Maggi Barnard

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

Parkes East students tell us why they were keen on joining the new Ecokids Group at their school?

February 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Zali Lovett (6): I like gardening, and I like taking the recycling bins in and out at school.
Oscar Hendry (8): I like the environment because it is very interesting and we should protect it.

Sam Westcott (12): I live on a farm and see how the environment is affected, especially with the drought. I want to do something to help.
Marcus Hughes (9): Animals, trees and flowers are so beautiful and interesting, and I would like to make the environment better.

George Miles (9): We will help animals by getting rid of rubbish and keeping the environment clean.
Alicia Rivett (10): We are literally destroying the environment and it is so important to us. We have to do something to help!

Be Seen @ Bingo

February 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Bingo is on at the Parkes Services Club every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am. On Tuesday Christine Miller, Tracy Parrington and Kathy Van Riin were happy to join in.

Rachel Kelly was also at Bingo on Tuesday.

Margaret Cherry has been playing Bingo for many years and was there again on Tuesday.

Gwen Salt, Kerry Stevenson, Joan Thornton and Patricia Davis were ready for some Bingo on Tuesday.

Ladies Bowls

February 21, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Round one of the Club Singles Champion- ships took place this week with 27 bowlers. Rhona Went defeated Cherie Frame; Maree Grant defeated Heather Harvey; Robyn Morgan defeated Gwenda Carty; Jan McPhee defeated Maureen Miller.

The second round of the Club Major Singles will be played on or before 10th March.

Results of social games:

Lynn Ryan, Helen Heraghty and Brenda Davies played consistently in front of a cheer squad and were too good for Jean Kennedy, Chris Curteis and Joan Simpson.

Carol Reed, Merilyn Rodgers and Lea Orr lapped it up over Julie Green, Kate Keogh and Maureen Baillie.

In a game of pairs, Kay Craft and Lorraine Baker collared the opposition and had a win over June Burgess and Elaine Miller.

Off the leash at last, Valmai Westcott, Ann Norton and Frances Charlton escaped to the top green and enjoyed a game of consistency.

The District Singles Championships were held in Forbes last week. Brenda Davies did our club proud in her match, while Maree Grant finished as runner-up in the final.

By Lea Orr

Our Gal – Leanne Wilson

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? My family and I moved to Parkes in 1992. What I love about Parkes is that while it has grown in size it still maintains its small town feel.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I run The Little Art Company, teaching art to both children and adults in Parkes since 2012. I am one of the lucky ones to be fortunate enough to do what I love.

What is your favourite thing to do when you have free time? My favourite thing to do in my free time is go bushwalking. Fresh air, animals, nature, what more could you want?

What makes you proud? My proudest moments are when my students are proud of their art achievements.

If you could be an animal which one would you choose, and why? I love all animals, and if I had a choice, I’d like to try a different animal every day.

What is your all-time favourite movie, song and/or book, and why? My favourite movie is Forrest Gump, life really is like a box of chocolates, I never know what I’m going to get each day. My favourite song is Make the world go Round by Dj Cassidy.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was backpacking around Europe on an art adventure, seeing the Sistine Chapel, Mona Lisa and all the art from the masters.

Regional College Visits Parkes

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

A leading co-educational boarding and day college will visit Parkes on 18th February to connect with past, current and future families and support local ‘buy from the bush’ campaigns.

After a successful first year, Scots All Saints College in Bathurst is emerging as a modern and progressive college catering to the needs of rural and regional families with affordable and quality education that is closer to home. “We simply want to reach out to communities in our traditional heartland and help them learn more,” said Director of Community Engagement & Market- ing, Mel Monico

“There has been great interest and support for the development of Scots All Saints College following the integration last year of two very longstanding and respected boarding schools, The Scots School and All Saints’ College, with a combined history in education stemming back over 219 years.”

“We are keen to listen to the needs of local families in education and introduce our leadership team including our new Director of Boarding, Anthony Le Couteur.”

“We warmly welcome families in the Parkes region to join us for an informal evening at Bent next Tuesday from 6 – 8pm.”

RSVP your interest to events@scotsallsaints.nsw.edu.au

Sweets For Your Sweetheart

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

From heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates to sticky gummy bears, sweet treats are often the gift of choice on Valentine’s Day.

While these sugary treats are sure to delight your sweetheart, their teeth could be getting a sour deal.

Say, “I love you” and still ensure your significant other gets a great dental check-up by opting for treats that don’t cling to the teeth. Avoid those gummies as well as hard candies because both types of treats stay on your teeth longer.

Show your sweet side with treats such as dark chocolate that have some health benefits as well as less sugar, in many cases.

for example, are delectable and lower in sugar. Consider candies sweetened with Xylitol as this natural sweet substance may reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Encouraging your Valentine to get regular dental check-ups is a wonderful way to show you care!

