness during Bill’s question and answer session about her life and her writing. “You do have the strangest questions,” she quipped when Bill asked her how she managed to get into the heads of her characters of the opposite sex.

Staying with her characters, Mardie said the biggest surprise of the writing process was how her characters became very real.

“They seemed to take over, and I wrote what they wanted me to write.”

Following the “hard chat” session, Bill and some of Mardie’s 14 great grandchildren launched her second book of fiction with confetti poppers.

“We are all very proud of you,” said Bill.

Mardie’s second book of fiction is a sequel to A Chain of Dreams published in 2016 and brings the O’Reagan family into the 21st century.

Philippa O’Donnell read an excerpt from the book, Gemma Churchill shared a collection of amusing family stories and Hope Kealley-Smith performed songs while a long line of fans formed for Mardie to sign copies of her book.

Bill quoted from You Never Walk Alone from the musical Carousel, sung by Mardie in the Parkes M & D production years ago:

“Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone”.

By Maggi Barnard

The $10 billion Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project is gaining momentum at Parkes where Pacific National’s logistics terminal is expected to be in operation later this year.

Pacific National owns 365-hectares, located in the Parkes Shire Council’s National Logistics Hub, where the logistics terminal is currently under major construction.

“Once fully operational, Pacific National’s Parkes Logistics Terminal will consolidate more than 450,000 cargo containers each year; many to be hauled on the Inland Rail between the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane,” said Pacific National CEO Dean Dalla Valle.

“In the future, Parkes will be akin to the major freight and logistics hub of Memphis in the interior of the United States.” Dean said 1,800 metre freight trains double-stacked with cargo containers were expected to be hauling from the Parkes Logistics Terminal to Perth later this year.

Pacific National, Australia’s largest rail freight operator, congratulated Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) for moving ahead with construction to connect the north-south Inland Rail and east-west Transcontinental Railway via the company’s Parkes Logistics Terminal.

“Connecting Inland Rail to the Transcontinental Railway via Pacific National’s Parkes Logistics Terminal is imperative to help shift freight volumes from road to rail.

“Australians want real trains, not road trains hauling big volumes of freight,” he said. As the infrastructure manager for both Inland Rail and the Transcontinental Railway, ARTC has engaged Martinus Rail to construct the connections (called turnouts).

Weather permitting, the turnouts to the Parkes Logistics Terminal will be completed by the end of August this year.

The Transcontinental Railway runs to Port Augusta in South Australia, where it joins the Trans-Australian Railway stretching across the vast Nullarbor Plain to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

“Australia’s rail freight industry will only grow and prosper if below-rail managers like ARTC and above-rail operators like Pacific National work together to help shift more container and bulk volumes from road to rail,” said Dean.

Hauling containers and bulk commodities like grain and steel by rail over long distances is safe, green and efficient – rail freight is on the right side of every debate.

“For every tonne of freight hauled a kilometre, road freight produces 16 times more carbon pollution and 14 times greater accident costs than rail freight.

“A single 1,800-metre freight train hauling containers is equivalent to removing 70 B-double trucks or 50 B-triple trucks from our roads,” said Dean.
Parkes Logistics Terminal:
• $35 million to develop the Parkes Logistics Terminal.
• Terminal construction is generating about 40 jobs; the future logistics terminal will have a workforce of 100 people.
• Parkes Logistics Terminal will act as a future facility to consolidate hundreds of thousands of cargo containers, including boxes filled with regional commodities destined for overseas markets, to be hauled by rail across the length and breadth of Australia.
• Construction commenced in October 2018. Freight trains 1,800-metres in length are expected to be hauling from the terminal to Perth later this year.

Anzac Day is about mateship, respect, loyalty and freedom and the acknowledgement that war is terrible, but our way of life is worth fighting for.

Parkes Services Club is reminding Parkes Shire residents to reflect and remember on Anzac Day next Thursday, 25th April.

“Respect the day, celebrate our freedoms, remember their sacrifice, honour our traditions and look after your mates,” said Club President Terry Knowles.

“We’re not saying don’t have a drink and a punt. We’re saying enjoy the day, the atmosphere, your mates. But do it in a respectful manner, after all mateship is one of our proudest Australian values.”

“We want to attract greater numbers to services and marches, and we want positive behaviour by younger people, treating veterans with respect,” said Terry. “It’s a day to celebrate everything that unites us as a nation, and to remember all of those who fought so hard to preserve and protect all that we hold dear.”

The Parkes Services Club will host the Anzac Day breakfast from 6:30am for all who attended the Memorial Hill Dawn Service. The Anzac Day Luncheon at 12 noon is for serving and ex-service men and women and invited guests, while the traditional Anzac Day Two Up will be held in the bistro section from 12 noon to 5pm with proceeds going to Parkes Legacy.