Maggi Barnard

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

Child Immunisation Reminder

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Parents and carers with children starting childcare, primary or secondary school are urged to ensure they are up to date with their immunisations. Director of Health Protection, Dr Richard Broome, said while the NSW vaccination rate was high, some children have missed important vaccines to protect against highly infectious diseases like whooping cough and measles.

“Last year and this year continue to be challenging for many families, but timely childhood vaccination must remain a top priority in the daily lives of busy families,” he said. Children can only be enrolled in childcare in NSW where documented evidence is provided that they are fully immunised for their age, are on a recognised catch-up schedule or have a medical reason not to be vaccinated.

“Making sure that all children are up to date with their immunisations reduces their risk of getting a serious illness and also helps those who can’t be fully vaccinated, like newborn babies and the elderly.”

Immunisation requirements in primary schools were extended in 2018 to include secondary schools. Principals are now required to request an immunisation history statement when students enrol. Parents can download their child’s statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) from myGov, the Medicare Express Plus App or the AIR enquiry line on 1800 653 809. GP clinics are safe to attend during COVID-19. For more information visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/Immunisation-in-schools.aspx

Our Bloke – Jacob Cass

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for nine years and I like the people the most. Parkes is full of interesting characters, people who are friendly and helpful with fantastic community spirit. It makes it an amazing place to live.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? They say when you love what you do you never work a day. There is nothing better than helping people to achieve their goals and my role as Country University Centre Manager allows me to do exactly that.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Much to my wife’s unhappiness somewhere sandy and warm!

What makes you laugh the most? Watching my two-year-old son learn about the world in only the way a toddler can, by placing it into his mouth to examine it.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Hobbies. I have far more hobbies than I have hours in a week and to take a whole day with no other responsibilities to do any of them would be amazing.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? May 17th, 1980 to be at the premier of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and be one of the first people to know that (SPOILER ALERT) Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father.

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? Universal mental health leave for all workers. It’s such a prominent issue in society and needs to be tackled in its own right and not thrown in with other forms of leave.

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? I do! The pay it forward movement is something I find so interesting and I love seeing the stories. I only hope one day I can be in a position to help someone like that.

What is one thing you will never do again? Eat canned hotdogs! That idea should’ve been shut down before it ever went into production!

Be Seen

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Last Saturday the very first parkrun volunteers took part in a trial run of the event to make sure everything is in place for tomorrow’s launch. They are (L-R) Peter Guppy, Vicki Barker, Sonia Bland, Jenny Short, Alice Drabsch, Ronel van Wyk, Dan Greef and Danielle Mill.

Beth and Bill Thomas, main organisers of the 8km dragon boat challenge race at Lake Endeavour last Saturday, hand over a trophy to Parkes Dragon Boat Club President Tony Gatt.

Three new members of the Parkes Dragon Boat Club took part in their very first event last Saturday doing the 8km challenge race at Lake Endeavour. They are Dave Pelchen, Justin Spalding and Trevor Whitaker.

What do you want to learn in Kindie this year at Parkes Christian School?

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Oliver Lord: How to use computers.
Ali Davis: How to draw a star and a ballerina.

John McConnell: How to draw a lizard and a snake.
Evie Flynn: I like drawing, but I would also like to learn to read and write.

Archie Westcott: I want to learn about letters and writing books.
Stephanie Flemming: We’ve already learned to count to ten and about lady bugs. I want to learn more about numbers.

A Run Or Walk In The Park

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Emily Collett and Alesha Ward took part in the trial run of parkrun last Saturday completing the 5km course.

It is the launch of parkrun in Parkes tomorrow (Saturday, 6th February). Called the Northparkes Oval parkrun, as it starts at the concrete pathway just north of the oval. Parkrun is a weekly 5km event for runners and walkers with no time limit for all ages, demographics and levels of fitness.

It is important to register before the event to get a barcode and print it out as you will need it for every run to have it scanned for your time. Go to www.parkrun.com.au and register for free. Look for the Northparkes Oval parkrun.

Be there at 7:50am for a start at 8am. Bring your phone to scan the COVID QR code.

LJ Hooker Opens Office In Parkes

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

A new real estate office opened in Parkes this week at 296 Clarinda Street. With over 15 years of experience in rural real estate, Ian Simpson of LJ Hooker has offices in Forbes, Canowindra and Condobolin and opened Parkes as his fourth office in the Central West.

“We have been conducting business in Parkes for over 20 years and look forward to cementing our future in the town with a fully-fledged office,” Ian said.

Ian is a licensed stock and station agent, real estate agent, business agent and an accredited auctioneer. The office in Parkes will be looking to recruit new staff.

Snippets…

February 5, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Local businesses were invited to take part in the Shop Parkes campaign by dressing up their shop windows for the festive season. Terry Bros Parkes was the winner and won $1,000 in marketing dollars to be spent with local suppliers of their choice. Pictured (L-R) Anna Wyllie (Parkes Shire Council), Chloe Bryant and Jesse Tremble (Terry Bros Parkes) and Reed Cavallaro.

