Maggi Barnard

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

Parkes Teacher Keeps Kids Active

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes High School teacher Adam Parker is one of the presenters on a new digital resource of the NSW Department of Education to help keep kids active at home. (See story below.)

A Parkes teacher is one of the presenters on a new digital resource to help keep children active while learning from home.

Adam Parker of Parkes High School will be seen on the GetActive@Home initiative of the NSW Education Department providing physical activity and exercises to keep primary school students active while participating in remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new online resource aligns with the NSW curriculum and will make it easier for teachers and parents to keep students physically active.

Video demonstrations provide clear instructions showing children how to complete a range of movement activities in a safe and fun way. The videos are split into two categories aimed at Kindergarten to Year 2 students and Year 3 to Year 6 students.

Other resources include activity logbooks, tracking cards and digital certificates to get students motivated to move.

Special guest appearances from well-known sports stars are set to encourage students to tune in to new episodes each week.

The first two episodes of GetActive@ Home were available from Wednesday this week on the Education department’s website with new episodes released weekly over the next five weeks.

Visit the GetActive@Home webpage for access to the digital resources: https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/sport/participation/getactive

“You Give Them Something To Eat”

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

NEW TRAINING REGIME… Some of the Parkes Dragon Boat Club Volunteers who are helping to pack food boxes at Georgie’s Pantry every week. Smeaton’s Bakery helped out baking 135 trays of potato bake cut up by volunteers last week.

“We thrive on community, we love helping our community and we love being with our community.”

For Natalie Quince, Georgie’s Hub Manager and her team at Georgie’s Pantry, it has been really hard to adjust to the social distancing and self-isolation obligations. “We are of course committed to playing our part in eradicating COVID-19, so we have taken on the challenge of finding creative ways to continue to serve our community while meeting our public health obligations,” said Natalie.

Georgie’s Pantry, a partnership between the Anglican parish of Parkes and Anglicare, sells discounted groceries, meat, fruit and vegetables to community members in need, and helps around 60 drought-stricken farming families per week. Their service was recognised as essential, but they had to change the way customers shop at the Pantry.

“We have moved from a mini-market set up to providing customers with pre-packed boxes of groceries,” said Natalie. “Additionally, many of our volunteers are over 70 so we had to change the way our service operates to protect them and meet the self-isolation guidelines. We have had amazing support from community volunteers who have stepped in to fill these volunteer roles.”

“The Parkes Dragon Boat Club has shown themselves willing to take on any task. Their members have shifted their exercise regime from the water to the warehouse and have spent hours unloading food pallets and packing and distributing food boxes. They even took on the job of cutting up crate loads of potatoes to make 135 trays of potato bake last week.”

These were generously cooked by Smeaton’s Bakery and distributed to people all over the region. Natalie said they’ve also had wonderful help from other community volunteers who responded to calls put out by the Parkes Shire Council.

Interestingly, the number of customers at the Pantry have remained relatively steady so far, despite the increased financial pressure on many families. At the same time there has been an increase in the amount of food donated to the Pantry.

“In the last month we received over 20 pallets of food where we would normally only unpack about five pallets per month,” said Natalie. The bigger volume in donations means an increase in capacity to offer assistance if it becomes necessary.

Georgie’s Pantry provides help right across the Parkes Shire including Bogan Gate, Peak Hill, Tullamore and Trundle. “We also have customers who travel to us from other regional areas around Yeoval, Cumnock and Forbes. We also work with other food relief agencies right across the Central West to collect and distribute ex- cess food to communities in need.”

Any person in need is welcome to visit the Pantry at 45 Currajong Street on Thursdays between 10am and 1pm, call 0409 716 944 or get in touch on its Facebook page called Georgie’s Hub – Anglican Parish of Parkes partnering with Anglicare.

If you would like to help out, the Pantry accepts donations of any excess fruit and vegetables, eggs and other local produce.

The Coronavirus has certainly changed our world in unprecedented ways, but it has also brought on a kindness pandemic with community members walking the extra mile to help others, as experienced by Georgie’s Pantry, enabling them to follow the words of Jesus to his disciples: “You give them something to eat.”

“We are so immensely grateful that the community comes together at a time like this to ensure that services like Georgie’s Pantry can continue to operate,” said Natalie.

By Maggi Barnard

Snippets…

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Zahli Gillingham (8) was very excited to be one of the winners in our Autumn Colouring In Competition. Here she is with her prize, a milkshake gift voucher from Ella the Coffee Van.

COVID Milestone: There are no more active cases in the Western NSW Local Health District, after a total of 45 cases were confirmed, and one death. There was only one confirmed case in the Parkes Shire. It is critical that everyone continue to practice social distancing to minimise the risk of the transmission of COVID-19.

New History Blog: The latest entry on Parkes Library’s history blog https://historyparkes.org/2020/04/30/wongalea/ is about Wongalea, the village that once had a population of 67, and had a one teacher school which closed in 1970. The school was then bought buy a British film production company and moved to Nelungaloo to make a movie about a Welsh school choirmaster who comes Down Under! Sunstruck, the last feature film of Harry Secombe, included many Parkes residents in the film and assisting the crew in various ways. The producers were so moved by the hospitality of the locals that they held the world premiere in Parkes!

