Artists in Parkes have captured the calm, uplifting atmosphere of the natural environment in new artworks made for the Parkes Hospital. The artworks celebrate wellbeing by exploring the relationship between the natural environment and our life cycle by reflecting imagery that is uplifting, nurturing, light and colourful to create an oasis of calm for people during their hospital experience.

The project was initiated by Arts OutWest in partnership with the Lachlan Health Service and Parkes Shire Council. Bathurst based artist Maralyn Nash facilitated the workshops over six mornings during May and June.

The 12 workshop participants sketched and photographed plants, flowers and scenery which were developed into a series of completed art works. Workshops included outdoor excursions to bushy parkland areas around Parkes. Participants experimented with watercolour and acrylic paints and adding collage papers and fibres to pastel and charcoal drawings.

One artwork from each participant will be gifted to the Parkes hospital. “It felt like a release to start drawing without having to prove anything,”’ said one participant. “I find nature so healing to draw,” said another. The creation of artworks for the Parkes Hospital has been an activity in response to the Lachlan Health Service Culture and Arts Working Group. The Lachlan Health Services Project team engaged regional arts development organisation Arts Out-West to integrate culture and arts into the Forbes and Parkes Hospital redevelopments. The NSW Government provided $113.7 million to redevelop the Forbes Hospital and build a new Parkes Hospital. A component of this funding was used to help deliver the Lachlan Health Service Culture and Arts program.

The local AFL team, the Parkes Panthers, have taken on a life saving challenge off the field. Last month seven players lined up to donate blood as part of the Hutcheon & Pearce blood drive to save 1, 000 lives this year. Another 20 players will be donating blood when the Red Cross Blood Service is in town again in October.

Nicholas Ryan, who was one of the first players to go, donated blood for the first, and said he would be back next time. Barry Reidy, Branch Manager of Hutcheon & Pearce in Parkes said his company’s 11 branches in NSW wanted to create awareness of the blood shortage experienced during winter months. “Our aim is to try and raise donations to save 1, 000 lives.” Every donation counts for three lives, and about 150 donations had been made in the first seven months of the project. “We are going to struggle hitting our target at this rate, and I would like to encourage all residents to sign up on the Red Cross website.”

Barry said Hutcheon & Pearce sponsored the Parkes Panthers and they were keen to take up the challenge to donate
blood. Ronny Maroun, community relations officer of the Red Cross said over the winter months up to 900 people per week cancelled their appointment. This results in a shortage of blood. The Red Cross will be back in Parkes from 17th to 19th October. You can donate blood every three months so make sure to mark this date in your diary.

By Maggi Barnard

An action packed program is ready for the Parkes Show headlined by the amazing Showtime FMX team. They are set to dazzle with their mind blowing array of motorbike stunts. The fireworks display is on Tuesday evening, the Demolition Derby on Wednesday evening, and the popular animal nursery, sideshow alley and showbags will all be part of the this year’s Show.

KidsZone will be in operation on Tuesday and Wednesday with a range of free face painting, kite making and entertainment activities. The free mechanical bull ride arena will again be in the machinery area and is a great activity for the whole family. The best riders will compete in the finals on Wednesday evening.

Schedules with all the sections listed are available from the Show Office in Welcome Street or on our website parkesshow.org.au. It is also time to gather your entries. There are lots of sections for the kids in the Arts and Craft, Needlework and Cooking sections.

Our Facebook competition will see one lucky local winning 30 show ride tickets. All you need to do is like and share the Parkes Show Facebook page and tag three friends. Pick up your tickets today from Cunninghams IGA, Byrne Clothing or the Show Office not to miss out on a three-day show pass and to go in the Lucky Draw for one of two $500 open orders, or one of two sets of 30 Show Ride Tickets!

Students from five schools in Parkes joined schools from Forbes, Eugowra and Tullamore to celebrate Schools Tree Day at Eco Day 2016 last week. Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) provided bus travel and workshops to Year
5 and 6 students in a variety of environmental and rural related activities. The workshops included making Net- Waste Worm Farms; Plant Care and Propagation with Bunnings; Travelbugs Insects; FishCare with Russell Spencer, who also talked about Wiradjuri culture; Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils weeds demonstration and talk and a saleyards tour with Cooper Byrnes from Langlands Hanlon.

The day finished with a hands on workshop from Paul Kirk, also known as ‘The Snake Man’. Paul let the students get up close with the reptiles, like a python, and he talked about snake safety, how to handle non-venomous snakes and what to do if bitten. Chris Lane and Jessica Marsh from Invasive Species CRC spoke about how domestic pets can become at pest in certain environments.

