Maggi Barnard

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

Established Player, New Patron

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Three games of Pairs and a Triples game were played in great conditions this week. Hilda McPherson and Marja Iffland defeated Eileen Bradley and Audrey Jones. Lea Orr and Gwenda Carty defeated Lorraine Baker and Flo Riseborough. Kay Craft and Maureen Miller defeated Di Howell and Kim Evans. Frances Charlton, June Burgess
and Merilyn Rodgers defeated Jean Kennedy, Heather Harvey and Rosemary Mitchell.

Winners on the day were Kay and Maureen, and runner ups were Eileen and Audrey.

Club Championship Triples close on 9 July and matches will commence on 23 July. Our CWD Fours team will play in the Districts Playoffs in Orange on 23 July.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held this week with the Election of Office Bearers as follows. President – Merilyn Rodgers; Vice President – Maureen Miller; Secretary – Betsy Johnstone; Match Committee – Kim Evans, Marja Iffland, Brenda Davies; Selection Committee – Audrey Jones, Robyn Morgan, Di Howell; Committee members – Chris Curteis, Jan McPhee, Minnie Riordan, Kay Craft, Lorraine Baker; Communications Officer – Rosemary Mitchell.

Central Western District (CWD) and Canobolas District will be amalgamating early 2020 and we will all be called Central West District.

We also have a new Patron of our club, Joan Simpson, who has played bowls at our club for the last 52 years and is still playing regularly. To play social bowls ring Table Selectors Gwenda Carty and Rhona Went between 9-9.30am.

What’s Cooking?

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Pink Lady Pie

Ingredients:
1 packet (275g) puff pastry
3-4 Pink Lady apples, size depending
2 tbsp brown sugar
A little butter
1 egg, beaten with a splash of full-cream milk
Icing sugar to dust (optional)

Method:
This is a cross between an apple tart and a strudel. It’s very easy to make, but you have to work quickly. You can substitute Pink Lady Apples with any large eating apple, but if you do, make sure to add another tablespoon of sugar as the Pink Ladies are especially sweet.

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees/gas 4 – make sure you do this in plenty of time as you have to work quickly and you need the oven to be hot and ready. Keep the pastry in the fridge while you work. Peel, quarter, core and thinly slice the apples and mix in a bowl with one tablespoon of the sugar. Grease a baking tray with the butter. Lay the pastry out on your work surface with the wider side facing you. Brush the pastry with the egg wash and scatter the apples evenly over it, leaving a little room around the edge.

Now roll the pastry into a roll away from you, as tightly as you can. Pinch the edges together and place the parcel as carefully as you can onto the tray. Brush with more egg wash, sprinkle over the remaining sugar and put straight into the oven to cook for 20 minutes until golden and crispy. Dust with a little icing sugar (optional) and then serve sliced with softly whipped cream, custard or ice cream.

Animal Antics

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Keep Fish Safe And Healthy During Winter

Fish can become stressed during winter months, leading to health problems. Follow these seven simple tips to help your fish to continue to thrive when the temperature drops.
1. Avoid drafts: Make sure that your fish tanks are not exposed to cold drafts at night – close doors, use door stoppers and window drapes.
2. Check temperature: It may sound obvious but take the time to check the temperature of your tank with a thermometer. Make sure the water temperature hasn’t dropped below ideal conditions for your fish.
3. Check the size of your heater: Use the manufacturer’s recommendations to check that your heater is big enough for your tank.
4. Check water parameters: Eliminate any other stresses and ensure that your water quality is correct for the fish you keep. Purchase a quality testing kit and test your water regularly. To prevent issues, keep the tank clean and check that your filters are fully operational.
5. Avoid large water changes: Filling the tank with cold water can reduce the temperature significantly, leading to stress and disease. Try more frequent, but smaller, water changes instead.
6. Treat with medication as needed: Fish under temperature stress can commonly suffer from fungal disease or white spot. Keep an eye out for these, and treat with medication as needed.
7. Feed a nutritious diet: Boost the immune systems of your fish and ensure they are eating a quality diet. Frozen foods can also be a big help in adding vitamins and minerals to the diet.

