Simeon Kelly: I like playing where no one will comment on my playing.
Nathanael says: I like playing my violin in a tree.
Rosie Parkin: I enjoy clarinet because it is easy to play and has a peaceful tune. It is also lighter and can fit anywhere.
Heidi Parkin: I like being able to practise whenever I want and wherever I want. I enjoy getting to the places where I practise almost as much as I love playing music.
Right now, during the Coronavirus Pandemic, it is important that we look after all aspects of our health, including our mental health.
One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most common illnesses are depression, anxiety and substance use disorder. While it’s very common, misunderstanding and stigma surrounding these conditions is widespread, leading to a high incidence of people not seeking help.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds with 800,000 people dying to suicide every year around the world.
Parkes Pharmacy is a safe place to talk about mental health concerns. You’re always welcome to come in or call and chat to our pharmacists. They are trained in mental health first aid – whether it be for a chat, or to sit down in a private space to discuss any concerns. We can help you find services.
As we work together to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, it is important that we stay mentally healthy by: eating well, keeping active, staying in touch with family and friends by phone or video calls, and seeking help when needed.
There are other resources and support services also available:
• Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP): 02 6363 8444 / ramhp.com.au
• Mental Health Line by RAMHP: 1800 011 511
• Lifeline 24-hour crisis support: 13 11 14 / Lifeline.org.au
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36 / beyond-blue.org.au
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Marley Paton and Charles Anderson.
Two Parkes Shire students are among the winners of the 10th annual Anzac Writing Competition.
Bogan Gate Public Schools’ Marley Paton (11) won the primary school category for the north division with her beautiful poem called Poppies to Remember.
Charles Anderson (13) of Trundle Central School received a highly commended for the secondary category in the north division for his poem.
A total of 680 entries were received from 34 schools across the Riverina electorate, with the winners each receiving a book prize.
“I really wanted to enter the competition to challenge myself and to have fun,” said Marley. She said she believed it was important to remember Anzac Day in order to remember the soldiers and the other people who fought and worked as hard as they could to save and protect our country.
“My poem is about how the poppies make us remember the soldiers and the nurses who saved our country. I feel like we don’t always remember the nurses.”
Charles also entered a poem. “I tried to put myself into the shoes of a boy whose father was at the frontline and wrote to him about life on the farm.”
He said the competition was a great opportunity for students to reflect on the past. “It is good to celebrate Anzac Day so we can remember what they’ve done for Australia.”
Riverina MP Michael McCormack, who runs the annual competition, said the winners stood out among a quality field of talented writers.
“As Anzac services have been cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it is now more important than ever for us all to remember our ANZACs and invoke their resilient spirit.”
All winning entries can be found in the 10th annual Anzac Day commemorative booklet. The Parkes Phoenix will publish the two Parkes Shire students’ poems in the issue before Anzac Day.
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I moved to Parkes two weeks before Christmas last year. I love how friendly everyone is, and the horses. Every time you drive around a corner, there is a horse!
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I work at the fantastic Parkes Phoenix as an Advertising Executive. I enjoy meeting the Parkes community and talking to anyone over the age of five.
What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? I love to take photos, my passion is photography, however I do love a glass of red wine, dark chocolate and a bit of comedy.
What makes you proud? My family – having moved from tropical north Queensland to Parkes was a big change and they handled it fantastically. Also with all the changes that have happened so far, they are still happy.
If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I would be any animal that can live in the ocean.
What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite song is ‘You are my Sunshine’. It’s a song my mother use to sing a lot.
Tell us about your best holiday. I travelled by myself around Europe. I had the best time, and visited seven different countries.
What is on your bucket list? To go on a hot air balloon in the early morning.
Norma Garment, Diane Sondermeyer with Maureen Miller in her beautiful garden.
The Parkes Garden Club held its March meeting in the garden of Colin and Maureen Miller.