Parkes Shire Cultural Grants: The grants program encourages and supports the development of local community organisations, services and strategies, and can be utilised in a variety of ways, including to develop a new project, extension or enhancement of an existing project, purchase of equipment, or minor capital works. Cultural Grants application forms are available on Council’s website, www.parkes.nsw.gov.au. Applications close Friday, 5th June. For advice and support, contact Council’s Grant Officer, Jenny Short on 0447 831 413.

Heavy Fines For Firewood Collection: The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is reminding residents that it is illegal to collect firewood in national parks, state conservation areas and nature reserves. This includes dead wood and fallen trees. Dead hollow-bearing trees and woody debris provide habitat for many endangered native animals in the Central West. On-the-spot-fines apply, and very large fines can be handed out by the courts.

New Work at Landfill sites: Works are underway to upgrade security at Alectown, Gunningbland, Bogan Gate, Trundle and Tullamore landfill sites to provide improved environmental outcomes and prolong the life of the small landfill sites by minimising unauthorised disposal. New fencing, a security lock system, and 24-hour CCTV cameras are being installed. Residents who can justify a need to access the landfill sites can contact Council to apply for an access key on 6861 2341.

What have you done so far during COVID-19 that was new, different or joyful?

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Deb Abela: The obvious is volunteering with my mates at Georgie‘s Pantry. I have also embraced new technology with Facebook challenges, and increased my bike riding and walks to try and maintain fitness.

Louise Moore: My life did not change dramatically. I miss some of the things I normally enjoy, but managed to compensate for them in other ways. Overall, I think I learned to adapt better than I had previously and moreover to appreciate what I have, particularly my family and wonderful friends.

Annika Gatt: I have been doing a lot more gardening, lots of long walks, learning French, enjoying new craft hobbies such as diamond art, rock painting, knitting, painting by numbers as well as doing more of my normal hobbies, such as cardmaking and reading. Also been keeping up with my karate and Muay Thai online classes.

Jackson Fires Up Currajong Kitchen

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Zack Gibson of Fire & Rescue NSW Parkes 417 with Currajong’s Jackson Collier

Jackson Collier hasn’t been at Currajong Disability Services long, but he has already left a great impression on everyone.

From his silky licks on his Maton guitar to being Masterchef in the Currajong kitchen – he is taking opportunities to try his hand at a number of activities and skills. The latest culminating in cakes for Fire & Rescue NSW Parkes 417.

“It is just another way to say thank you to our frontline essential workers,” said Indigo Kriedemann of Currajong. “We just wanted to let them know how grateful we are here at Currajong.”

Zack Gibson of Fire & Rescue NSW Parkes was rapt with the gesture. “Jackson is an outstanding young man and a great cook,” he said. “I have no doubt everyone at the station will love the cakes too!”

“It’s these small tokens of goodwill that will get us all through and it’s great the participants of Currajong are finding such ways to contribute positively to the community during such a difficult time,” Zack said.

Jackson’s grandfather, Neil Unger said he was very proud of his grandson and his efforts.

The Currajong kitchen has been in full swing over the past few weeks with members making treats for the essential service sector from medical professionals to firefighters and police.

Seclusion Conquered

May 8, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Beth Thomas on her makeshift ‘dragon boat’.

Parkes has been a great place to be while getting through this unusual period.

And being at home has been very pleasant for my husband and I. We managed to remain married and only almost had one argument.

We’ve done a lot of gardening and cooking and Bill has tackled many odd jobs. I began to take my French lessons more seriously and Liz Matthews, my French teacher, is delighted that I’m finally tackling French grammar with some gusto.

I’ve dusted off the old guitar, and finally found the time to get stuck into writing my second historical fiction novel.

Apart from missing the family and the dragon boat team, I have quite enjoyed having no commitments, no responsibilities and no diary to keep check on. I am very thankful for online technology to keep in touch with my kids and grandkids.

I have kept reasonably fit with a makeshift ‘dragon boat’ set up in the pool for three paddling sessions a week, plus I do Pilates, my backyard gym and fitball exercises.

Two things that really stand out for me over this time are Easter and ANZAC, being times when people usually come together. I missed having the family for Easter and it was strange to attend the Good Friday service on television lounged back in my comfy recliner. We attended the Anzac dawn service from our front gate, and it was quite poignant to hear the bugles and bagpipes resounding over Parkes – before a flock of pink galahs wheeled through the dawn sky right on Reveille. It gave us a feeling of connection with the whole community.

I do appreciate that this time of isolation has not been so easy for many and I feel blessed that my time has been so fulfilling.

By Beth Thomas

Shop Parkes Gift Cards

May 1, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Locals can still purchase and spend Shop Parkes Gift Cards at a number of retailers in town. Shop Parkes Gift Cards pro- vide a unique and convenient gifting solution while keeping shopping dollars local in the Parkes region. As little as $1 to as much as $1,000 can be loaded onto a single gift card which is valid for three years and can be spent in multiple transactions across a number of participating stores. There is no cost for the card. Customers only pay for the amount they wish to load onto the card. Head to www.visitparkes.com.au to find out where to access and redeem Shop Parkes Gift Cards.