Shop Local Wrap Up: Council and the Parkes Chamber of Commerce delivered the 2020 Shop Parkes this Christmas campaign from 19th November to 31st Decem-ber. The campaign focused on the diverse retail and service offerings of the Parkes Shire, and the benefits that shopping local has on our community, especially following years of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. Parkes Shire Councillor Alan Ward said: “It was wonderful to see our community stick together and support each other by shopping locally during last year’s festive season. It was pleasing to see such strong business participation with over 30 stores actively engaging with the campaign online, over 100 businesses promoting the campaign in-store, and a 15% increase in Shop Parkes Gift Card redemption stores from 85 to 98 stores.” He said over $43,000 was loaded to Shop Parkes Gift Cards during the six-week campaign with a record 90% redemption rate with $38,692 spent at local businesses. To find out where you can load and redeem your Shop Parkes Gift Cards, head to www.visitparkes.com.au. Are you a local business who would like to be involved? Contact 6861 2333 or email shop@parkes.nsw.gov.au.

National Recognition: The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has showcased the SOS (Signs of Strangulation) Project at the national Stop Domestic Violence Conference. Danielle Allen and Julieanne Potts presented their project ‘Improving Responses for Victims of Domestic Violence Presenting with Non-Fatal Strangulation’ at Orange Emergency Department. “This project started as part of the Clinical Leadership Program, but has turned into something so much bigger,” said WNSWLHD Executive Director Integrated Care Julie Cooper. “Danielle and Julieanne were finalists in the WNSWLHD Living Quality & Safety Awards 2020, and have now shared their findings and research on the national stage”. The project included the development of a vital medical alert resource card to provide to victims of domestic and family violence (DFV). “The SOS card is now used by the majority of NSW Local Health Districts and other service providers including other government and non-government services who assist victims of domestic and family violence,” Julie said.

A massive thumbs down to the person who illegally dumped a bean bag on the crown land east of the hospital. The bag has torn and the polystyrene balls have spread into nature posing a fatal danger to wildlife.

Blank Canvas For Creative Learning

January 29, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Roxanne Gallacher started in her brand new role as Creative Learning Programs Co-ordinator of the Parkes Shire Council in December last year.

She believes there is a bubbling undercurrent of creativity in Parkes and the new Makerspace studio at the Parkes Cultural Centre will offer limitless possibilities to feed this artistic stream.

Roxanne Gallacher is very excited to be the new Creative Learning Programs Co-ordinator of the Parkes Shire Council where she is literally starting with a blank canvas to design programs, exhibitions, events and activities for people in the Parkes Shire.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to bring people in our community the same possibilities they would get in bigger centres,” said the former teacher who moved to Parkes five years ago to take a teaching position in Peak Hill.

“We have to see the arts on the same level playing field as sports, and with the new cultural centre and multi-purpose centre in Cooke park, the possibilities are just limitless.”

As Roxanne will be in charge of the utilisation of the Makerspace studio and Coventry Room, her first priority is to consult with the community to find out what they would like to see in these spaces. “I am very open to ideas. There is so much scope for collaboration and connection between sectors.”

Roxanne’s excitable nature has already generated countless ideas from Lego building exhibitions to STEAM projects, and she is grateful for her dream team partner Kerryn Jones (Manager Cultural, Education and Library Services) with her calming influence and great wealth of knowledge of community needs.

“We are thinking big and we want to make the Parkes Cultural Centre the place to be with a focus on lifelong and intergenerational learning.” This is exactly the focus of the upcoming Waste 2 Art competition and exhibition, and Roxanne’s first project.

“We might be a small community, but we do not have to be small-minded,” she said with a twinkle of excitement in her eye.

By Maggi Barnard

The Bogan Gate Renaissance

January 29, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Alex McKeowen bowled by Blake Smith. (See more photos of the historic match on The Parkes Phoenix facebook page.) Photo: Les Finn

Sunday’s remarkable match was exactly what the future of the Grin-sted Cup needed according to Michael Greenwood, who wrote a book about the cup’s history.

“I believe the Cinderella win by Bogan Gate will provide the necessary shot in the arm for the longevity of the famous Grinsted Cup, arguably the longest running sporting challenge competition in regional Australia,” said Michael.

“The past few seasons leading up the cup centenary in 2019 had been plagued by regular forfeits from some of the larger centres and there were genuine concerns that the cup could go by the wayside. Those fears were effectively erased on Sunday, not only for the manner in which the match was played but also by the brilliant atmosphere generated by the largest cup crowd for years.”

Michael said the Bogan Gate Renaissance has drawn amazing parallels to their first win a mere 85 seasons ago. “Interest in the challenge from Grenfell on Sunday week is already generating keen public interest from around the region.” He congratulated all involved.

Our Gal – Meaghan Kempson

January 29, 2021 By Maggi Barnard

Meaghan Kempson
Coach, Trainer or Manager of the year, Australia Day Awards

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I have lived in Parkes for two years and love the sporting community.

What is your favourite thing about your working life? My colleagues make every day so enjoyable, not a day goes by without a laugh!

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Adelaide

What makes you laugh the most? People tripping over (without injuring themselves)

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be? Go to the Australian Open, watch some live tennis and have some drinks with friends/family.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to and why? To 2015, my first year of university. Made so many friends and created some great memories!

If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce? School hours from 7am to 1pm!

Do you believe in random acts of kindness and which is your favourite one? Yeah definitely! I love the idea of visiting aged care facilities and socialising with the elderly.

Maggi Barnard

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