Maureen told us how her garden has evolved to the beautiful show garden it is today. She has established the front garden over approximately four years with an eclectic display of mainly natives, flowering perennials and lots of salvias.
Maureen has focussed on getting some shade trees established in her back garden together with some fruiting varieties including lemon, olive and an orange tree.
Colin told members about his absorbing hobby and amazing collection of model trains complete with tracks, stations and miniature scenery set-up.
One of our members, Del Baxter celebrated his birthday during March so we took the opportunity to sing to him and shared a birthday cake with him and Kath.
Future club meetings are on hold due to the current circumstances, but once restrictions are lifted, we will be in touch with all members to advise when and where our meetings will start again.
It is a good time to think about sowing some veggies for your family’s use, especially after the wonderful rain and before it gets too cold. Some easy to grow suggestions for winter eating are spring onions, celery, spinach, silverbeet and herbs.
On behalf of all our Garden Club members, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the local and wider Australian doctors, nurses, medical staff and researchers who are working so hard to see us all safely through this most critical time. We are so appreciative of your work.
By Heather Harvey
If you had asked Musica Arioso six months ago if they would be a predominantly online business by Easter 2020, they would have laughed.
And then the unimaginable happened, a global pandemic, social distancing and the closure of non-essential services.
“We simply had to dive in boots and all. We are in uncharted territory with our chil- dren feeling the stress of our stress and the uncertainty of what lies ahead,” said Gail Smith.
Music is well known for its benefits of relieving stress and anxiety. While sporting clubs and events have been cancelled, and social gatherings are on hold, music has not been cancelled.
Musica Arioso are now bravely striding into the vast online world, and that is where you come in! With so much time at home, regular music lessons can help bring some structure to your day. You could discover a talent.
They are offering 30 minute online class- es for a range of instruments including piano/keyboard, ukulele, voice, recorder and guitar.
Contact Gail Smith on 0414 478 585 or email musicaarioso@gmail.com for information on how to book your time. After all, everyone deserves a little music in their life.
Reuben Kelly loves playing his cello during COVID-19 isolation because nobody bothers him.
Stay At Home This Easter: All Australians are asked to observe the health directives and stay at home this Easter. The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud said getting away at Easter needed to be put on hold this year because the risk of spreading COVID-19 to remote and regional Australia is too great. “Our regions don’t have the medical resources that people enjoy in metropolitan Australia. This is the time when we can all do our bit to look after our fellow Australians, our communities and our families.”
Streaming Antenatal Services: An innovative model will enable women and their partners to access education from the comfort of their own home, while complying with social distancing rules. The classes rotate on a four-week cycle and each week covers a different topic: pregnancy; labour and birth; breastfeeding; and early days of being a parent. Classes will run Wednesday nights from 6pm starting on 8th April to 26th August. All women need is to have access to a phone or computer. To book in for the free interactive classes contact Lucy Sissian on 6809 8607.
Lower Prices At The Bowser: While world oil prices fell to just over $20 per barrel, every motorist in regional Australia deserves price relief during the pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said regional, rural and remote Australians must receive the benefits of lower prices at the bowser. “I am pleased the ACCC has said fuel prices above 130 cents per litre are inappropriate and they are closely monitoring the situation. The Federal Government will continue to watch the actions of fuel retailers in regional areas very closely and we encourage the community to name and shame retailers doing the wrong thing.” He said motorists should follow pricing apps and take advice from motoring bodies including the RACQ and NRMA for advice on when and where to fill up most cheaply.
Join COVID-19 Social Media Project: The National Museum of Australia in Canberra has launched a digital initiative to record shared experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australians who wish to share their experiences, stories, reflections and images from the pandemic are invited to join the Facebook group Bridging the Distance – Sharing Our COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences, and take part in a national conversation around this unprecedented event.
Luka Parkin says the benefits of practising in isolation are: the seats are comfier and you get premium wheelbarrows.