“We want the kids to go away thinking about what they can do at home and school to make a difference and prevent needless wastage. We hope that students leave with a wider perspective of the connection between humans and the environment we live in,” said Margot Jolly, CWLL Chairperson.

CWLL received funding for Eco Day from Central West Local Land Services, and support from the Parkes and Forbes Shire Councils.

By Marg Applebee

About 30 Parkes volunteers enjoyed a perfect winter’s day to plant over 320 trees on National Tree Day last Sunday. Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) welcomed volunteers who planted Grey Box Grassy Woodland species, including Fuzzy Box, Grey Box, Yellow Box, Bimble Box, Kurrajong, Bull Oak and Acacias in the picturesque setting just off Condobolin Road. This effort contributed to the 50 Million Trees Program undertaken by Parkes Shire Council.

When the planting was complete, volunteers enjoyed a sausage sandwich prepared by the Parkes HQ of the Mid Lachlan Valley Rural Fire Service (RFS), and bread provided by Parkes Coles. The RFS brought their display trailer out for attendees to learn more about the RFS.

Margot Jolly, CWLL Chairperson, said: “We were fortunate to have the RFS help us out with the BBQ. They did a fantastic job and it was wonderful to have them here”. “CWLL have been fortunate to have the support of Parkes Shire Council and Toyota to bring Tree Day together. Our previous National Tree Day plantings are progressing well and we hope to see the same success at the Condobolin Road”.

The Skillset Green Army Team and Central West Lachlan Landcare will continue planting work over the next few weeks. A big thank you to all of our Volunteers who made National Tree Day possible. It is wonderful to join with over 300, 000 Australians across the country who took part in NTD.

By Marg Applebee

Parkes Shire Council would like to thank all the residents who participated in National Tree Day on Sunday, 31st July. As part of the 50 Million Trees Program, Parkes Shire Council teamed up with Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) and more than 30 volunteers to plant 320 trees, just off the Condobolin Road. It turned out to be a perfect winter’s day for planting and participants were rewarded for all their hard work with a BBQ lunch, generously donated by Parkes Coles.

Local Cricket stalwart Greg Morrissey was honoured last Friday, 29th July with the official naming of the Greg Morrissey Field at McGlynn Park in Parkes. Council received a proposal to name the field in recognition of Mr Morrissey and his many years of dedicated service to the cricket fraternity within New South Wales, as well as his untiring devotion to the community of Parkes.

Council marked the occasion by unveiling the new Greg Morrissey Field sign. We wish all of the Shire’s Show committees the best of luck, with the first of the region’s shows kicking off next week. The 93rd Tullamore Show will have something for everyone on offer when the gates open to the public on Friday, 12th August. Staff from Parkes Shire Council will be there and we encourage everyone to swing by the Council exhibit and say hello.

Council has gone into caretaker mode with nominations for new councillors now open. Anyone planning on becoming a candidate must nominate with the Returning Officer before 12 noon on 10th August 2016. Nomination forms can be obtained on the election web page www.votensw.info The NSW local council general elections will be held on Saturday, 10th September 2016.

Enjoy your weekend.
Parkes Shire Council

This year Planet Ark celebrates 20 years of National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day – Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event. Each year around 3,000 schools across Australia take part in Schools Tree Day,
encouraging future generations to learn how to plant and care for seedlings as they grow.

Parkes Shire Council have invited local schools to participate in the event today by providing schools willing to branch out with up to ten native trees and shrubs towards any planting activity. “Schools Tree Day can mark the beginning of a long-term environmental program,” said Michael Chambers, Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator.

“By engaging students of all ages in an outdoor, fun and hands on activity like tree planting, we can encourage their passion for the environment, maths, science and creative arts or simply contribute to creating beautiful school grounds,” Michael added. Planet Ark’s 2012 Planting Trees report revealed that interacting with nature helps children’s health, wellbeing and development. Time spent in nature helps kids thrive!

The wider community can also use the opportunity to grow on National Tree Day on Sunday. Parkes Shire Council and Central West Lachlan Landcare invite the community to dig in by planting more than 400 trees on a corridor of land adjacent to the Parkes Waste Depot with access 3.8km out on the Condobolin Road. Activities start from 10am and will conclude with a sausage sizzle at 1pm.

Since Planet Ark launched National Tree Day in 1996, more than three million participants have planted 21 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.