Maggi Barnard

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

Allan Rees The Master

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Harry Callaghan, Lee Grierson and Caleb Hanrahan enjoy the sun before their tee off at the Forbes Golf Club on Saturday.

Allan Rees displayed a masterful management of handicap scoring to over-power the course and blitz the field of 62 players in Saturday’s Men’s Individual Par in Forbes.

Playing in Div-2, Allan was +5 at the turn, but a couple of missed putts dropped him back to +4 at the finish. Runner-up was Jacob Reid with +2 and the second best score of the day.

Div-1 was a tight contest with the better scores coming from the morning players. Rob Hey (Parkes) was the winner on count back from Rob Webb after both finished on +1. They had mirror-image scores on the front and back 9s.

Australian Poetry Month.

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

August is Australian Poetry Month. It aims to increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. It is a good time to dig out those scribbles from the drawer or from a hidden file on your computer and send them in to us to celebrate poetry. We’ve received a very topical poem from a reader in Parkes.

Ukraine

Liberated and united they long to be

The people of Ukraine are determined to be free

The amount of destruction is hard to believe

Yet they say they’re resolute

Surrender they won’t concede

Their courage and bravery is second to none

The world will support them until they’ve won

The traitorous aggressor has threatened with war

And nuclear arms if their demands they ignore

Their president leads boldly

And won’t give in to threats

The people support him

They have no regrets

By Warren Tanner, Parkes

Readers of The Forbes & Parkes Phoenix are invited to send in creative writing (poems, short stories and more) of no more than 500 words for publication in this monthly column. Send your submissions to the editor@parkesphoenix.com.au or editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

Trees, Trees, Trees

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Jacob, Emmanuel and Sharon Degeling at the Forbes National Tree Day on Saturday.

Almost 400 trees were planted in Forbes and Parkes at National Tree Day events organised by Central West Lachlan Landcare last weekend.

It was gorgeous weather for volunteers on Saturday who planted 120 trees in Forbes. They were rewarded with Bunnings BBQ vouchers for their hard work.

It was a very different story for volunteers on Sunday when the weather turned foul and freezing, but the brave volunteers still managed to plant 240 trees in Parkes. A BBQ brought some warm relief on the blustery day. Volunteers also received giveaway plants from Bunnings and Forbes Riverside Gardens.

Landcare Co-ordinator Marg Applebee thanked to Forbes and Parkes Shire Councils for their support with the events.

Kieran, Beth and Ollie Deland braving the cold at the Parkes event on Sunday.

Knit ‘n Natter With Love All Over The World

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Some of the women at the Knit ‘n Natter event held at the Craft Corner last week. Holding the rugs are Rosemary Mitchell and Rhonda Redenbach from the Craft Corner and Dianne Percy from Orange.

There was a lot of catching up to be done after two years of ‘silence’ at the Knit ‘n Natter event at Craft Corner last week.

About 40 women from Orange and Bathurst joined locals from Parkes and surrounds to not only natter over a cuppa and cake, but also knit squares for the Wrap with Love project that provide warm wraps to vulnerable people all over the world.

“We donate wraps to overseas charities, but also donate to 12 local charities including to the women’s refuge, nursing homes, oncology department and more,” said Dianne Percy, co-ordinator of Wrap with Love in Orange.

The annual even at Craft Corner, going for more than 14 years, is a great way of bringing people together, but members of the public are knitting at their homes and with friends right through the year for the project.

“One rug is made up of 28 squares, and we have 604 completed so far this year,” said Dianne. All the knitted squares from the Central West go to Orange and since the start of the project a total of 7,000 rugs have been made so far.

Wrap with Love was started in Melbourne in 1992 and donations have been sent to people in more than 75 countries.

Craft Corner members and anyone else keen on knitting are encouraged to drop off their knitted squares at the Craft Corner in Parkes. The squares should be 25cm square, knitted in 8 ply yarn with no. 8 (4mm) needles in garter stitch all plain rows.

If you have any 8 ply yarn lying around at home, feel free to drop that off at the Craft Corner too.

Dianne’s group meets at the Orange City Library every Thursday from 9 to 12 in the morning. She said the group also made beanies for homeless people, twiddle muffs for people with dementia and children with disabilities, outfits for stillborn babies and trauma teddies for hospitals.

By Maggi Barnard

Project Sprouts Visits Royal Far West

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Anne Norton and Sherree Rosser (third and fourth from the left) with Izzy, Grace, and John from Royal Far West on Manly.

After a few visits from Royal Far West (RFW) to Parkes, two Project Sprouts representatives paid a visit to Manly last month.

Project Sprouts Working Party Chairperson Sherree Rosser and Co-ordinator Anne Norton took a trip to Sydney to meet with staff and clinicians who work with Parkes Shire children via telecare in occupational and speech therapies. They also discussed Project Sprouts’ future directions with RFW. Telecare time for five Parkes children was allocated during the visit. “It was a wonderful capacity building and contact creating few days for us both,” Sherree said.

Project Sprouts has been working with RFW since 2020 to offer early intervention screening of three to five years old children through their Healthy Kids Bus Stop.

