Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals’ Leader and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole were in Parkes this week to inspect concept designs for the bypass project which has joint funding from the State and Federal governments.

“I am excited to see the project progressing,” Mr McCormack said.

“The 10.5 kilometre bypass will improve road efficiency, pedestrian access through Parkes and traffic flow. We will see increased reliability of trips for motorists and reduced travel time of up to 10 minutes compared to the existing route through town.”

“The goal is to reduce congestion and delays caused by the two rail level crossings and four 90-degree bends which are difficult for heavy vehicles to safely navigate on the current route,” Mr McCormack said.

Mr Toole said the bypass should remove more than 1000 trucks per day from local streets, and also facilitate connectivity to the Parkes Special Activation Precinct and the Inland Rail.

Parkes Shire Mayor and Chair of the Newell Highway Task Force Cr Ken Keith OAM said this is a great outcome for the Parkes Shire community.

“I encourage our community to provide feedback on the revised Concept Design while it’s on public display in the coming months,” Cr Keith said.

Local residents, business owners and road users are encouraged to attend the upcoming information sessions to find out more about the project.

The concept design and Review of Environmental Factors will be on display at rms.

work/parkesupgrade, at the Parkes Shire Council Administration Centre and Service NSW Parkes from Monday 1 July to Friday 9 August 2019.

Tax time can often be a difficult time of the year as you become overwhelmed with what to do. To be prepared this year set aside some specific time now to go over your paperwork and create a checklist. This will ensure you tick off all of your required and are able to lodge before the rush.

A lot of individuals become uncertain with what they can and can’t claim at tax time. It can often be a very time consuming and frustrating time, so you can always reach out and ask the professionals in Parkes such as Peter Woods & Associates, David Bickett and Ward and Associates Accountants for advice.

Running your own small business in today’s world, and keeping abreast of change can be a complex task. The requirements to keep up with changes in tax laws and software requirements can take away valuable time from running your own business.

The team at Peter Woods and Associates are able to support you and your business, and make this process easier. They can assist not only with tax returns and activity statements, but also the requirements of running a business, business advice, and accounting software (MYOB, Xero, Phoenix amongst others) including single touch payroll solutions.

Peter Woods and Associates is a long established accounting firm with over 20 years’ experience in the accounting field, they recognise that every business is different and will require different levels of support at different times in the business lifecycle, let them know how they can help you.

It’s important to collate all of your documents such as PAYG summaries, pension or government allowance, interest earned, rental property income, business income, work related expenditure, investment expenses, charity donations and private health insurance, just to name a few.

Tax planning should be customised to individual needs, and should be undertaken with the assistance of an expert. When planning now you should certainly consider strategies available specifically for Small Business Entities, such as the immediate write off deductions for capital items, and bringing forward expenses into the 2019 financial year. Other tools to discuss with your accountant or advisor include the use of Superannuation Contributions as a deduction or Farm Management Deposits as a strategy.

This time of year is also ideal for planning and forecasting for the new financial year. Professionals can refine the process of identifying both the goals and the concerns of clients, and work with them to map a plan for the coming years. This includes a cash flow forecast and projected Profit and Loss, and is ideally revisited regularly through the new financial year. Planning and measuring performance are essential for reaching your personal and business goals.

The sooner you get in touch with the experts, the sooner you can lighten your load.

Congratulations to the Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB), who competed at the Forbes Eisteddfod, coming first in the Open Instrumental Ensemble, and first in the Open Band Group. Music Director Duncan Clement was responsible for a great choice of contrasting music pieces to play and for preparing the band to play with focus, confidence and enjoyment.

The PSCB loves to collaborate with other music groups in the Shire. The recent concert ‘New Harmonies’, a concert showcasing choral and instrumental groups was a great success.

Five of the PSCB band members are in the band for the next production of the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society, ‘Les Misérables’, and are keen to musically support the fantastic team who organise the shows at the M & D Society. It’s a wonderful opportunity to become part of a great group of people who all volunteer their time, who are very welcoming to new people to the theatre while making friendships along the way.

It does not matter at what level you can play, whether you used to play an instrument or even if you would like to learn, all are welcome to join the PSCB.

