Maggi Barnard

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

What’s On @ the Library?

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

AUTHOR TALK – Noel Braun
Noel Braun embarked on a spiritual quest of self-discovery after the suicide of his wife Maris. He decided to walk two of the more popular routes of the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage routes through Europe to Santiago in the north-west of Spain. His two most recent books, ‘The Day was Made for Walking’ and ‘I Guess I’ll Just Keep
on Walking’ describe his journey. Woven into his spiritual and emotional journey are fascinating stories of the people he meets. Noel undertook these pilgrimages in his late 70’s and early 80’s. Last year at the age of 84, he embarked on a fifth journey. All his walks are dedicated to the memory of his wife. Noel, an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention, will be at Parkes Library on Thursday, 11th October at 2pm. Please RSVP on 6861 2309 or email library@parkes.nsw.gov.au.

ONCE UPON A STORYTIME
Tuesday 10.30 – 11.30am. During school term; commences Tuesday, 23rd October. Come and enter into the wonderful world of books. We will have our own very special storyteller who will guide us through many adventures.
Who: Children 3-5 years and parents/carers (younger children welcome).

BORROW ANY TIME, ANY DAY
Parkes Shire Library RBdigital, offers full colour, interactive digital magazines for your enjoyment. Browse from the collection of popular titles with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines you can download. Go to www.rbdigital.com/parkes/ You can browse and download popular books on your computer, laptop, eReader, phone or tablet from the Parkes Shire Library eCollection. You can borrow three eBooks or eAudiobooks at a time. Go to parkesshirelibrary.wheelers.co/

Our Bloke – Conrad Mill

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Conrad Mill

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
We came to Parkes in 2008 it was the height of the drought and everything seemed very brown and dead. I was recruited by Rio Tinto to set up an experimental media unit at Northparkes Mines.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it?
I have a small business called Reel Smoke, and also work in a Sydney consultancy in marketing, comms and advertising. I enjoy transferring people’s old super, VHS or whatever format films onto a digital platform so they don’t lose those memories.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends?
I like gardening, and have the vegies in. I also like to grow flowers, the Gladies are sprouting. My wife adores flowers.

What are you really good at?
Hard question – I adore cameras and images, but I also love writing and am busy with my first novel. It’s great when you can write for yourself, even if no one likes it – lol!

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
Just make the world a fairer and better place so everyone can contribute equally and have a voice.

What is your pet hate?
Dog poo and stepping in it.

Tell us about your best holiday.
When I worked in Madagascar we went to Tamatave. All the old French Villas bordered up from a bygone era were fascinating. There is a little island off Tamatave home to the original pirates. They have a graveyard with crude tombstones with a faded skull and crossbones carved in it.

Senepol Sale Sets Australian Breed Record

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Australian breed records tumbled at 5 Star Senepol’ s annual sale at CQLX Gracemere in Queensland recently.
Vendors Geoff and Alison Maynard and family saw a new breed record established at $27,000.

Sarah and Clayton Maynard of Southern Star Rural, Canowindra sold eight bulls through the 5 Star Sale. Southern Star Rural managed the top priced Senelais (Senepol/Charolais) bull at $8,000 and also the top priced Senegus (Senepol/Angus) bull at $7,000.

Sixty-five bulls were sold with an average of $6,677, a top of $27,000 and a 93% clearance rate. Buyers who were focused on Senepols, provided the vendors with a bottom line average of $7,425 for the 40 pure bred Senepol entries on offer.

Earlier this year, the Canowindra-based Senepol Stud, Southern Star Rural recorded the highest midterm weight gain during the prestigious Callide Dawson Beef Carcase Competition in Queensland with a Senepol/Angus Steer gaining 4.6kg per day. It was the highest mid-term weight gain recorded in the 30-year history of the competition.

For more information on pure bred Senepol and Senegus or Senelais Bulls, contact Clayton Maynard on 0439 029 204.

Lots On Offer During Small Business Month

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Small Business Month during October will be celebrated in the Parkes Shire with free events and workshops for owners and operators to gain valuable and innovative tools to take their business to the next level.

