Articles Archives - Page 361 of 436

Chamber Chatter

August 3, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Last week’s Parkes Chamber of Commerce meeting saw a great turnout for the consultation with RMS concerning the Parkes bypass. Consultants from WPS facilitated discussions that addressed business concerns and gathered information to look at all the potential impacts. An RMS survey has been posted on the Chamber website and we encourage everyone to complete it.

After the RMS meeting, the Chamber held its annual AGM. All positions were declared vacant. Geoff Rice was returned unopposed to the position of President and John Kennedy as Vice-President. James Haddin was elected as Secretary and Belinda McCorkell as Treasurer. Peter Martin is the Public Officer and Kasie Ferguson is the Publicity Officer.

The Chamber has been busy behind the scenes to relaunch bigger and better this financial year. Our facebook profile is growing with 437 likes, while our RMS bypass post reached over 4,000 people – our toprated post for the year!

The most exciting news is that The Henrys Business Awards will become an annual event. We are looking forward to our premiere event on Friday, 20th October. With the invaluable assistance of the NSW Business Chamber the nomination process will be completely online and judged, so there is no community voting.

Over 130 packages have been delivered to businesses in the past week and the response has been positive. If you have not received one yet, please contact us. It includes information on the awards, membership and subscription, as well as upcoming shire events.

Please feel free to come to any of our meetings. Contact us on email at chamber@parkeschamber.com.au or through
our facebook page.

By Belinda McCorkell

Bred Well Fed Well Workshop In Alectown

August 3, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Quality Wool hosted a Bred Well Fed Well workshop in Alectown for farmers last week. Hosted by Bernard and Elizabeth Dwyer, 18 participants attended the intensive oneday workshop. Facilitated by Dr Jason Trompf from JT
Agri-Source, the day combined presentations as well as hands-on practical sessions, designed to equip producers with practical tools to optimise reproduction and profitability in their ewe flocks.

Producers got to try their hand at included condition scoring, feed budgeting, ram rankings and ram selection, with follow-up courses in these areas offered for those wishing to further develop skills in breeding and nutritional management. A number of attendees indicated they’d like to participate in the Ewe Lifetime Management
program going forward.

A joint initiative between Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Bred Well Fed Well workshops aim to help commercial producers, stock agents and many others to advance their skills in ram selection using Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs).

Restoration Project Starts For Peak Hill’s History

August 3, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The Peak Hill history machine was set in motion in recently when the community recently welcomed back four restored historical photographs. This signalled the beginning of the Peak Hill history restoration project run by the Peak Hill Consultative Committee.

The original Peak Hill Municipal Council building, now the Peak Hill Leisure Centre, contains a collection of historical photographs depicting past Peak Hill community life. The aim of the Peak Hill Consultative Committee is to restore, conserve and digitise these photographs.

The first set of four framed photographs that have been restored are images of the Peak Hill Municipal Council of 1897, 1939, 1953 and 1968. Members of the Peak Hill Consultative Committee, Peak Hill Leisure Art and Craft Council and Councillor Louise O’Leary were very pleased to welcome back the photographs. “This is the beginning for Peak Hill. Our heritage and stories will be restored and shared, and be available for everyone long into the future,” said Louise.

“The restored photographs are wonderful,” said Dick Baxter. Before being re-installed in their original locations in the Peak Hill Leisure Centre, the photographs will be on display at the Peak Hill show on Wednesday, 23rd August 2017.

This project has been assisted by funds allocated to the Royal Australian Historical Society through the Heritage Branch of the NSW Office of the Environment and Heritage.

Question of the Week?

August 3, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Sunday was National Tree Planting Day. Why did you decide to come and plant trees today?

Anna Woodlands, Isobell Moss, Charlie Moss and Annette Moss: Isobell: Trees and plants give us oxygen. Anna: I come every year with my dad. I like planting trees.

Wild West Spectacular At Show

August 3, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Roll up, roll up. This is the year to take your seats at the Parkes Show for an interactive animal stunt show that takes horse play to a new level. The Rooftop Express arena show features world first stunts, true blue Australian comedy and awe-inspiring horsemanship.

A must see for anyone who has ever wanted to put on a cowboy hat. With some highly refined and visually enchanting moments, the Parkes P.A. and H Society invites you to join the boys and girls from the bush as they show you what is possible with horses, cattle and working dogs.

Snippets…

July 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Tour de Parkes: Calling all riders – join a group of social cyclists on Saturdays. The informal group meets at Greenparkes Nursery at 10am on Saturdays and pedal out on a ride together. The group choose circuits of various distances, and ensures riders of all abilities are catered to. Bicycles of all kinds are welcome. Barbara and Peter Guppy will often be seen peddling out on their tandem bicycle. The group is more about making friends and having fun than being ultra-competitive. So, come on Parkes, get on your bike!

Visitor Economy Workshop: Parkes Shire Council is hosing a Visitor Economy Workshop on Monday, 7th August at the Astro Dish Motor Inn. The workshop is aimed at tourism operators and other related businesses to discuss the projects, campaigns and initiatives that Council will undertake to grow the visitor economy of the Parkes Shire.

The agenda includes a range of items from destination management planning to major festival and event opportunities, and will be a great opportunity to network with fellow tourism operators while also learning how to leverage the programs and initiatives that Council will deliver to drive the visitor economy. For workshop details
visit www.visitparkes.com.au or phone the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 6862 6000.

