Maggi Barnard

Parkes Relay for Life is less than 60 days away and organisers are urging participants to not leave it till the last minute to register their teams. This year the event moves to the more sheltered Pioneer Oval after wind adversely affected the event previously. The relay is to be held overnight on Saturday, 23rd March with team and individual registrations now open on the Parkes Relay for Life website.

Family registrations are also available.

“We would normally expect to see between 400 – 600 people at a relay in Parkes, especially since we only get one here everyother-year,” said Brendon Argyle of Cancer Council NSW.

Relay For Life is a community fundraising challenge, with all funds raised going towards Australia’s leading cancer charity, Cancer Council. Underpinned by research, 61,000 Australian lives have been saved by improvements in cancer prevention, screening and treatment over the past 20 years.

Cancer Council NSW is 95% community funded, which means events like the Parkes and District Relay for Life are vital in keeping the Cancer Council going. “The more participants join us in a relay the more Australians we can help. It really is that simple,” said Brendon.

Cancer Council is the only organisation in Australia that works across every area of cancer, across all aspects of the cancer journey – from research and prevention, through to information, support services and advocacy programs.

Funds raised will directly and indirectly benefit the local community. Working in local communities means Cancer Council can deliver programs and services that best meets the needs of each district. Cancer Council also partner with community-based organisations and health services to support local communities.

With the new school year starting this week, Parkes Shire Council reminds local drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools.

“Children are vulnerable road users. They are at risk because of their size, their inability to judge speed and distance, and they may behave unpredictably,” said Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.

Drivers are reminded to slow down, pay attention and be patient as there are more cars, buses, cyclists and young pedestrians about. “When the orange (wig wag) lights on the back of a school bus are flashing, slow down to 40km/h as students are either getting on or off the bus.”

“Parking signs around schools are there to keep children safe. You cannot stop in a ‘No Stopping’ zone. You can drop-off or pick-up passengers in a ‘No Parking’ zone as long as you are only there for two minutes and no more than three meters away from your car,” said Melanie.

There are 40km/h school speed zones around all schools in between 8 to 9:30am and 2:30 to 4pm on school days. The school zone in Bushman Street is operational all day from 8am to 4pm. Police will be targeting school zones to
ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit.

Newell Highway upgrades and major work on Five Chain Lane northwest of Parkes were announced in Parkes by Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight on Wednesday. Minister Melinda Pavey, said over the next four years 30 new 1.5 km lanes would be added to the Newell Highway with work commencing in six weeks’ time.

Parliamentary Secretary Rick Colless confirmed that Parkes Shire Council had secured funding of $1.3 million for sealing, widening and improving drainage of Five Chain Lane, allowing heavy vehicle access come rain, hail or shine.

The RMS boasts a new works approach in which as much bitumen as possible will be delivered in the shortest time, and the employment of local contractors will be considered a key component to the works. This upgrade will reduce the Newell journey by 25 minutes.

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith voiced his appreciation of the State Government support, acknowledging that the Newell is the third busiest state highway. “But this is the one that is really important to regional people,” he said.

“We are also planning a better future for the Great Western Highway with the longterm vision of a dual carriageway for the Bells Line,” said the Minister, “and we intend getting as much freight on rail as possible.”

By Beth Thomas

A severe storm with lightning, rain and hail caused severe damage in Parkes on Tuesday night. The wild weather with wind gusts of up to 98km/h uprooted trees and blew off roofs just before midnight, left thousands of people without power and caused thousands of dollars in damage, mostly on the eastern and southern side of town. There were fortunately no reports of any injuries.

Emergency services crews, assisted by Council crews, started responding through the night and continued on Wednesday and the rest of the week to the high number of calls received, and clearing storm debris that made some streets look like a war zone.

Bill Dudley in Orange Street was very relieved he was at the back of his house when a mature pine tree fell on his roof causing  severe damage. Many residents could not believe the destruction caused by the storm. “I have never heard the wind blow like that,” said one, while another said: “I saw the wind pick up our trampoline and dump it on the washing line, squashing it!”

By 3pm on Wednesday the power outage to most of the more than 3,000 homes and businesses was restored. Some households had a blackout of more than 15 hours. David Crough of Essential Energy said the storm caused significant damage to the power network. Additional crews and equipment from Bathurst, Forbes, Narromine and
Orange had to be brought in to assist.

Council notified residents that once the urgent jobs were dealt with, storm debris and green matter would be collected from the kerbside. Residents can also deposit green and mixed waste caused by the storm to the Parkes Waste Facility free of charge until close of business on Sunday.

For trees down in backyards and damage caused to personal property, you need to contact the SES on 132 500.

By Maggi Barnard