Come speak to one of the friendly staff at Parkes Pet Barn for further advice.

Advocating The Arts

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

The arts can be undervalued in the role it plays in a community. In the current time of drought, people are often getting relief by having a creative outlet, whether it is going to local music or dramatic productions, taking up hobbies, or learning a new skill.

These allow people an escape, giving life its bounce.

In October 2018, representatives from many of the Parkes Shire’s arts and cultural groups met to discuss the formation of an Arts Advisory Council. This Council would aim to provide a conduit of communication between the various arts and cultural groups to different parts of the Parkes Shire Council (PSC) and other arts organisations, to improve the access to advice and services that they can provide.

Since October, the Parkes Shire Arts Council (PSAC) has been officially established.

Members include representatives from the Parkes Painting group, Parkes Potters group, Parkes Shire Concert Band
Inc, Parkes Musical & Dramatic Society, along with other groups. The PSAC formed an Executive including Chair, Margot Jolly.

“It’s really exciting to see the arts and cultural groups in Parkes coming together to assist the Council in providing amazing arts facilities in our vibrant and growing community. It was a positive move by Warwick Tom who initiated the first meeting. So far, we’ve been getting excellent support from Councillors and Council staff,” said Margot, at this week’s meeting.

The Parkes Shire Arts Council will also be meeting in late August to formulate its strategic plan, with each group to bring their priorities to the meeting. The PSAC is calling for arts or cultural groups or individual artists not yet represented, to provide their contact details so they can be invited to the meetings and be sent updates on the group’s progress. Please email these details to Kerryn Jones: Kerryn.Jones@parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Ostini Wool Weekly Market Update

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Just over 29,000 bales were offered in the final sale of the season. End of year figures show an overall reduction of 225,182 bales offered, compared to the 2017/18 season, a fall of 11.9%.

The market opened softer and then continued to drop as the week progressed.

Better style wools were generally 70-100 cents easier, while the lesser style wools were even harder hit, up to 150 cents cheaper. The NRI fell by 58 cents, finishing the season at 1,731 and has now suffered the second highest monthly fall since the end of the Reserve Price Scheme (losing 178 cents in June).

The skirtings also dropped sharply, generally losing 50-100 cents, with higher VM wools most affected. Crossbreds generally eased by 30-50 cents.

The first sale of the new season is traditionally a larger sale, as growers looking to sell in the new financial year take the first opportunity. This year however, the sale is smaller than normal with 34,504 bales currently rostered.

Source: AWEX

Local Bulls Head To Northern Territory

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Moogenilla Angus bulls have been sold to a wide range of areas, including Far North Queensland, South West Queensland and the Northern Territory in 2017 and 2018. Among the local, Western NSW, Tablelands and Eastern Riverina beef breeders, Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) has been competing to take the Moogenilla Angus bulls north.

Troy Setter, from CPC said the Moogenilla bulls are balanced and well suited to the Northern Australian environment. Moogenilla bulls have also settled into the Mulga country in South West Queensland and the dry plains in Far West NSW, equally with the cold Tablelands and the local mixed farming areas.

‘A tough, adaptable bull with good temperament, growth and carcass is what we’re aiming to provide to the breeders on Friday 2nd August in Forbes’, said Sarah Wrigley, from Moogenilla Angus.

The New Definition Of A Lamb

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Did you know the definition of a lamb is changing? From 1 July 2019 the new definition comes into place. If you’re unsure of what it means here are some facts from Sheep Producers Australia.

The definition of a lamb is changing in Australia. The current definition of a lamb is ‘A female, castrate or entire male that has 0 permanent incisor teeth’. The new definition is ‘an ovine animal that: (a) is under 12 months of age; or (b) does not have any permanent incisor teeth in wear.’ This means a lamb is able to cut one or both of its permanent central incisor teeth, as long as they are not in wear.