Authors In Parkes: Two special authors will visit the Parkes Shire Library during August. On Saturday, 5th August at 10.30am Parkes author Erica Brazel is launching her recently published children’s picture book. I’m Special and it Shows from my Head Down to my Toes is a book to help children learn more about their different body parts. Erica was born in Lake Cargelligo, and moved to Parkes when she was 14. After living in Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle Erica married and moved with her husband back to Parkes to have their family.

The children’s book was inspired by Erica’s sons and their amazing, inquisitive minds. On Wednesday, 23rd August at 6pm Scott Whitaker will talk about the release of his new book Railway Hotels of Australia ~ Volume Two ~ New South Wales.

He will also talk about the coming of the railway, the social development of regional NSW, researching tips, genealogy, local and state history, and publishing. Please RSVP if you wish to attend on 6861 2309 or library@parkes.nsw.gov.au

Joint Initiative Brings Port Closer To Parkes

July 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Two logistics giants have joined forces in Parkes to simplify the supply chain for importers and exporters and attract more business to the town. To celebrate its tenth anniversary in Parkes, SCT Logistics teamed up with DP World Australia to present a joint capabilities initiative. The two companies will work together to service regional trains providing importers and exporters direct access to the dock at DP World Australia’s terminal in Sydney.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to connect Parkes and the Central West with the port,” said Mark Hulme, DP World Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Logistics. “When we have empty containers at the port, we can rail them to Parkes, load them up and get them straight back to the port.”

According to SCT Managing Director, Geoff Smith the joint initiative would help his company get trucks off the road and improve environmental outcomes. “We currently move freight from Perth to Sydney via Parkes. We are well positioned to expand these services to include exports into Port Botany to meet vessel cut offs.”

He added that the 324 hectares available would be ideal for importers and exporters to situate themselves in the strategic Parkes rail hub. Parkes Mayor Ken Keith commended both parties for diversifying their operations to maximise the potential of the Parkes Logistics Hub.

The two companies held an information session on Wednesday to interested parties to give them an insight into opportunities available within the supply chain.

By Maggi Barnard

Mayoral Notes…

July 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

I would like to congratulate local logistics company SCT Intermodal Parkes for diversifying its operations to maximise the potential of the Parkes Logistics Hub by announcing a partnership with DP World Australia to provide direct freight access to Port Botany for local exporters and importers.

Council and the Parkes Chamber of Commerce are excited to launch the Love Our Local campaign, which will feature many local businesses. Join the campaign by following Visit Parkes Region on social media, liking the business pages and sharing what you love about shopping local.

Council invites local tourism and business operators to a Visitor Economy Workshop on Monday, 7th August at the Astro Dish Motor Inn. The workshop will incorporate an update on the current state of the tourism industry and opportunities for local business. For details head to visitparkes.com.au or phone 6862 6000.

Residents are invited to take part in the largest community tree-planting and nature care event on Sunday at 11am. As part of this year’s National Tree Day, Council staff will be joining Central West Lachlan Landcare and community volunteers at the northern end of Danilenko Street with the aim of planting 500 trees. Register your attendance
via visitparkes.com.au

A reminder that waste disposal charges for domestic loads commence at the Parkes Waste Facility from 1st August to improve the waste and recyclable management and disposal techniques to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill. Separate and build specific loads, such as a green matter load, to qualify for cheaper rates.

Enjoy your weekend.
Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Kurt Is Going For Gold

July 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Imagine being paid to do what you love, and travelling the world because of it. Twenty-year-old Kurt Lovett is living this dream. The former Parkes local moved to Sydney after school to play hockey with the NSW Institute of Sport.
Earlier this month Kurt captained the NSW under 21 hockey team, claiming gold in the National Championships in Wollongong.

The NSW Sky Blues topped off an undefeated season and claimed victory over Queensland in a match that provided
an antidote to the State of Origin. “It was a bit of a relief to finally get the gold medal,” Kurt said. However, his success isn’t limited to national fields. Last year he represented Australia in the Junior World Cup. He also played hockey in Vanuatu and South Africa, and will soon be heading to Germany to train for an Australian development side.

“It’s going to be my first trip to Europe,” he said. “We’ll be playing a few different European sides.” But he said it was not just the travel or the wins that made it such a satisfying pursuit. “It’s a sport that really keeps on giving, there’s always something to improve and something to get better at.” His love of hockey was fostered in Parkes at a young age. Kurt credits the unique hockey environment at Parkes as part of the reason for his success. “You get an opportunity to play with a lot of older people at a young age,” he explained, “so you develop your game a lot sooner and you are a lot tougher on the field.”

Kurt is aiming for a professional career in hockey. “I’d have to move to Perth for the Australian Institute of Sport where the National Hockey training is based,” Kurt said. “I would like to go to the Commonwealth Games, and Tokyo Olympics.”

By Raen Fraser

Time To Enter For The 2017 Parkes Showgirl Competition

July 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Showgirl competition is looking to find a vivacious young woman aged 18 to 24 to be an ambassador for Parkes and the wider community. The winner of the Parkes Showgirl competition will become the face of the Parkes
Show. The winner also has the opportunity to go on to compete to at the zone finals and may even go on to be the Land Sydney Royal Showgirl!

By participating in the Parkes Showgirl competition you will be amazed at the personal, professional and networking opportunities that can open up for you. You will also have the chance to win approximately $1,500 in prizes donated by local businesses, increase your exposure to the wider community, meet with community leaders and increase your awareness of the local show and community.

The 2017 Parkes Showgirl Dinner will be on 12th August at the Parkes Town Bowling Club at 6:30pm to meet the entrants. Entry forms are available from the show office in Welcome Street or on the Parkes show website at www.parkesshow.org.au

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