Rehearsals on Tuesday 7-9pm during school term, above Pool Complex, Dalton Street.

Contact Duncan Clement, PSCB Music Director, duncanclement@hotmail.com, 0405 035 164.

A woman from Parkes has won the guaranteed 1st Prize of $200,000 in the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot, drawn Wednesday 19 June 2019.

Confirming her prize with a NSW Lotteries official, the winner revealed the timing of her windfall couldn’t have been better.

“Oh my god! Thank you so much. I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it. Just a few days ago I’d really been thinking about how nice it would be to win just $100,000 and just how much easier that would make my life right now. It’s just so surreal! When I saw the results online I didn’t want to get too excited just in case it wasn’t real!”

“It’s definitely come at a very good time.

In fact it couldn’t have come at a better time. Wow!”

The hardworking and generous mum said she’d already planned exactly how she’d use her windfall.

“We will pay off our mortgage and we just won’t have to worry about money which is a huge weight off our shoulders,” she said.

“I’d love to take the family on a lovely holiday as well. It’s just so hard to comprehend.

It’s just so lovely. I am in absolute shock!”

The happy winner, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased her winning entry online at thelott.com – Australia’s official lotteries.

The Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot prize is now $75.16 million for draw 1360 while the Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot is now $1.80 million for draw 10295.

For your chance to make today your ‘Lucky’ day, why not get your paws on a Lucky Lotteries ticket at your local NSW Lotteries outlet or online via thelott.com.

NSW Lotteries customers can purchase a single ticket number into the Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot for $2.20 and the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot for $5.50.

Now in its foundation year, Scots All Saints College is emerging as the leading co-educational College of excellence for Pre-K to Year 12 students in the Central West. The newly merged College has consistently outperformed all other schools in the region in academic excellence in HSC results (All Saints’ College in 2018) and ranked number 1 and 2 in NAPLAN results for all Years from 3, 5, 7, 9 in 2018 (All Saints’ College and The Scots School).

To celebrate the Scots All Saints College vision of developing well-rounded, community-minded young men and women of purpose who strive for excellence in all their pursuits, a new Head of College, All-Rounder Scholarships have been launched. Scholarships allow new students entering Years 5 through to 12 in 2020, the opportunity to showcase their commitment to doing their best in music, sport, agriculture, academics citizenship and how they live the Christian values of the College.

Scholarships are now open and students can apply in writing with copies of their latest school reports, NAPLAN results, references and a short letter on why they would like to join our College community.

Applications close on 28th June and successful applications will be invited for an interview. Scots All Saints College has a strong boarding family tradition with more than 130 boarders in our recently renovated facilities at the picturesque Scots Campus in Bathurst. In response to families seeking a more convenient, one-stop school where sisters, bothers and cousins can stay together to live and learn at school, Scots All Saints College has announced the Extended Family Boarder Package. This is a multi-student discount for three or more students from the one family including siblings and cousins. In times of financial hardship and drought, it is important to provide a more affordable and smart choice for boarder families to access a quality independent education in regional NSW.
All-Rounder Scholarships and the Extended Boarder Family Package are available for a limited time only. Register your interest now at www.scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au/tryus and or contact 6331 3911 or info@scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au.

“Once upon a time an old lady lived in a little cottage beside the sea with her only son. They did their best to make a living.”

This is the start of 14-year-old Ella Butler’s short story she entered for the 62nd Henry Lawson Festival in Grenfell for which she won second prize. The festival is one of Australia’s longest running arts eventscelebrating one of the country’s best loved poets and writer of short stories.

Ella has read all the folktales in the Parkes Library and decided to write her own tale.

“In contrast to contemporary settings, this lyrical story has the dream-like feel of classic fairy tales, and feels like it’s invented a new mythology as well,” said Narelle Harris who judged the short stories.

“My name is Earth, for I have the gift to command the stones and trees.” Ella, who is home schooled in Parkes, was at first at a loss for words when she got the news of her prize, but said it was very exciting that her writing efforts had achieved something.

She is also very happy that it is no longer only her mum Amy who thinks well of her writing, but that other people also find it enjoyable. She credits the Parkes Library for not only promoting reading but writing too for its members. Ella has received a lot of support and encouragement from Dan Fredericks at the library, who regularly sends out emails about competitions and writing events to families with junior writers.

