Parkes Phoenix

Maggi Barnard

Maggi Barnard has been with the Parkes Phoenix since it was established in March 2016 and loves writing about her community.

Annual Harvest Field Day On 11th August

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The annual Be Road Ready for Harvest Field Day will be offered in person and online, plus three satellite events to reach as big an audience as possible.

Harvest time is upon us and the annual field day in preparation will be in hybrid form this year.

Farmers, contract harvesters, transport operators, pilot drivers and agricultural machinery retailers are invited to attend this year’s Be Road Ready for Harvest Field Day in person at the Forbes Central West Livestock Exchange or online via Zoom on Thursday, 11th August. 

Breakfast will be provided from 7:30am for the official program to start at 8am. There

will be onsite displays from 10:30 to 11:30am.

“After two years of COVID disruptions it is great to be able to offer this hybrid event to provide important safety information in the lead up to the harvest period,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

Topics to be discussed include access, permits, fire safety, fatigue, safety around powerlines, compliance, insurance, mental health and more.

“Harvest is coming and it is important to refresh people’s knowledge about the current rules and regulations for legally and safely moving agricultural machinery, combinations and trucks on the road.

“Safety and compliance during harvest is very important. Operators need to be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all warning devices and travel requirements are adhered to,” said Melanie.

“Regulations are constantly changing and events like this are important to ensure people are up to date on what’s required before the upcoming harvest period.”

Registration is free but spaces are limited. Register via the Parkes, Forbes or Lachlan Shire Councils’ Facebook pages.

There will also be three satellite events to reach more farmers on:
• Wednesday, 31st August 7:30am – 10:15am at the Lake Cargelligo RFS Shed
• Thursday,1st September from 7:30am – 10:15am at the Wirrinya Community Hall
• Friday, 2nd September from 7:30am – 10:15am at the Peak Hill Golf Club

Our Bloke – Peter Giles

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Peter Giles

Where were you born? Lithgow, NSW

Were you named after anyone? No, my mum said I was the very first Peter ever born.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? Making my children happy.

What historical moment stands out most in your memory? 9/11, I remember they cut Cheese TV to broadcast it live. I was devastated. 

What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Stop making money with your hands and start making it with your head.

What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken? I’m taking it right now…

What are the three things you would take to a deserted island? My wife, children, and an aeroplane. 

If you had to spend $10,000 today, how would you spend it? Honestly. It would just pay bills.

When are you happiest? This would have to be a two-part answer: Happiest emotionally – when I’m having a picnic with the family kicking back under the sun, eating some jam and cream on scones. Happiest intellectually – talking business with like-minded people. 

Allan Rees The Master

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Harry Callaghan, Lee Grierson and Caleb Hanrahan enjoy the sun before their tee off at the Forbes Golf Club on Saturday.

Allan Rees displayed a masterful management of handicap scoring to over-power the course and blitz the field of 62 players in Saturday’s Men’s Individual Par in Forbes. 

Playing in Div-2, Allan was +5 at the turn, but a couple of missed putts dropped him back to +4 at the finish. Runner-up was Jacob Reid with +2 and the second best score of the day. 

Div-1 was a tight contest with the better scores coming from the morning players. Rob Hey (Parkes) was the winner on count back from Rob Webb after both finished on +1. They had mirror-image scores on the front and back 9s. 

Australian Poetry Month.

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August is Australian Poetry Month. It aims to increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. It is a good time to dig out those scribbles from the drawer or from a hidden file on your computer and send them in to us to celebrate poetry. We’ve received a very topical poem from a reader in Parkes.

Ukraine

Liberated and united they long to be

The people of Ukraine are determined to be free

The amount of destruction is hard to believe

Yet they say they’re resolute

Surrender they won’t concede

Their courage and bravery is second to none

The world will support them until they’ve won

The traitorous aggressor has threatened with war

And nuclear arms if their demands they ignore

Their president leads boldly

And won’t give in to threats

The people support him

They have no regrets

By Warren Tanner, Parkes

Readers of The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix are invited to send in creative writing (poems, short stories and more) of no more than 500 words for publication in this monthly column. Send your submissions to the editor@parkesphoenix.com.au or editor@forbesphoenix.com.au 

Trees, Trees, Trees

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Jacob, Emmanuel and Sharon Degeling at the Forbes National Tree Day on Saturday.

Almost 400 trees were planted in Forbes and Parkes at National Tree Day events organised by Central West Lachlan Landcare last weekend.

It was gorgeous weather for volunteers on Saturday who planted 120 trees in Forbes. They were rewarded with Bunnings BBQ vouchers for their hard work.

It was a very different story for volunteers on Sunday when the weather turned foul and freezing, but the brave volunteers still managed to plant 240 trees in Parkes. A BBQ brought some warm relief on the blustery day. Volunteers also received giveaway plants from Bunnings and Forbes Riverside Gardens.

Landcare Co-ordinator Marg Applebee thanked to Forbes and Parkes Shire Councils for their support with the events.

Kieran, Beth and Ollie Deland braving the cold at the Parkes event on Sunday.

