Maggi Barnard

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

SNIPPETS…

June 20, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

The first ever Autism Friendly Relaxed Performance of the Parkes M & D Society for Shrek Jr last weekend was a resounding success! It couldn’t have gone better according to the director, and was a wonderful and enlightening experience for everyone. Pictured are some of the patrons with cast members.

Air Bag Safety Threat: More than 223,000 faulty airbags, with a potential to seriously injure or kill vehicle occupants, need to be promptly replaced in NSW. Thousands of vehicles are still affected by the Takata airbag recall. Given the dangerous nature of the defective airbags, car manufacturers are worried by the reluctance of vehicle owners to arrange for the free work to be done. Vehicle owners can check the recall status of their vehicles at www.ismyairbagsafe. com.au or by texting TAKATA to 0487 AIRBAG (247 224).

Mobile Black Spots: Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is encouraging people to identify mobile black spot areas and to engage with their local council, state MPs and his office. Rounds five and six of the Mobile Black Spot Program will focus on improving coverage at important community centres, such as medical facilities, schools and economic hubs. Submit applications by 26th July. For more information, visit: www. communications.gov.au/mbsp.

Men’s Health Week: Men are in general very reluctant to do anything about their health. If we get regular checks, any nasties can be dealt with before they get out of hand. If we have at least an annual check-up, it would benefit us in the long run and, maybe, with a longer life. Men’s Health week is in place to remind us to have that check-up. It also gives us the opportunity to discuss men’s issues and discover that there is no need to be scared or afraid. This year the Parkes Prostate Cancer Awareness and Support Group is having a Sausage Sizzle at the Star Hotel on Monday, 24th June at 6pm to celebrate Men’s Health Week. Bring along your wife, partner or friend and share the evening. By Michael C. Lynch

Arts Program: Arts OutWest is encouraging local groups to apply for the 2020 round of Country Arts Support Program funding. Applications for 2020 funding close Monday, 29th July. Country Arts Support Program grants of up to $3,000 are available. Projects could include workshops, arts activities as part of community festivals or events, artist-in-residence programs, public art and design projects, performances, community seminars and forums, exhibitions or other local arts initiatives. Funding groups must discuss their project with Arts OutWest before submitting an online application. Contact Arts OutWest on 02 6338 4657 or email artsoutwest@csu.edu.au

The sixth full moon of the year was spectacular on Monday. It is called the Strawberry Moon, because in North America, the Algonquin tribes of Native Americans regarded the full moon as their sign to harvest wild strawberries. In the Southern Hemisphere, it can go by Oak Moon, Cold Moon or Long Night Moon.

What are your thoughts on the potential closure of the Parkes Maternity Unit?

June 20, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Eliza Carr with Declan Ross: It’s a bit ridiculous. I know lots of people who don’t want to go to Forbes or Orange because it’s too far away from their families.

Jacob and Tiffani Townsend with Creed: We think it’s a bit silly. Why couldn’t maternity staff be on call – only operating when needed. Some births are really quick and it could be difficult to get to Forbes or Orange, and very hard for the mum if she’s having contractions in the car.

Jess Elliot holding Ruby, Lola in front and Isabelle Evans (right): Jess: I had to have Ruby in Forbes. It was a bit overwhelming and didn’t feel right not to have her in my home town where family is close and surroundings are familiar. Isabelle: It just makes me cranky. It’s a waste of money to have the facility and not use it.

Footy Tipping Results – Round 14

June 17, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

SNIPPETS…

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Ten student leaders from Middleton Public School travelled to Dubbo to participate in the GRIP leadership training day recently. Pictured are standing (L -R) Harry Kennedy, Riley McMaster, Elsie Orr and Mackenzie Pabis; kneeling are Kaleb Gould and Sally Medlyn, and sitting Ryan Snyman, Jaylen Kelly, Georgie MacGregor and Nell Smith.

Six months to Christmas: The Christmas Parade and Cooke Park Christmas Carnival will take place on Friday, 13th December at 6pm. This year there will be something new and something old. The Action Club Christmas Parade will go for the whole length of the Parkes business centre starting in Clarinda Street at Bushman Street and finishing in Short Street. All schools, businesses, sporting clubs, associations and community groups are invited to take part with a $330 prize each for best business float, best school float and best community float. The new addition will be a carnival in the park with entertainment on stage and the opportunity for local clubs and associations to show the Parkes community what is available in their town. There will also be food stalls run by Parkes clubs and retailers. Contact parkesactionclub@gmail.com to take part in these events.