“The Henry Lawson competition is very prestigious and gives writers nation wide exposure,” said Dan. “It is already an achievement to be a finalist, and winning a prize is great for Ella and all the hard work she’s put into her writing.”

Ella also received a highly commended for her poem Darkness Riding.

Mum Amy said entering competitions was a good way of motivating students. “We are seeing the fruits of the language-rich environment from birth encouraged by Rhonda Brain and her project,” said Amy of her daughter’s writing.
“… soon Storm and Pearl were married and there was great rejoicing. And the five all lived happily ever after.”

By Maggi Barnard

The Fair Work Commission announced recently its annual wage review under the Fair Work Act 2009. All Australian employees who are on Federal Awards will be affected by this rise:

• the National minimum wage is set to increase to $740.80 per week or $19.49 per hour (up 3%);• Modern Award minimum wages will increase by 3%;
• The National Training wage will increase by 3%;
• Modern Award minimum wages for those employees with a disability, and for those with training arrangements will increase by 3%; and
• Classifications under the various awards will also increase.

Employers – Who is affected, what do they need to do and when? Employers will be required to review the employment contracts of any employees that are paid wages at the minimum wage (or within 3% of that), or are under a modern award or other industrial instrument such as an Enterprise Agreement.

This increase must take effect in the pay period on or after the 1st July 2019.

Employers should also make sure that they are paying their employees under the correct Award and are paying under the correct classification under the award.

Failure to comply may not only incur large payments of back pay, but in some cases employers may also suffer a large fine imposed by the Courts.

If we at MATTHEWS WILLIAMS can help you on any legal matter, feel free to call us.

Where were you when those very first steps were taken on the Moon?

If you were not born yet, you can make new memories on 20th and 21st July at the Parkes Radio Telescope for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon.

“I was six years old at the time and watched it on TV,” said John Sarkissian, Operations Scientist at the Dish. “It is really exciting to be here for the anniversary. This is where the pictures came from.”

On 21st July 1969 the signal from Parkes came through eight minutes and 51 seconds after the Apollo 11’s door opened.

The quality from the Parkes feed was so good that NASA stayed with them for the rest of the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast, watched by 600 million people around the world.

This meant Parkes played a vital role in cementing Australia’s place in one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

“I can’t wait for the Open Days, it’s going to be a blast,” said Dr Jane Kaczmarek, CSIRO astronomer at the Parkes Radio Telescope last Friday.

“It is important for us to celebrate Apollo 11, because it was not just a scientific achievement, but it was a humankind achievement,” she said. “We are here to celebrate the global camaraderie that took place to make it possible, and to celebrate the pure achievement of putting somebody on the moon. It is also inspiring for next generations, for us to take that next big step into the future science.”

Jane said she would like to see someone on the Moon again. “I’d like it to be me – to take that selfie!”

Go to www.csiro.au/apollo11 for more details on the celebrations. By Maggi Barnard

Parkes is a great town for getting behind ideas and the new committee formed for the Pink Up Parkes initiative in October is no exception.

When Mayor Ken Keith was approached about the event he said: “I think we should do that to support our local McGrath Breast Care nurse Di Green.”

Ken opened the inaugural meeting last Thursday affirming support of Di and the McGrath Foundation, while Di gave an overview of her role in our community. Her contract is renewed every three years and funding for that comes from community events.

There are already major events planned for October, and the idea is to give them a pink flavour. The month will begin with a Pink Morning Tea and field of Pink Women and continue with events including Central West Car Club’s Street Meet, Open Gardens, Antique Motor Club Swap Meet, Show ‘n Shine Car Show, Henry Awards, Marbles Championships and a Pink Paddle Event with Parkes Dragon Boat Club. In addition shops will be encouraged to Pink Up and schools invited to hold Pink Up mufti days.

One in eight women in the Parkes and Forbes Shires will be affected by breast cancer. “It’s all these events that add up to my funding,” said Di, who is a vital resource for breast cancer sufferers and needs the whole community to get behind Pink Up Parkes in October.

By Beth Thomas