For all your dental needs please call Riaz Dental on 68621261 or visit www.riazdental.com.au

NSW Seniors Festival

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Margaret Robinson

What does your working life look like?
Currently I run the Rose Garden B&B, operate the Parkes Décor Shoppe and work for Community Housing and St Vincent de Paul in Dubbo and Coonabarabran. I am a Rotary member and hope to get back to dragon boating.

What do you like about it?
Everything I do is in the service industry. I love helping people and making people happy. It is a privilege to do it as a job and to see the satisfaction on people’s faces.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life?
Be kind, it makes everybody feel good. Something good happens to me every day. It does not cost anything to be kind.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
Think before you act!

What do you love to celebrate?
All the wonderful friends and family I’ve got and the connections I’ve made in Parkes. It is a really good town.

Terry Knowles

What did your working life look like?
I worked for the Environmental Protection Authority for 30 years. The highlights were the approval of the Northparkes Mines and Cadia at Orange, as well as the Mount Piper Power Station. At the moment I am President of the Parkes Services Club and President of the RSL Sub-branch, and I call bingo four times a week as a volunteer.

What did you like about your work?
It was very exciting work. I enjoyed helping people with their problems.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life?
To get on with people and to avoid conflict where possible by coming to mutual agreements.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
Enjoy your latter years and keep active physically and mentally.

What do you love to celebrate?
I like to celebrate seniors and volunteer seniors for all the work and commitment they put into volunteering.

Lee Ramsay

What did your working life look like?
It was great – I was a mid- wife. One phone call changed my life. I arrived in Parkes by train in 1959 to look after a patient for a few weeks and ended up running the maternity ward.

What did you like about your work?
I loved being there with women and becoming involved in the lives of families. There were lots of happy and surprising stories. Those days we had marvellous support from the GPs.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in life?
Patience and accepting people as they are.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
To remain physically active, keep a social circle and use your brain. I’ve been very lucky with my health and have always tried to stay physically active by swimming and playing golf. I always enjoyed doing sport and dancing.

What do you love to celebrate?
My family and friends, my daughters and grandkids.

Help PCS Get Moomba Plane Off The Ground

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

FLYING HIGH… The Parkes Christian School entry at the Moomba Bird Rally as it lands in the Yarra River. They have won their category five times already.

It’s almost time to take a leap and fly again for the Parkes Christian School Senior Design and Technology class.

They have been busy planning and building their plane that will fly into the Yarra River on Sunday, 8th March at the Moomba Birdman Rally in Melbourne for the sixth time.

For the last five years they have won their categories and learned a lot about teamwork, engineering and the power of flight.

This will be the second year where participants in the school category can raise funds for themselves to help them build the flying machine and develop technology. Every dollar raised for their team will be points earned that will go towards the final score and could help lead them to victory again!

The Parkes Christian School team is counting on the local community to support them in this endeavour and they have a fundraising page at this link: https://birdmanrally2020.gofundraise.com.au/page/ParkesChristian

Donations can also be made directly at the school office on 6862 4164 until 4th March. The team’s progress and success can be followed on the school’s Facebook page.

What do you love to celebrate?

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Aileen Ahearne: Just life! I will be married for 67 years this year – got married when I was 18 and had my first child at 19.

Malcolm Nankivell: Just being here! Today is my 96th birthday and I feel very lucky to have ended up living in Parkes.

Neryl Jackson: I love celebrating birthdays, Christmas and anything else that is a cause for a celebration like great grandchildren. I have six of them. My family celebrated my 75th birthday with me on Sunday.

Shave The Date!

February 14, 2020 By Maggi Barnard

Deb Hewitt and Indigo Kriedemann of Currajong Disability Services will support Fiona McGonigal in her entry into the World’s Greatest Shave on 12th March at Currajong in Parkes.

Fighting cancer by raising money for cancer research is an admirable way of dealing with the disease.

Currajong Disability Services participant Fiona McGonigal was battling kidney cancer last year when she decided to shave her head to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

This year Fiona will be participating again in the World’s Greatest Shave on 12th March. Despite beating kidney cancer last year, she received the unfortunate news that the disease has returned on the left side of her adrenal gland.

“After such a great response last year, especially from everyone at Currajong, I felt compelled to give it another go,” she said.

While Fiona has her up and down days, nothing will stop her trying to beat last year’s initial fundraising target of $1,000.

“The funds are vital, but so too is aware- ness of cancer and different cancer types,” Fiona said. “Every day another 35 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer. That’s one Aussie every 41 minutes.”

If you want to support Fiona, contact Currajong Disability Services about how to get involved on 6863 4713.

Maggi Barnard

Results of social games:

Margaret Robinson

Terry Knowles

Lee Ramsay

Subscribe