Operation Armour: The NSW Police Force launched Operation Armour recently to target firearm theft across regional NSW. General duties officers will be assisted by specialist police from the Firearms Registry, Rural Crime Prevention Team, the Drug and Firearms Squad, and the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor throughout the operation and focus on preventing, disrupting and reducing firearm thefts. Firearms Prohibition Orders and Weapons Prohibition Orders will be conducted, as well as safe storage inspections.

There are hefty penalties for those who possess unregistered or illicit firearms. Information on the responsibilities, licences, permits, sale and purchase, and safe storage of fire arms can be found at the Firearms Registry page on the NSW Police Force website https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms Anyone with information concerning gun crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Masterplan For Parkes: The state’s leading town planners and industry experts converged on Parkes recently for an enquiry by design (EBD) workshop led by the NSW Government’s Department of Planning to develop the masterplan for a Special Activation Precinct in Parkes (SAP). It is a new way of helping businesses establish in specific regional locations in NSW. Each location is chosen for its unique regional offering, services and competitive advantage.

The Parkes SAP is the first to be declared in NSW and is designed to take advantage of the unique economic opportunities of its strategic location at the epicentre of the national freight and logistics network.

Rhonda Brain (right) and Barbie Bates made it to the east coast after starting the Perth to Pacific Book Relay in March travelling over 7,000km spreading the all important message of reading to your baby from birth.

Live From The Moon

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Think of Apollo 11 and you think of that famous first footstep on the Moon, watched by 600 million people around the world.

Getting that image to Earth took some doing. In 1969, Australia had more NASA tracking stations than any country except the USA. These included a 26-metre antenna at Honeysuckle Creek near Canberra that was purpose-built for the Apollo program.

Opened in 1961, CSIRO’s 64-metre Parkes telescope was intended for radio astronomy, but CSIRO agreed to help NASA track spacecraft.

The job of receiving Apollo 11’s TV signals from the Moon fell to NASA’s station at Goldstone, California, and in Australia at Honeysuckle Creek and Parkes, because they had the Moon in view at the scheduled time of the moonwalk.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon at 6:17am AEST on Monday, 21st July.

By the time they opened the door of the lunar module, the Moon was just rising at Parkes. Aldrin flipped the switch on the TV camera and the broadcast began.

At first, NASA switched between signals from Goldstone and Honeysuckle Creek – the latter capturing the first footstep on the Moon.

Eight minutes and 51 seconds in, the signals from Parkes came through. These were so good NASA stayed with them for the rest of the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast, cementing Australia’s place in one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

Free open days at Parkes Observatory On 21st July, it will be 50 years since that first step onto another world. Celebrate the Apollo 11 Moon landing by heading to the Dish on Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st July, to:
• Take a rare tour of the world-famous telescope
• Discover the latest in Australian astronomy and space science
• Explore the brightest stars, planets and the Sun
• Have fun with science activities for kids, and more

On Saturday evening, watch the movie The Dish under the stars, introduced by actor Roy Billing who played the Mayor of Parkes in the film.
On Sunday, hear from special guest Adelaide- born NASA astronaut Dr Andrew Thomas and watch the original broadcast of the moonwalk as it happened from 12:56pm.

Craft Corner Opens Art Gallery

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

The Craft Corner celebrated its 45th anniversary with a special event last week opening its very own art gallery.

“It is a beautiful space for paintings in the main street,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Manager Cultural, Education and Library Services, Kerryn Jones. “Congratulations on recognising the need for this space.”

Craft Corner President Margaret Tanner said over the past 45 years Craft Corner had not only become a hub for talented local artists and crafts people, but it had also become a tourist destination and a gathering place for happy people.

Kerryn said reaching 45 years was an extraordinary achievement for the community.

“The Craft Corner is a cultural institution in this town. She took out Octopussy, a hand made soft toy she had bought at the shop in its early days, saying it had lasted so long because it was hand made with love and care.

Members knit, crochet and make a wide variety of items from toys, beanies, rugs and scarves to doing patchwork, pottery items and spectacular mosaics.

The decision to establish a craft shop was made at a public meeting in April 1974, and on 14th June the same year Mayor Jack Scoble officially opened the first shop on the corner of Bogan and Dalton Street.

By Maggi Barnard

Wellness Wise

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

What Does Fluoride Do?

Fluoride is probably an ingredient in your toothpaste or mouthwash. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral often found in drinking water and certain foods. It protects teeth in two ways:
1. By aiding your tooth enamel to be produced in a more decay-resistant form.
2. By protecting the enamel from being attacked by acid from bacteria in your mouth.

These bacteria are made even more potent when there is sugar in your diet. Bacteria love sugar. The resulting acid attacks your enamel and can cause tooth decay. Fluoride is available in several forms:
• Fluoride treatments during a visit to the dentist.
• Over-the-counter and prescription toothpastes and rinses.
• Supplements prescribed by a dentist or medical doctor.