What’s on @ The Library

May 1, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Our doors may be closed, but we have been busy increasing our on-line collection, filming children’s storytimes, answering enquiries, and organising new memberships over the phone. Parkes Shire Library members have access to everything in our online catalogue including eMagazines, eBooks and eAudioBooks, online resources and databases, and digital learning programs. If you are not a member of our library, email or call us and we can get you joined up. We just need your name, date of birth, phone number and/or email address – it’s that easy!

WHAT’S NEW AT THE LIBRARY?

You can still enjoy Storytime every Wednesday morning at 10:30am. Go to our Facebook page and enjoy a virtual Storytime with library staff. Check our Facebook page on Tuesdays for any materials you can use to join in each Storytime, and on Thursdays for follow-up activities you can do at home.

Imagine the best stories read aloud to you by our favourite storytellers – well that’s Story Box Library! We get kids excited about reading, inspire their imaginations and let them have fun with stories, improving their language and literacy skills along the way. With an ever growing library, suitable for preschool and primary aged children, it really is storytime, anytime!

COMING SOON TO THE LIBRARY?

We’re excited to announce a new partnership coming soon with State Library NSW that gives our members access to thousands of new Australian and international eBooks. You can get cosy with our range of ebooks and you won’t even have to get out of your pyjamas!

To access the Library’s online catalogue, go to the Parkes Shire Council home page www.parkes.nsw.gov.au and select the Libraries icon. Select My Online Library, which will bring up a list of the collections available. Instructions are available on how to access each of the collections or programs. All you need is your library card number located on the back of your library card below the barcode. If you have any difficulties, just give us a call!

You can visit our Facebook page for more ideas of things to do at home and online. We will be posting ideas for entertaining children at home and fun Facebook links for all the family!

Council Meeting Goes Live

May 1, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

The April Ordinary Council Meeting made history when Councillors and senior staff met via video link.

Streaming live to Facebook, the monthly meeting was conducted online to ensure the community could continue to watch the proceedings of Council while also adhering to the Government’s COVID-19 social distancing measures.

“This is a very historic meeting”, said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM.

“It’s the first time in 137 years of local government in Parkes, that a meeting is being legally conducted without Councillors having to be personally present and is also the first time that the meeting will be live streamed to the community.”

During the virtual meeting, Councillors heard from Council’s General Manager, Kent Boyd about the organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at a local level, and the measures being implemented to support affected residents and business owners and operators.

Councillors endorsed a recommendation to introduce a number of initiatives to support local business, including waiving of landing fees for REX airlines for a six month period; the modification of the Rat- ing Hardship Policy to cater for those experiencing hardship in paying council rates; an increase in the local business pricing evaluation advantage Local Purchasing Policy from 5% to 10%; Council’s Tourism partnership program to be reviewed for the next financial year; and discounted fees for a range of development services such as outdoor dining, food inspection, and development applications to assist affected businesses in re-establishing their operations.

The Draft Parkes Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) was also tabled, which identifies Council’s 20-year vision for land use planning in the Parkes Shire.

Having been endorsed by Councillors, the draft statement will go on public exhibition for 28 days for comment.

The video and audio recording of the April Council meeting is available on Council’s website, along with the meeting minutes – www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Read And Sing With Me At Home

May 1, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Rhonda Brain, PTTR’s Creative Director, set the ball rolling in Parkes by decorating her home under supervision of the Reading Bug.

A campaign started in Parkes, was launched nationally on Monday to remind families everywhere to read and sing with their children during this time of social isolation – and beyond.

Her Excellency Linda Hurley, wife of the Governor General, launched Paint the Town REaD’s (PTTR) new national campaign: REaD and Sing with Me at Home.

It builds on the many initiatives already running in the more than 90 Paint the Town REaD communities across six states.

These communities will lead the campaign, but families around Australia are invited to join in.

Inspired by the social movement of children putting teddy bears in windows, PTTR groups will provide fun reminders and suggested activities to promote singing and reading at home.

“Singing is an enjoyable way to increase happiness in our homes and lives. Reading together helps everybody to keep calm and to feel safe,” said Linda, who is PTTR’s patron. She sang the PTTR song, which she has composed, at the launch as well as a sunshine song.

The challenge is on in Parkes to see which street will end up with the most decorated homes. Here are some ideas of what can be done.

PTTR communities around the country including Parkes, have started to decorate their homes in red, sharing ideas on favourite books, making children’s books available in accessible spots, running drive-through book pickups, live streaming story times, playgroups and tips for parents and creatively keeping community reading activities alive within the requirements of social distancing.

The Parkes committee is asking families, businesses, services, schools and preschools to join in by putting a bear in their window or on a chair on the verandah, and putting up some red decoration on the post box or anywhere else. This will encourage and remind the community to look for the teddies and read and sing with their children. The challenge is on to see which street in Parkes will end up with the most decorated homes!

Maggi Barnard

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COMING SOON TO THE LIBRARY?

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