“Small Business Month is a great opportunity to learn about the latest marketing trends and digital tools, hear from leading experts on the art and science of mutually beneficial negotiation, find out how to use census data to support your business, and receive face-to-face advice on how to start, grow or innovate your business model,” said Parkes Shire Councillor and Parkes Business Chamber representative Alan Ward.

A highlight of Small Business Month is The Henrys Business Awards gala dinner on Friday, 19th October when the local business community celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and why it all adds up for business in the Parkes region.

Other activities on offer for free during the month include:
· Cenwest Innovate Masterclass – Secrets of the Great Negotiators: Skills & Tactics that Get You to Yes! on Thursday, 11th October from 11:30am – 2pm at the Astro Dish, register via Eventbrite.
· Business Bus Connect, delivering face-to face business advice to regional operators, on Tuesday, 16th October from 9am to 3pm at 203 Clarinda Street, book a session on 1300 134 359 or email connect@industry.nsw.gov.au
· Be Business Savvy Masterclass hosted by Parkes Shire Council and facilitated by Holly Galbraith: Five Essential Digital Tools for your Business Marketing on Monday, 22nd October from 6 to 8pm at the Hart Bar, register
via https://visitparkes.com.au/events/digital-health-check/
· Digital Health Checks – one-on-one checks with Holly G on Tuesday, 23rd October, register your interest via https://visitparkes.com.au/events/digital-health-check/
· Id Solutions Workshop Data, Finance and Your Business on Tuesday, 30th October from 6 to 7:30pm at the Astro Dish, register your interest via https://visitparkes.com.au/events/data-finance-business/

For more information about the Small Business Month events, visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au

Ostini Wool Weekly Market Update

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Melbourne sold in isolation on Tuesday, due to Friday’s public holiday. The market opened with discounts and prices continued to fall as the sale progressed. Sydney and Fremantle joined in on Wednesday and quickly realised similar
losses before further reductions were felt in all three centres. The Western region was the hardest hit, resulting in the WRI falling by 74 cents for the day. Sydney recorded more losses on the final day, while Fremantle managed to steady. By the end of the series prices had fallen by 50-90 cents, with losses felt across all microns, leaving the NRI 66 cents cheaper at 2,074c/kg.

The skirting market suffered similar corrections, with prices generally falling by 60-80 cents, wools carrying >4% VM were most affected. The crossbreds also lost ground, but not to the same extent with losses generally 20-40 cents cheaper. The oddment sector was the poorest performer for the week, with a limited selection struggling to attract buyer support, leaving prices generally 100 cents off the pace.

Source: AWEX

Prevent Spread Of Weeds

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

As the drought continues to tighten its grip on the Parkes Shire, landholders should remain aware of the risk of weed seed spread when buying grain or hay to feed livestock. “Livestock feed can contain numerous weed seeds, and as stockfeed is being transported long distances, it can pose a significant threat to agricultural production and biosecurity with potentially negative impacts for both cropping and pasture enterprises,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure, Andrew Francis.

To minimise the risk of spreading weed seed, Council advises landholders to follow Plant Health Australia’s Biosecurity Manual for Grain Producers (2017) by taking the following precautions:
* Check the origin of the hay or grain, request a commodity vendor declaration and ask the seller what weeds were present at the time of cutting hay.
* Observe any restrictions on the movement of plant material interstate and within states.
* Check hay for weeds as you feed out: this may alert you to future issues.
* If possible source locally grown feed.
* Feed stock in a designated quarantine paddock: this will limit the area where weed seeds are dispersed for easier monitoring and management after rain. Keep stock in paddock after feeding for sufficient time for them to empty out.
* Feed away from watercourses to reduce risk of weed spread.
* Monitor hay and grain storage areas, paddocks and roadways for new weeds.
* Post rain, identify any new weeds for appropriate control strategies.

Get Your Tickets

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Only two weeks to go until The Henrys Gala Presentation night hosted by the Parkes Chamber of Commerce at the Parkes Services Club on 19th October. Tickets are selling fast for the night to celebrate the business super stars of Parkes. Get your ticket online for $85.