If you drink bottled water or have a higher risk of tooth decay, you may not be getting enough fluoride in your diet.

For all your dental needs call Riaz Dental on 6862 1261 or www.riazdental.com.au

Men Need Healthy And Strong Hearts

Heart disease is responsible for nearly 13% of deaths in Australian men.

The theme of this year’s Men’s Health Week is keeping boys and men healthy focusing on what males of any age can do to minimise their risk of developing heart problems later in life.

Over 30% of men in Australia have high cholesterol and almost 75% are overweight or obese. One-quarter of males have high to severe blood pressure levels. The good news is that walking is a great way for men to reduce these risk factors. Steps to take to reduce the risk of developing heart disease:

• Get a heart health check. A new Medicare- funded heart health check is available to all Australians.
• Be more active more often – aim for at least 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet of food low in saturated and trans fats, salt and added sugar, and rich in wholegrains, fibre, antioxidants and unsaturated fats.
• Quit smoking. Smoking is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, not to mention a host of other health problems.

Health Benefits Of Pro-biotics

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms, also known as bacteria and yeasts. Many people often think of bacteria and other live microorganisms as harmful, however many help our bodies function correctly. For example, they help us digest food, destroy disease-causing microorganisms and produce vitamins.

What are the benefits of taking a probiotic? The growing evidence for probiotics suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses by eating probiotic foods or taking a supplement.

Not all probiotics are the same and different strains have many different effects. For example, what may help for gut health may not be beneficial for someone with eczema.

While there is still a lot unknown about probiotics, research has shown benefits in the treatment and prevention of many conditions.

These conditions include:
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Diarrhea; infectious or antibiotic induced There has also been proven benefits in other parts of the body. For example, they have helped with:
• Skin conditions, like eczema
• Urinary and vaginal health
• Preventing allergies and colds
Probiotics have a range of benefits in the treatment and prevention of these conditions; however, they are also very useful when taking antibiotics! When taking antibiotics, your good bacteria is also affected and can throw your body out of whack. Taking a probiotic while sick can help replace those good bacteria, making you feel better quicker!

Come and have a chat to our lovely staff to see which probiotics may be beneficial to your health!

OAM Honour For A Special Talent

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes resident and master cake decorator Kath Swansbra has been named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for service to decorative food arts.

Kath has made some iconic cakes depicting various themes including Villers-Bretonneux, World War 1 and various other commemorative cakes on display at the Henry Parkes Museum. She also makes a special cake for the Parkes Elvis Festival every year.

Kath started decorating more than 34 years ago and has been national champion at the Royal Easter Show many times.

Dragons On The Wing

June 13, 2019 By Maggi Barnard

Seven Parkes locals had the experience of a lifetime last Thursday at Parkes Airport when they hurtled through the sky in tandem jumps with Skydive Oz.

Three ‘crazy’ members of Parkes Dragon Boat Club, Suzie Griffey and Bill and Beth Thomas, used the opportunity to raise just over $800 for their club.

What does it actually feel like to plunge from a plane at 14,000 feet? Let me tell you what the ride of my life felt like.

We arrived at the airport to the smiling faces of the Skydive Oz team. They sensed my nervous fear immediately and gave calm and relaxed instructions. We would ascend for 20 minutes to reach a height more than 4 kilometres above terra firma.

My instructor Richie, whose honest face and trustworthy eyes put me at ease, had done over 6,000 jumps. This gave me the confidence to stay and not run out the door.

We were loaded into the small plane sitting on the floor facing backwards in front of our instructor with our harnesses clipped securely to theirs. A note on the back wall said ‘Relax’. I tried taking deep breaths, but they sounded more like shudders as I tried
to quash my nerves.

After what seemed an hour Richie said: “You doing OK Beth? We’re half way.”

Bill was beside me cool as ever giving me a reassuring squeeze now and then. Richie reminded me that when the window rolled up and we slid to the edge I was to tuck my feet under, hang onto to the harness at my shoulders, and head back – shape myself like a banana.

The window opened. The photographer flew out. Richie and I sidled along until my legs were out in the open sky and nothingness opened up before me. This was the biggest moment of fear I had ever known in all my 66 years.

Then in a flash we were gone, free falling in the most amazing minute of my life.

The rush of adrenaline, the wonder of everything around us, the sheer absolute joy.

There was no room for fear. It had totally dissipated. I spread my arms and I was flying.

After this glorious minute of free-fall, we floated for four more minutes enjoying the amazing feeling of freedom. The landing was perfect.

The glorious thing about a skydive, apart from conquering your own fear, is that you live the elation of every single, vibrant instant of the experience to the utmost.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!

By Beth Thomas

Maggi Barnard

Subscribe