Knit ‘n Natter With Love All Over The World

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Some of the women at the Knit ‘n Natter event held at the Craft Corner last week. Holding the rugs are Rosemary Mitchell and Rhonda Redenbach from the Craft Corner and Dianne Percy from Orange.

There was a lot of catching up to be done after two years of ‘silence’ at the Knit ‘n Natter event at Craft Corner last week.

About 40 women from Orange and Bathurst joined locals from Parkes and surrounds to not only natter over a cuppa and cake, but also knit squares for the Wrap with Love project that provide warm wraps to vulnerable people all over the world.

“We donate wraps to overseas charities, but also donate to 12 local charities including to the women’s refuge, nursing homes, oncology department and more,” said Dianne Percy, co-ordinator of Wrap with Love in Orange.

The annual even at Craft Corner, going for more than 14 years, is a great way of bringing people together, but members of the public are knitting at their homes and with friends right through the year for the project.

“One rug is made up of 28 squares, and we have 604 completed so far this year,” said Dianne. All the knitted squares from the Central West go to Orange and since the start of the project a total of 7,000 rugs have been made so far.

Wrap with Love was started in Melbourne in 1992 and donations have been sent to people in more than 75 countries.

Craft Corner members and anyone else keen on knitting are encouraged to drop off their knitted squares at the Craft Corner in Parkes. The squares should be 25cm square, knitted in 8 ply yarn with no. 8 (4mm) needles in garter stitch all plain rows.

If you have any 8 ply yarn lying around at home, feel free to drop that off at the Craft Corner too.

Dianne’s group meets at the Orange City Library every Thursday from 9 to 12 in the morning. She said the group also made beanies for homeless people, twiddle muffs for people with dementia and children with disabilities, outfits for stillborn babies and trauma teddies for hospitals.

By Maggi Barnard

Project Sprouts Visits Royal Far West

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Anne Norton and Sherree Rosser (third and fourth from the left) with Izzy, Grace, and John from Royal Far West on Manly.

After a few visits from Royal Far West (RFW) to Parkes, two Project Sprouts representatives paid a visit to Manly last month. 

Project Sprouts Working Party Chairperson Sherree Rosser and Co-ordinator Anne Norton took a trip to Sydney to meet with staff and clinicians who work with Parkes Shire children via telecare in occupational and speech therapies. They also discussed Project Sprouts’ future directions with RFW. Telecare time for five Parkes children was allocated during the visit. “It was a wonderful capacity building and contact creating few days for us both,” Sherree said. 

Project Sprouts has been working with RFW since 2020 to offer early intervention screening of three to five years old children through their Healthy Kids Bus Stop. 

Established in 1924, Royal Far West has a rich history of innovation, dedication, and determination to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities, connecting them to the care they need but cannot otherwise access because of where they live. 

Project Sprouts, a community-led initiative, was launched in October 2020 to develop a referral service linking families and educators to service providers and enabling children to have the best beginning available. 

Championship Match

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Peter McPhee bowled brilliantly to record a 25 shot to 15 win on Saturday over Nathan Reynolds to advance to the final of the 2022 Major Singles. Peter bowled the best ends of his stellar career to win in just 24 ends. Nathan held a 4-shot lead after 8 ends, but was only a spectator as Peter went up a gear and never left the jack alone. Peter will be very difficult to beat for this year’s blue ribbon event. He will play either Mick Went or Mick Simpson in the final. 

Social Bowls

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Cold breezy weather greeted18 brave social bowlers with John Carr, Bob Freeman and Brian Townsend playing John Niddri, Bernie Mitchell and Chris Harrison. Team Harrison defeated Brian’s boys 21 shots to 11. 

The second triples game was a bit closer with Gary McPhee’s team defeating Col Mudie’s, 25 shots to 18. 

Ray Jones and Marty Tighe won the first pairs game 20 shots to 10 against John Wright and John Corcoran, while Col Hayward and Wally Grant combined beautifully against Ian Simpson and John Ward winning 19 shots to 11. 

Choir Sings Rotary’s Praises

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The Parkes Community Choir members were very grateful for the Rotary grant awarded to them last week. At the back (L-R) are Colleen Leonard, Heather Veal, Rex Veal, Sherree Rosser, Meg Purcell and Kerrie Peden, and in front are Cliff and Margaret Cowell.

The Parkes Community Choir was delighted when a group of Parkes Rotarians arrived at its weekly rehearsal with a great gift. 

Cliff Cowell presented the choir with a grant of $2,600 that would enable this community activity to remain free for members. Cliff said Rotary offered assistance to the community through the recent severe drought and continue their support currently in strengthening communities through mental health workshops. 

“Rotary recognises the importance of the arts in communities and understands that participating in music and the arts plays a significant role in wellbeing,” Cliff said. 

Choir committee members Kerrie Peden, Colleen Leonard and Sherree Rosser accepted the cheque on the choir’s behalf and expressed their appreciation for the support. They said Rotary’s financial assistance would enable the choir to continue and to embark on some projects to spread the joy of singing into the Parkes Shire. 

Cliff and wife, Margaret, and Rotary members Rex and Heather Veal, Charlie Pecenka and Meg Purcell stayed on and joined in with the singing for the rest of the evening. 

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