Established in 1924, Royal Far West has a rich history of innovation, dedication, and determination to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities, connecting them to the care they need but cannot otherwise access because of where they live.

Project Sprouts, a community-led initiative, was launched in October 2020 to develop a referral service linking families and educators to service providers and enabling children to have the best beginning available.

Championship Match

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Peter McPhee bowled brilliantly to record a 25 shot to 15 win on Saturday over Nathan Reynolds to advance to the final of the 2022 Major Singles. Peter bowled the best ends of his stellar career to win in just 24 ends. Nathan held a 4-shot lead after 8 ends, but was only a spectator as Peter went up a gear and never left the jack alone. Peter will be very difficult to beat for this year’s blue ribbon event. He will play either Mick Went or Mick Simpson in the final.

Choir Sings Rotary’s Praises

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Community Choir members were very grateful for the Rotary grant awarded to them last week. At the back (L-R) are Colleen Leonard, Heather Veal, Rex Veal, Sherree Rosser, Meg Purcell and Kerrie Peden, and in front are Cliff and Margaret Cowell.

The Parkes Community Choir was delighted when a group of Parkes Rotarians arrived at its weekly rehearsal with a great gift.

Cliff Cowell presented the choir with a grant of $2,600 that would enable this community activity to remain free for members. Cliff said Rotary offered assistance to the community through the recent severe drought and continue their support currently in strengthening communities through mental health workshops.

“Rotary recognises the importance of the arts in communities and understands that participating in music and the arts plays a significant role in wellbeing,” Cliff said.

Choir committee members Kerrie Peden, Colleen Leonard and Sherree Rosser accepted the cheque on the choir’s behalf and expressed their appreciation for the support. They said Rotary’s financial assistance would enable the choir to continue and to embark on some projects to spread the joy of singing into the Parkes Shire.

Cliff and wife, Margaret, and Rotary members Rex and Heather Veal, Charlie Pecenka and Meg Purcell stayed on and joined in with the singing for the rest of the evening.

Social Bowls

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Cold breezy weather greeted18 brave social bowlers with John Carr, Bob Freeman and Brian Townsend playing John Niddri, Bernie Mitchell and Chris Harrison. Team Harrison defeated Brian’s boys 21 shots to 11.

The second triples game was a bit closer with Gary McPhee’s team defeating Col Mudie’s, 25 shots to 18.

Ray Jones and Marty Tighe won the first pairs game 20 shots to 10 against John Wright and John Corcoran, while Col Hayward and Wally Grant combined beautifully against Ian Simpson and John Ward winning 19 shots to 11.

Parkes High Reunion For ‘70s

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Class photo of Form 4M – 2 in 1973 at Parkes High School.

If you attended Parkes High School between 1970 and 1975, keep the second weekend of October open for a big reunion.

“Our committee has been working hard to organise a reunion for Parkes High School students who started there in 1970 and finished any year up to 1975,” said Paula Harrison.

The reunion will take place from Friday, 7th to Sunday, 9th October, and everyone is invited to come and renew friendships and relive memories.

Snippets…

August 5, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Progress with the installation of outdoor equipment behind Forbes Public School was well on track this week.

Outdoor Gym: Forbes Shire Council is installing new outdoor gym equipment after receiving funding from the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Fund for the Lake Forbes Activation Plan. There will be two stations at Lake Forbes. One behind Forbes Public School and another on the other side of the lake at Lions Park with five pieces of equipment at a station. The installation will take approximately two weeks to complete. The area will be fenced off but will not disrupt walking around the lake.

Faulty Streetlights: You can now report a faulty streetlight and receive updates through Essential Energy’s website. With the new easy-to-use reporting tool, you can help make your streets safer by letting them know when there’s a streetlight that needs to be repaired. Seen a flickering light? Click this link to report it: www.essentialenergy.com.au/outages/streetlight

Nominate A Tradie: Our Tradie of the Month competitions in Forbes and Parkes, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear and Totally Work Wear respectively, continues this month. Readers can nominate a tradie, male or female, to go into the draw and the winner each month will win a prize. Simply drop into Gunn’s Menswear or Totally Work Wear with your nomination, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au or editor@parkesphoenix.com.au.

Digital Seniors Card: Seniors in NSW are continuing to embrace the digital card with more than 100,000 people now taking advantage of the digital Seniors Card. While there would always be a non-digital version, many seniors are taking advantage of the digital option to access discounts and benefits on dining out, entertainment and travel. The Seniors Card has become the largest program of its kind in Australia since it was first introduced in 1992. To learn more visit service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/nsw-seniors-card-program

Mullets for Mental Health: Serious warning! Mullets are set to take over local communities in an 80s influx you won’t be able to resist! The Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health campaign is officially back for 2022 and Aussies are encouraged to start growing those luscious locks for the month of September to raise much needed funds for mental health research. Almost 80% of Australians claimed their mental health had worsened due to the pandemic.

Hephner the Alpaca paid Parkes and Elvis (!) a visit this week as part of a road trip to raise awareness and funds for beyondblue. Hephner also visited The Dish and the library and pre-school in Peak Hill. Hephner has his own facebook page and this is a link for donations to beyondblue. https://beyondblueinmem.raisely.com/chicken.

Maggi Barnard

Ukraine

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