Businesses across the Orange electorate are encouraged to join the fight against COVID-19 and start producing much needed medical equipment for NSW.
Member for Orange Phil Donato MP said the unprecedented global demand on much needed medical supplies had seen traditional suppliers unable to fill urgent orders to service NSW.
“Hand sanitiser, handwash, gloves, clean- ing products, protective clothing, masks, eyewear and paper products are now in such high demand,” Phil said.
“The NSW Government is calling on local businesses in the Orange electorate to convert their production lines to make these products to fill the gap.”
The products required urgently include: hand sanitiser, handwash, gloves, cleaning products, protective clothing, masks, eyewear and paper products.
Phil said this was also a great way for businesses who might be seeing a down- turn in revenue due to COVID-19 to adapt and remain strong during these uncertain times.
“This is a great way for business to diversify and keep as many workers in a job as possible.”
Businesses who are able to join the fight against COVID-19 are urged to register their interest at www.nsw.gov.au
Taylor Rodriguez
For the first time in the 29 years of the Parkes Elvis Festival’s history, the reigning International Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion will be performing as the feature artist.
The organisers announced Taylor Rodriguez as the 2021 feature artist for next year’s festival to be held from 6th to 10th January.
“I am beyond excited to attend Parkes Elvis Festival! This will be my first time to Australia and I can’t wait to celebrate the life, legacy, and music of Elvis Presley. Let’s get ready to Rock ‘n Roll Australia!” Taylor said.
Taylor will perform four high-energy concerts backed by a dynamic eight-piece Elvis band at the Parkes Leagues Club.
Parkes Elvis Festival Director, Cathy Treasure, said: “We are so excited to be able to host Taylor’s first ever shows on Australian soil. His incredible showmanship and youthful energy will create a dynamic feature concert series that is not to be missed.”
Taylor became the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion in Memphis in August last year. This competition is held worldwide to look for the best representation of the legacy of Elvis Presley.
The 21-year-old hails from Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Taylor fell in love with Elvis’s music at the age of six listening to Blue Suede Shoes and started performing at nine. He was one of the top five tribute artists at the age of 19, and then went on to be crowned the 2019 Tupelo Elvis Festival Champion, before taking out number one in Memphis!
Taylor has starred in many musical productions including the Million Dollar Quartet where he played Elvis Presley.
At the Parkes Elvis Festival Taylor will also appear in the Northparkes Mines Street Parade, Gospel Service and Renewal of Vows Ceremony.
SOUL NOURISHING… Pam Parkin enjoys having more time to play the violin in her favourite spot in the garden.
In the midst of a global pandemic that has disrupted our daily routines and confines us to our homes, there is a surge in something that gives us hope: kindness.
We see it all over the world, and in our local community. From the friendly shop assistants offering us hand sanitiser, the caring way in which the doctors conduct phone appointments, the free pizza delivered to old age homes, parents delivering treats to teachers and happy chalk drawings made on public walkways, to name but a few.
Research shows that we lean into kindness when tragedy strikes. Many people make use of Facebook posts to acknowledge and encourage others, like this one: “Thumbs up Parkes, Forbes and surrounding communities for all coming together during this insane time. We’ve never experienced anything like this before – and it’s bringing out all kinds of emotions.”
Many other trends are going viral too, like decorating walkways with chalk art, and Parkes is in on this one too with Kristy Berry and her daughter Pascal bringing some joy to residents. “We really enjoy doing it and love seeing people getting enjoyment and a smile out of it,” said Kristy.
More time at home also brings new challenges and opportunities. For music teacher Pam Parkin it means less rushing around. “There is more time to rest and enjoy my instruments.”
Music student Carmel Kelly says: “I get to take time practicing as we don’t have to go anywhere!”
It is going to be a very different Easter for all of us, so stay in touch with your loved ones making video calls or ringing them and remember: “We are all in this together.
By Maggi Barnard