It will be a brilliant night of networking with drinks and platters on arrival followed by dinner and dessert. The awards will be presented with local duo Tom and Holly taking care of entertainment for the night! There will also be a photo booth this year to add an element of fun. There will also be awards for Excellence in Small Business, Excellence in Business and Parkes Business of the Year.

Samuel Johnson In Forbes

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Australian actor, radio presenter, voiceover artist and philanthropist Samuel Johnson will be the celebrity speaker at a gala dinner on 19th October at the Forbes Services Club.

Samuel raised thousands of dollars for CanTeen in 2003 when he rode over 1,000km on his unicycle from Sydney to
Melbourne. In 2013 he set a new Guiness World Record when he went right around Australia on his unicycle. He also raised $2 million for cancer research and assisted his sister Connie to spread awareness of breast cancer.

In 2001 Samuel was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal, Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, for his services to Australian society and Australian film production. He has been named GQ Magazine’s Social Force of the Year, he shares the 2015 Research Australia Advocacy Award with his sister Connie and in 2016 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to cancer research.

Celebrated Actor In Mental Health Play

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

An acclaimed Australian actor will be appearing in a mental health play in Tullamore in November. Tullamore Inc and Parkes Shire Council will host Gold Logie Award-winner John Wood as the leading actor in Carpe Diem at the Tullamore War Memorial Hall on 3rd November.

Supported by Chris Pidd, Carpe Diem is a contemporary portrayal of Australian males, dealing with issues of health, grief, loss and depression. Set in a fictional town, the play portrays the friendship of Nev, a hard-working farmer, and John his stock agent friend. Both have been impacted by the long running drought and are each suffering their own personal crisis.

Carpe Diem is a didactic comedy that delivers mental health messages in an entertaining, immediate and highly relevant way. It stresses the importance of mateship and professional care in times of crises. “It’s a very Australian thing (not just male, necessarily) to feel that it’s none of our business and that someone knows what they’re doing,” said John. “But men need to ask the questions and not ignore their apparent depression or inner pain.”

The play will be followed by a Q&A and meet and greet with the actors. Tickets are $20, available at Casho’s Café, 123tix.com.au and at the door. BBQ dinner from 6.30pm. For all enquiries call Megan 0478 438 052.

Snippets…

October 4, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Drought Art: The Little Art Company is holding an Open Day tomorrow from 10am to 4:30pm at the Old Parkes Convent at 33 Currajong Street. The students invite everyone to view their masterpieces while supporting our farmers at a special studio morning tea with scones and jam from the Dish Cafe. You can also create your own masterpiece at farm-inspired art workshops. Limited numbers available for the Oink Oink workshop from 11am to 12pm, and Quirky Cows workshop from 1 to 2pm. All money raised will go to the Buy a Bale initiative. Bookings required for workshops, call 0429 634 777.

Day Light Saving Starts: On Sunday, 7th October at 2am we turn our clocks forward one hour to 3am. This means sunrise and sunset will be one hour later than Saturday, giving us more light in the evening.

Identify Mobile Black Spots: Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Mc- Cormack is encouraging residents in the Central West to identify mobile phone black spots in their area. Residents are asked to pinpoint locations to help inform the rollout of the fourth round of the Government’s $220 million Mobile Black Spot Program. The database will be open until Thursday, 11th October. Contact Michael’s office in Parkes on 6862 4560, or send an email to michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au.

Relay For Life Postponed: Cancer Council and the volunteer organising committee have decided to postpone the Parkes & District Relay For Life (Parkes Relay) from 27/28 October to 23/24 March next year. Renee Rice, Chair of the Parkes Relay committee said: “With so many people affected by drought and local businesses having been so generous, we felt it would be too much to go ahead just now.” Registered participants are being contacted, and all existing registrations will be automatically moved to the new date.

Reminder New Road Rule: A new road rule is in place in NSW to improve the safety of emergency workers, and the people they are protecting. Motorists need to slow down to 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle displaying red or blue flashing lights, and to give way to any person on foot in the immediate area of the emergency vehicle. It applies to vehicles travelling in both directions. Motorists who fail to comply with the rule will face a $448
fine and three demerit points.

Maggi Barnard

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