Maggi Barnard

There has been a significant increase in people coming forward needing assistance over the past 12 months.

Lt Cameron Lovering of the Parkes and Forbes Salvation Army said at the launch of the annual Red Shield Appeal last week that they saw the effects of the drought on a daily basis. He said 80% of funds raised this year would go straight back into the local community.

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said lots of families were hurting and encouraged everyone to support the appeal.

The target this year is to raise $9,000. Volunteers are needed to help out at two static points at Woolworths and Big W during the week starting 20th May, and volunteers to help the doorknock campaign on 25th and 26th May. Contact Maryanne Lovering on 0431 731 531 to offer assistance.

Cameron said another way to support was to donate items to the Family Store. “The store is our primary source of income. The more donations we get, the more money we can raise.”

At the launch community members, who had been offered assistance, delivered testimonials of what it had meant to them. Bill Atkins and Nyomi Pratt encouraged everyone to support “the wonderful cause”.

Volunteer supervisor Robyn Hohnberg said it was such a good feeling to give back to the community. Parkes Family Store Supervisor Chris Symonds said it was wonderful to help out families in desperate need.

The Perth to Pacific Book Relay rolled into Parkes, the birthplace of Paint The Town REad, to its biggest welcome yet.

More than 500 children packed the Parkes Leagues Club last Friday to welcome Rhonda Brain and Barbie Bates on Day 46 of the relay. The two campaigners have travelled over 6,700km and visited 55 communities to spread the all important message of reading to your baby from birth.

Rhonda said the relay had been incredibly worth it so far. “It’s been overwhelming.

We’ve been so encouraged by the number of people who have caught onto the concept.” She said they had visited communities where they’ve already started and many others who are keen to start.

“It is so exciting to see communities working together to get better ideas for the improvement of their kids,” said Barbie. She said in the small community of Bealiba in Victoria just about the whole town came to their event.

Rhonda said they made sure that every place they visited in Western Australia, either the mayor or local member had been bitten by the reading bug. “Once you’ve been bitten you have to read books!”

This is exactly what happened in Parkes when the reading bug bit Mayor Ken Keith and he read ‘We are going on a bear hunt’ with actions provided by members of the Parkes Community Choir.

The event on Friday coincided with this year’s annual community reading day – Paint Parkes REaD. There was lots of entertainment to make it a fun day. The Parkes Community Choir, accompanied by Cr Neil Westcott on guitar, sang a special song ‘Books are great and fun and cool’. Neil and Cr Bill Jayet did a funny skit, Baby Bug caught up with her Mum the Reading Bug, and representatives from each school signed the Relay Book.

By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Regional Airport will play host to a premier three-day aviation expo in September. AirVenture Australia has announced it will be relocating this one-stopshop for anyone with an interest in aviation to Parkes from 20 to 22 September this year.

It is expected to attract hundreds of aircraft and thousands of visitors over the three days.

The focus of the event will be that ‘aviation is achievable’, and will feature a trade exhibition, careers expo, seminars and workshops, networking opportunities, and a thrill-a-minute air show on the Sunday.

The event is rapidly gaining recognition as the largest annual gathering in Australia for general, sport and recreational aviation.

Parkes was attractive to AirVenture Australia for its stable weather patterns, first class airport, large accommodation offering, centrality to a large catchment of participants who drive and fly-in from all over Australia and for Parkes’ vibrancy and attraction to partners and families of participants.

AirVenture Australia organiser David Young said: “The team is very excited about the event’s new home in Parkes. We have a new venue and new look event that is designed to attract a broad range of participants.”

For more information visit www.airventureaustralia.com.au

Teddy Bears are not really recognised as life savers, but a donation to the Parkes Ambulance Service could potentially make a huge difference to children. Currajong Disability Services, with the help of St. Vincent De Paul, recently donated hand-made teddy bears to Parkes Ambulance Services. The teddy bears will not only serve as a comfort to children but could potentially be a vital life-saving tool. Parkes Ambulance Service Station Officer Geoff Lovegrove said: “Teddy bears are helpful when we need children, who are injured or scared, to point to us on the teddy where they feel pain,” Geoff said. St. Vincent De Paul donated the teddies to the Currajong Sewing Group who repaired them.