Maggi Barnard

It’s been a year since the Parkes community was shocked by the sudden passing of one of Australia’s music legends.

Last week a permanent memorial was installed in honour of Phil Emmanuel outside the Henry Parkes Centre on the first anniversary of his death.

The memorial was organised by Phil’s brother and Parkes resident, Darcy Emmanuel, and kindly donated by Rod and Cheryl Fletcher from Rocks of Remembrance.

It was officially unveiled at a special tribute show held in Phil’s honour at this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival. The memorial is positioned outside the entrance to the Parkes and District Historical Society Museum where there is an exhibit honouring the Emmanuel family.

Parkes Elvis Festival Director Cathy Treasure said: “It was an honour to meet Phil in 2018 when he was inducted into the Wall of Fame.”

“He was both a great musician and a lovely man to work with. This memorial is an important installation to honour his memory,” Cathy said.

Phil could well have been the greatest electric guitar player Australia had produced, according to rock historian Glenn A Baker.

Baker presented the music TV show After Dark in the 1980s when The Emmanuel Brothers blew everyone away performing a trick that involved the two of them playing the one instrument.

“Tommy would [go on to] be the greatest acoustic guitar player we’ve probably seen,” said Glenn.

He started his music career at a young age as part of the Emmanuel Quartet. The Emmanuel family settled in Parkes in 1967, where Phil attended school prior to moving to Sydney.

Phil and his brother Tommy were inducted into the Elvis Wall of Fame at last year’s Festival, with Phil performing a solo show to a sell-out crowd. He was planning to return to Parkes this year to perform.

The premier event of the Parkes and districts social calendar is fast approaching with the Parkes Coradgery and Diggers Picnic Races to be held on Saturday, 8th June.

Coradgery, a place near  Parkes, held a picnic meeting very early in 1900 at a property called Riverview, and called it the Bogan Riverview Picnic Races. Farmers from the surrounding district used their horses to carry farm produce in the morning, and took their families to the race meeting on the same day. They would harness the same horse into gigs, for the trotting races and others including barrel and flag races. The meeting changed properties in later years, and was followed by a ball. This annual event continued until the mid-1960s until it was transferred to the Parkes Racecourse.

The Parkes Diggers races were held at the Parkes Racecourse for many years, and was another popular social occasion in the district, as well as the St. Patrick’s Day Races.

In the early 1980s it was agreed to combine resources of the three groups, and to hold one huge picnic race meeting once a year onthe Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Since this momentous decision, the two committees have worked together very amicably with great success as one incorporated body.

The June long weekend has since become a ‘Back to Parkes’ weekend, with many residents opening their homes to friends and relations, while visitors come from all over the state, and even interstate.

This year the Quota ladies will cater the food, with full bar facilities and a band for entertainment.

Fashions on the field will be judged in the categories of Contemporary, Millinery, Stylish Man and Elegant Lady with some excellent prizes. Entry is $20 and gates open at 11:30am.
By Stafford Orange

Extension work at the Parkes Regional Airport has been completed and was officially unveiled last week.

The work included better links between the tarmac and taxi lanes as well as an extension to the tarmac, a new taxi lane and better connection of services to the commercial hangar.

“This is a major modernisation of one of Australia’s most important regional airports,” said Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack.

“As a well-established national transport hub with links to both major cities and the country, Parkes is the ideal location for aviation industries to flourish,” he said.

Member of the NSW Legislative Council Wes Fang said: “Parkes is now better placed to attract new business investment, capitalising on the movement of metropolitan- based business to regional areas.”

Parkes Shire Councillor and Chair of Economic Development – Airport Sub Committee, Alan Ward said this project was part of a suite of investments in the region, including the construction of Inland Rail, expansion of CMOC Northparkes Mines and establishment of the CleanTeq Sunrise Nickel Cobalt Scandium Project.

“Following the announcement that Parkes will be the State’s first Special Activation Precinct, we are experiencing unprecedented levels of enquiries from businesses looking to capitalise on Parkes’ strategic potential.” This $3,115,000 project was jointly funded with the Federal Government investing $1,557,500, the NSW Government investing $1,030,000 and Parkes Shire Council investing $527,500.

The long-awaited Parkes Bypass will be delivered with the re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government committing $100 million to the project.

“The Parkes Bypass has been on everyone’s lips for many years now and I want to see it become a reality with up to $100 million committed by the Liberal and Nationals Government,” said Riverina MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack in Parkes last week.

“I want to see greater freight efficiency and productivity, and I want to see improved amenity and safety for pedestrians and other road users in the Parkes centre,” he said.
“The bypass will allow heavy vehicles to avoid the town centre where intersections, as well as railway crossings, have a big impact on travel times and productivity. And most importantly it will help people get home sooner and safer.”

The $125 million project will be delivered in partnership with the NSW Government.

Consultation with the community will continue on the best design for the bypass, building on the concept design released by the NSW Government.

“The final design of the bypass will identify how best to integrate with Inland Rail intermodal hubs, which are so exciting for the economic development of the Parkes region,” said Michael.

“The Newell Highway is the longest highway in NSW, and provides a major freight and passenger transport connection to Victoria and Queensland. Many towns, farmers and small businesses throughout the Central West, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area and western NSW rely on the Newell to connect product from paddock to plate, as well as providing a vital economic boost to communities along the highway.”

Parkes Services Club donated $5,000 for the second year in a row to Currajong Disability Services (CDS) to assist with transport costs. “It will make a massive difference,” said Currajong CEO Jeff Evans. At the handover were (L-R) Jye Jeffrey from Currajong (with trophy), Jeff Evans, Terry Knowles (Club President), Cheryl Cunningham (Director Parkes Services Club), Jarrad Simpson and Dan Jones with clients and staff from Currajong.