The Beargamil Dam (also known as Bumberry) has been bone dry for more than two years. Situated about 5km downstream from Lake Endeavour, it quickly filled up when Endeavour reached capacity about two weeks ago and thousands of litres started flowing over its spillway. By last weekend Beargamil reached capacity and its dramatic overflow attracted many visitors providing a spectacular setting for a picnic.
Photo: Bill Thomas
The Parkes Shire Concert Band returned to their weekly rehearsals this week on Tuesday after a long COVID-19 break. This is a screen shot of a second online video they recorded during lockdown.
Masks Compulsory At Hospitals: The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has implemented new state-wide requirements for staff and visitors to wear face masks. “This change impacts staff, visitors and patients,” said WNSWLHD Director of Operations, Mark Spittal. “All visitors must wear a mask when they are in any of our health facilities. We encourage people to wear their own masks as long as they are in good condition.” He said if visitors had underlying health issues that might prevent them from wearing a mask, they should contact their local health service before they visit to get advice. At this stage, children 12 years and under are not required to wear a mask if they do not have any symptoms. “The use of masks does not mean physical distancing and hand washing/sanitising should not be adhered to. If you are unwell do not visit. If you have even the mildest cough, fever, runny nose or difficulty breathing, visit a COVID-19 clinic or call your doctor.” For more information about COVID-19 call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 088 or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Disaster Assistance: Disaster assistance is now available in the local government areas of Parkes, Bogan, Central Darling, Cobar, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Lachlan and Warrumbungle following heavy rainfall and flooding in April this year. The storms left the local councils with expensive repair bills. A range of practical assistance is available to help communities and councils assess the damage and get on with clean-up efforts and repair to damaged infrastructure. If you are uninsured and have low income, for information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au Further information is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au
Free Arts Funding Workshop: There is currently $10million of extra arts funding available nationally through the Australian government’s Regional Arts Fund (RAF). Arts OutWest is offering a free, online, workshop to help people in the region prepare applications for RAF. The free workshop will be held via Zoom today, 31st July from 10.30am-12noon. To register for the workshop email artsoutwest@csu.edu.au or call 6338 4657. Places are limited.
The Parkes Airport recorded close to 50mm of rain last weekend, while other areas in town had well over 50mm. Billabong Creek also broke its banks on Tuesday.
The arts have always been a large component of my teaching. During my career, I have run school choirs and dance groups, taught recorder and drumming, co-written and produced many concerts and items for performing arts concerts, and performed at Schools Spectacular and eisteddfods.
In the classroom I found that the study of visual and creative arts provided students with the opportunity to express themselves. It is also an enjoyable and engaging activity and has positive benefits that flow on to other aspects of learning.
I am delighted to work with my nephew Sean James Cassidy on The Art of Resilience project, creating a platform for the youth of the Parkes Shire to display their creative talents.
I have watched Sean’s art career and his many exhibitions. As a founding member of Ub Ubbo Exchange, Sean has developed strong ties with indigenous and non-indigenous artists in Australia and the Philippines who work on closing the gap projects. I have been a board member of Ub Ubbo Exchange for many years.
Since my retirement from teaching I have been able to devote more time working with Sean and Ub Ubbo Exchange. I have started a community choir in Parkes and am writing my second novel.
By Kerrie Peden
NOTE: The closing date for The Art of Resilience has been extended to midnight 10th of August. Categories include photography, painting, drawing, poetry and song writing. Entry forms can be found on the Art of Resilience Facebook group or downloaded from Council’s website, www.parkes.nsw.gov.au. Winners will be announced on Friday, 14th August and will be selected from Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore.
The Parkes Shire Council has $2.97m available for community projects in the Parkes Shire. Make sure to vote today for your favourite projects.
Parkes Shire Council launched an online hub called Your Say Parkes to make community engagement easier than ever before.
The hub provides a simple and secure way for the community to connect and collaborate with Council.
“Community input is integral to Council’s planning process, to ensure that our decision-making meets the community’s needs,” said Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM.
“While we will continue to use traditional forms of engagement like workshops and face-to-face meetings, our new online hub makes it easier and more accessible for our whole community to get involved and have their say.”
The hub uses a variety of tools including surveys, forums, ideas boards, interactive mapping, quick polls and more.
The theme of the Parkes Elvis Festival, scheduled to take place from 6-10 January 2021, is Speedway.
The final decision on whether the Parkes Elvis Festival will proceed next year will be made by the 28th of September.
“The safety and wellbeing of our community, artists, fans, staff and businesses is foremost in our planning, and we are evaluating moving the festival to another date or cancelling it altogether,” said Festival Director Cathy Treasure.
Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM added the health and safety of the community would come first in the decision. “However, with just over five months to go we are still hopeful that the 2021 festival will proceed as planned and do not want to be premature in cancelling an event that has such a positive impact on the region.”
“A festival of this size takes year-round planning, therefore we are continuing to work behind the scenes,” said Cathy. “This way we can make sure that if we get the green light from NSW Health, we have everything in place to host a safe and fun festival for everyone.”