Why is the change occurring? The current definition gives producers no warning light about when a lamb stops being
a lamb – the moment a permanent incisor erupts, the lamb is downgraded to hogget. The new definition gives producers greater certainty and a definitive signal to make moves to market their lambs. Producers will have generally less than a month from the time of eruption to when permanent incisors are in wear. The new definition is
also consistent with New Zealand’s definition – Australia’s biggest lamb competitor in export markets.

Research has shown that a lamb under the new definition was as acceptable to consumers as lamb under the current definition.

For more information head to www.sheepproducers.com.au.

What’s On @ The Library

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

PARKES LIBRARY IS ON THE MOVE!
Parkes Library is going to pack up and move to Clarinda Street (next door to Discount Dave’s) for one year as the present library space undergoes extensive renovations and expansion. During July and August there will be some disruptions to programs and service as the staff pack up the collection and relocate, but we will try to minimise these as much as we can.

TO THE MOON AND BACK ART EXHIBITION
As part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Parkes’ role in the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, an exhibition of paintings by local teenagers will be displayed at the Cedar Café from July 19th. Come along for a coffee and see our amazing young artistic talent!

LOCAL BOOK LAUNCH
Tree Change: An Innocent’s Progress Dr Rick Newton moved with his wife Barbara Newton and their two children to Tullamore approximately 21 years ago. Rick was looking for a change from medical practice and to fulfil a life-long dream to raise cattle. Rick has recorded some humorous short stories from his and Barb’s experiences as fledgling
farmers. Helen Gray has thoroughly enjoyed illustrating the wonderful stories for the book. The book is dedicated to the memory of Geof Horsburgh and Geoff Williams. Books will be on sale and the original pen drawings are up for auction on the night to raise money for research into brain cancer and stroke prevention. Book Launch & Auction: Tuesday July 23 @ 6pm, at the Parkes Library.

FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINES
Have you seen the new digital magazines in our online library? There is something for everyone from cooking, home decorating, gardening, lifestyle, science & technology. If you visit the Parkes Library website www.parkes.nsw.gov.au then to My Online Library – eMagazines – Parkes RBdigital Collection and then you can download the RBdigital app and then login with your Library membership number. Remember Library staff are available to help you download the app if you need.

Dragons Pack Their Paddles Up

July 4, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Dragon Boat Club enjoyed a fun-filled final paddle of the season last Sunday, sharing the beautiful Lake Endeavour with 24 black swans and ending the session with a paddling tug-of-war.

“With the help of so many great members we’ve achieved a massive amount in our first year, including boats, trailers and equipment,” said Club President, Bill Thomas.

“But what we are most proud of is the strength in our membership and the real friendship among those members. It is a privilege to belong to this club.”

“We’ve also competed successfully in many events around the state, including representation at Nationals,” said current Coach Beth Thomas, “and I’m really proud of how this crew strives for continual improvement.”

The Club will recess for July and early August, meeting again at their scheduled AGM on 11 August at 11:00am, returning to paddling the following week. Anyone who is interested in Dragon Boating is warmly invited to attend the AGM at Parkes Services Club and join the members for a bistro lunch afterwards.

By Beth Thomas

Regional Focussed State Budget

June 27, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

The Central NSW Councils welcome the focus on regional NSW in the recent state budget. The following are some of the investments pertinent to the Parkes region.

• $355 million to extend critical drought assistance measures for farmers and rural communities.• $170 million for the Drought Stimulus Package.
• $185 million in on-farm Emergency Drought Relief measures including continuing transport cost rebates and waiving annual land rates.
• Additional $350 million towards the Farm Innovation Fund.
• $15 million to build on partnerships with groups like GRDC, CSIRO and UNE to develop new R&D capacity and help keep our primary producers world leading.
• $2.8 million over two years to extend the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, including rebates for farmers who prefer drones as alternatives to quad bikes.
• $52.4 million for continued delivery of overtaking lanes along the Newell Highway.
• $5.8 million for planning the Newell Highway upgrade at Parkes.
• $3 million for detailed investigation of potential international air freight hub sites, once the current prefeasibility study is complete.
• $100 million allocated for round three of the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects and programs in the regions, including $50 million aimed at supporting young people.

Maggi Barnard

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