Maggi Barnard

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

Our Bloke – Michael Hutchison

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? Having lived in Parkes for the past 10 years I like the relaxed lifestyle and the friendly, caring and generous interactions with the community. A good illustration is the service I recently received at the RMS.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I do whatever I choose… I’m retired. Tutoring, dragon boating, gardening and keeping connected to family and friends ensure that I happily fill my time.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? At the moment I’m restoring a little French car – Renault R4 with the help of my good friend Rex Veal and youngster Ben Jansen while listening to Chad Morgan on the radio!!

What makes you proud? Seeing my children impart my values to their children (my grandchildren) makes me proud.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I’d like to be a cat to take benefit of my friend’s “cat whispering” expertise.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Uncle Buck (1989) is my favourite movie. As a teacher for 45 years I get a good laugh from the school with the wort faced assistant principal.

Tell us about your best holiday. Back packing through China with my daughter, son and friends was an uplifting experience.

What is on your bucket list? Spending some time again in Southern India with my sister. India really heightens all of the senses.

No ‘Cruel Summer’ For Railway Bowling

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Phil Donato MP with Railway Bowling Club President Tony Latter under the new shade structure and benches that were installed with grant money.

The Railway Bowling Club in Parkes is ready for summer with brand new shading and seats installed.

Phil Donato MP visited on Wednesday to see the result of a sports grant the club had put to good use. With volunteer labour and the grant of $7,272, new retractable, sun safe shade netting and seven new benches were installed at the bowling green replacing the old, dilapidated structure that was in place.

“The shade is beautiful,” said club president Tony Latter. “The members are loving it!”

“The new stuff is brilliant, it provides up to 95% UV blocking,” said vice-president Mick Furney. “We experience summers of over 40 degrees here, so it’s particularly important.”

Phil agreed that sun safety was very important, “particularly in these parts of Australia. As are our local sporting clubs!”

Phil Donato MP was keen to get onto the green with Mick Furney giving instructions.

Snippets…

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

After all the heavy rain starting last Saturday, long neck turtles were spotted in all kinds of places. Neil Westcott was greeted by this big one enjoying the puddle at his mailbox.

Walking and Cycling: The NSW Government will provide more than $1.3 million to local councils to deliver new infrastructure to promote walking and cycling in their communities. NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway said the new infrastructure would make it easier for the community to get around their local area and provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists to schools and other local facilities. Parkes Shire Council also received a grant of $225,000 to build a 220m shared path alongside both sides of Middleton Street from the corner of Captain Wilson Avenue to Dalton Street. This connection links up existing shared paths and a safe link across Condobolin Road/ Dalton Street, which is the designated heavy vehicle route through Parkes

Tresillian Residential Service: The Mayors of the Central NSW Joint Organisation are throwing their support behind the campaign for the Tresillian Residential Service at the Cowra Hospital, as part of the new upgrade to Cowra Hospital. Tresillian is a long-standing organisation for young families and young children with expert parenting advice. Tresillian began with the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919. With 100 years of invaluable service for young families across NSW, Tresillian has played an important and unique role in the history of the state. Parkes Mayor Parkes Cr Ken Keith said: “Across the region we hear from distressed young mothers having to make the trip to Canberra or Sydney for advice and support with young babies. Cowra is centrally located, and the region believes this is an ideal location for the specialist residential hub.”

Free Cuppa Registrations Open: Local businesses are invited to help tackle driver fatigue by registering to take part in next year’s ‘Free Cuppa for the Driver’ scheme. The multi award-winning driver fatigue awareness campaign will run from 1st March to 31st May 2021. The scheme encourages visiting drivers to stop at participating businesses for a free cuppa and to take a break from driving long distances. “In 2021 we expect to see a large increase in road travel as international travel and domestic flights remain heavily restricted or reduced,” said Parkes Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor. “We are launching a new website and trialling a new promotional strategy.” The closing date for registrations is today, 30th October. Contact Melanie on 6861 2364 or email Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au

Today is the last day for registrations for the Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme.

What do you enjoy about playing bowls?

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Betsie Johnstone: The company and the friendly club (Parkes Bowling and Sports Club).
Lorraine Baker: The friendship and the fact that bowling actually keeps you fit.

June Burgess: I’ve been playing for five months and I love the company.
Fran Dixon: I enjoy the company and the challenge.

Maureen Miller: I like the challenge – every time is different, and the companionship.
Helen Heraghty: The friendship and it is great to do exercise out in the open.

Tax Phone Scam

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Several Parkes residents have received phone calls about tax debt in recent weeks. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has confirmed it is a phone scam telling people they have a tax debt and that if they don’t pay it straight away they will be arrested.