The following decision-making dates have been scheduled: The ticket launch date has been delayed from 7 September to 19 October. No sales will be made before confirmation the event is safe to proceed; The decision to move the festival to a later date will be made by 31st August; Community and business consultations will take place in September to ensure that the decision is in line with community expectations for the final decision on 28th September.
Some of the fabric masks on sale at the Craft Corner in Parkes.
Although the wearing of masks in public is only compulsory in Victoria at the moment, masks have become a sought-after commodity all over the country.
Members of the Craft Corner in Parkes jumped at the opportunity and started making fabric masks with well over 200 already sold since last week.
With about five members making masks, the shop offers different styles, sizes and colours priced at $6 or more each.
“As soon as we get new masks in, they go,” said Rosemary Mitchell. “People are worried and want to be sure they have one in case they need it.” She said as it was also compulsory for all visitors to hospitals to wear masks, the demand was even higher.
She did want to point out that the fabric masks were not surgical masks, although some of their designs have a pocket for a filter.
The Craft Corner sewers are having trouble finding elastic for making the masks. Stocks everywhere seem to have been depleted. They are asking for any donations of spare elastic people might have at home. They are specifically looking for thin elastic. Donations can be dropped off at the Craft Corner.
Sharon Woods took this photo on their property west of Parkes where the marshmallow weed is growing at a phenomenal rate.
The warmer winter weather and good rains have resulted in weeds growing at a phenomenal rate, especially marshmallow weed. There has been reports of the mallow weed growing up to 2.4m high on some properties in the region.
According to Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental & Sustainability Coordinator Michael Chambers the mallow plant is fairly common and widespread, and “does come up every year when conditions are favourable”.
While some people feel it has become a real pest, Michael said it was only regarded as a nuisance weed, and not a state or regionally significant weed that needs to be controlled under the Biosecurity Act.
“Controlling this plant is not always easy,” said Michael. “For the home gardener, one of the best ways to control it in lawns is to make sure turf is thick and healthy as it will choke out the weed and not allow the seeds to spread.
“If you choose to use a herbicide, be sure to read the directions thoroughly, and use it when the plants are young and in their non-flowering/seeding state. Never eat a mallow plant that has been sprayed with a herbicide.”
Apparently, alpacas love to eat the mallow weed. The young leaves are edible for humans too and tastes lovely in salads or as cooked greens. If you feel adventurous, make sure to only forage for leaves in your own yard.
Three childcare centres in Parkes were part of a total of 19 centres in the Central West to receive New Holland model tractors donated by the Agricultural Equipment Holdings group. Branch Manager of the McPhersons Parts and Service dealership in Parkes, Nathan Jennings handed over the tractors to Nurture One, Community Kids and Parkes Early Childhood Centre. Here he is with Nat Watt of Nurture One and Macey, Caleb and Amber who were keen to try out the new toy tractors.
Kobe Moffitt (2) enjoyed the sunshine on Tuesday and feeding the ducks at Busman’s Dam.
Levi Hodges (4) builds muscles at the exercise equipment at Bushman’s Dam.
Stephanie Fleming (5) and Sophie Haench (4)
Stephanie: I went on holiday on a house boat! Sophie: Playing with my dad and my brother Cooper.
Hudson Grey (4); Emmett Butler (3) and Benjamin Doughty (3)
Hudson: Playing with mum and dad and going on bike rides. Emmett: Going to the beach and for a boat ride. Benjamin Doughty: Going into a really high building to see my mum.
CAMERA CLAN… Glen, Lockey and Ella Harbidge enjoy going out into nature to take photos, especially of the night sky.
A telescope and the stars. This is what freedom means to 12-year-old Ella Harbidge from Parkes who has just won an award in a prestigious astrophotography competition.
After two years under dad Glen’s tutelage, Ella entered this year’s David Malin Awards and took out the Photo Editor’s Pick award in the junior category with her image called ‘Always Look Up’ featuring a telescope pointing at the Milky Way.
“I enjoy astrophotography as it shows you so much more detail, like when you take a photo of the Milky Way,” said the Year 7 Red Bend student. She initially took her winning photo for a school competition on “Freedom”.
As astrophotography is a passion of her dad’s, she started going out with him when she was ten to help him. It did not take long for her to be hooked, and she moved on from being an assistant to taking her own photos. The bug has also bitten her younger brother Lockey, who enjoys taking photos of star trails.
The two of them have gone on to win several prizes at the Parkes and Peak Hill Shows. They are very disappointed there won’t be any shows this year, but they have their entries for the Art of Resilience competition.
Entering competitions is a challenge for the Harbidge family with Dad Glen winning The Parkes Phoenix Spring Photo Competition last year. He regularly contributes to the paper’s Facebook posts with his latest contribution of the water cascading down from the spillway at Lake Endeavour. “Photography makes you look with a different perspective,” said Glen.
By Maggi Barnard