“These scammers will often request payment through unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, pre-paid credit cards or gift cards, and will try to keep people on the line until they have paid,” according to the ATO website.

If you receive a phone call, text message or voicemail like this, don’t send payment or provide any personal information. Hang up and delete the message.

“We will never threaten you with immediate arrest or demand payment through unusual means. If you’re not sure if it’s the ATO contacting you, phone us on 1800 008 540 to check.”

You can help stop scammers in their tracks by warning your friends and family to stay alert.

Bizarre And Bright On A Beautiful Day

October 30, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Who hit the spider? All 32 bowlers tried to get to the spider at once to start the mini carnival.

A bonza day dawned on Tuesday and 32 bizarre and brightly dressed bowlers were out in force for the President’s Day Mini Carnival. The poor old spider was bowled over as we scrambled to land our bowls closest to him. June and Merilyn blitzed the field and bagged the prizes!

Start of play had us all befuddled as we had to deliver our first three bowls with our non-favoured hand. Winners on the day were Frances Charlton and Jan McPhee in those breath-taking fishnet stockings! Had us all green with envy.

Our thanks to Mick Craft for your sponsorship, and to the ground control blokes for preparing the greens so beautifully, especially after the bountiful rain!

By Lea Orr

What have you enjoyed the most so far about the Active Citizen Program?

October 23, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Charlie Oraha: I have enjoyed everything about the program, it’s definitely something I would recommend because I love learning about my culture. We also get to make new friends. My favourite thing on the program would have been zoom calling Jonathan Thurston.

Trudy Richardson: Getting to know other people and to know what the community does to give back to society.

Jayden Pope: Learning more about our culture and making new friends.

Alectown Thanksgiving Service

October 23, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The Alectown district has held an annual interdenominational thanksgiving service at the Alectown Hall since 1988. With the COVID-19 restrictions there was some doubt if it could go ahead this year. Many of the past years have been drought stricken and with such a splendid season this year we felt it just had to go ahead. We are going to gather at the Bush Cathedral at Engedi (formerly Vision Ministries at Mamre), to adhere to social distancing rules.

Traditionally this service is held on the last Sunday of October just prior to harvest, so this year it will be held on Sunday, 25th October at 4pm. Afternoon tea and coffee and packaged biscuits will be provided. Everyone is welcome to attend to give thanks to God for our many blessings and the anticipated harvest.

Contact Valmai for more information or enquiries on 6865 3244. By Valmai Westcott

Students ‘Root’ For Parkes Peace Precinct

October 23, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Students of the Active Citizen Program at the Rotary Peace Precinct (L-R) Trudy Richardson (Parkes), Ty Jones (Forbes), Baiden Forster (Forbes), Kiara Harris (Condobolin), Jayden Pope (Parkes), Charlie Oraha (Parkes), Kevin Read (Aboriginal liaison officer), Billie O’Bryan (Condobolin), Kaiden Atkinson (Condobolin), Senior Constable Daniel Greef (Youth Officer), Jake Smith (Forbes) and Sarah Williams (Forbes Shire Council youth officer).

A morning of spring planting saw 150 native plants added to the Rotary Peace Precinct in Parkes last Thursday.

The eager planters included nine indigenous students who are part of this year’s Active Citizen Program run by the NSW Police Force’s Central West District. They were assisted by Parkes Shire Council employees and guided by Ken Engsmyr of the Parkes Rotary Club.

“Today is about working with Rotary, learning about ways in which people can give back to the community,” said Senior Constable Daniel Greef. “What they did here is a practical example and the precinct links in well with reconciliation, and its link with Wiradjuri culture.”

For Parkes student Trudy Richardson it was an amazing experience. “It was a great opportunity to find out what Rotary does for the Parkes community. I will always be reminded of today, every time I come to this park.”

Ken talked to the students about the Wiradjuri art on display in the park, situated on the corner of Bushman and East streets. The three indigenous artists involved in the project were Sean Cassidy, Sauce Towney and Scott Turnbull.

The students, who are from Parkes, Forbes and Condobolin, were treated to a traditional Rotary sausage sandwich lunch after their hard work.

By Maggi Barnard

Our Gal – Rhian Frame

October 23, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? For nine months. It’s great to be close to the family.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I am retired and helping with my grandchildren. I enjoy playing golf and being outdoors.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? Go for long walks, playing golf and swimming.

What makes you proud? My family, including my daughter in law.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? Dolphin, because I could roam the open seas.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? Lord of the Rings – must be the books, so that I can imagine the scenes myself.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was in Borneo. We stayed at an orangutan sanctuary where orphaned orangutan were rehabilitated back to the wild.

What is on your bucket list? Going on a hot air balloon ride with my daughter in law!

Maggi Barnard

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