Maggi Barnard

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

OUR Bloke -Bill Thomas

August 9, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I partly completed my apprenticeship in Parkes in the mid-Sixties and came back here to live 28 years ago. Parkes ticks a lot of boxes for me. A friendly, go ahead town with a very cooperative and proactive Council and it is where I met my soul mate.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I no longer work but I get a lot of satisfaction tutoring kids in maths and English. I also enjoy setting up the necessary equipment for our new Parkes Dragon Boat Club to get us on the water.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? Recently I have proudly helped to establish the Parkes Dragon Boat Club. It goes without saying that on weekends I will be out on a waterway (mostly the beautiful Lake Endeavour), either steering or paddling a dragon boat.

What are you really good at? My wife thinks I am good at everything, probably because I built her a castle in our back yard. I guess for my age I must be ok at dragon boating as I made the Western NSW team for the nationals this year.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I were blessed with a superpower it would be to heal all chronic pain sufferers and house all homeless people.

What is your pet hate? I have no time for litterbugs or smokers who toss their bumpers on the ground or in the gutter.

Stop Type 2 Diabetes Before It’s Too Late!

August 9, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Stop your blood sugar from becoming type 2 diabetes before it is too late!

Did you know diabetes:

• Is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults.

• Is the leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis.

• Increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times.

• Is a major cause of limb amputations.

• Affects mental health as well as physical health.

• Depression, anxiety and distress occur in more than 30% of all people with diabetes.

This is where your friendly staff at Parkes Pharmacy can help. They are available at any time to discuss Type 2 diabetes prevention and management.

There are no early symptoms of high blood sugar. Many Australians have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and don’t realise this is damaging their bodies. What’s more, 60% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented! The good news is, our pharmacists can conduct a simple check for you to learn your risk and help prevent type 2 diabetes before it’s too late.

One of the best ways to prevent diabetes is to cut back on your sugar intake. For the average person, you should limit your intake to six teaspoons a day. Sugar can be hidden in so-called ‘healthy food’, so learn how to read food labels – every 4g of sugar is equivalent to one teaspoon.

Diabetes Australia estimates that 2 million Australians are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and another 500,000 have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Undiagnosed (and poorly controlled) diabetes can lead to the health complications listed above, so it’s extremely important to get yourself assessed. Come and see us today!

Bowls Triples Champs

August 9, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

It was a tight game to the last few ends in the final of the Club Championship Triples played this week. The winners were Gwenda Carty, Cherie Frame and Rhona Went after defeating Betsy Johnstone, Brenda Davies and Liz Byrne.

More Support For Farmers From Government And Community

August 9, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Central West farming families will get help following an announcement on Sunday by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.

They announced additional drought support measures of $190 million including additional support for mental health services and community organisations.

Michael said immediate additional financial support was available to those who need it most. Also announced were further significant changes to the existing Farm Household Allowance scheme which will provide two lump sum supplementary payments worth up to $12,000 for eligible households. The Government is also changing the assets test to allow thousands more farmers to access support.

“I strongly urge farmers to seek help, to not self-assess, to make sure they find out what assistance they can be eligible for,” Michael said.

Big W in Parkes has joined up with Rural Aid by making up hampers for farming families. Rural Aid supplied a list of specific items available at Big W. The items are flagged in the shop with the Rural Aid sign and customers can choose to buy individual items or a whole hamper for a total of $165.75. The aim is to make up 100 hampers over the next 50 days, which will be distributed by the Country Women’s Association.

QUESTION of the week -Why do you like skipping?

August 9, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Isabella Barnden (Year 1): I like it because it makes me fit. It is my favourite activity to do during break time at school, especially long rope skipping.

Jonathan Wilkinson (Year 1): I like skipping because when I make a mistake and I can just try again, and it makes me fit and healthy. I enjoy playing tag too, but skipping is the best.

Emma Hando (Year 2): I like skipping because you can do cool tricks. My favourite is the pretzel where you have to put your arm under your leg. The other tricks I enjoy are criss cross and the double under.

It’s A Wrap For A Warmer Winter

August 2, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

The Craft Corner was wrapped in love last Thursday when more than 40 women participated in the annual Knit and Natter event. A group of 15 women from Orange joined in for the second year, and Brooke Daniels from ABC Radio was invited as special guest for the morning. Women from Parkes and Peak Hill helped to knit and crochet a few thousand squares to create rugs. According to President of the Craft Corner, Rosemary Mitchell they have been taking part in the annual Wrap with Love initiative for 15 years.

Wrap with Love, a registered charity, reach more than 30,000 people each year in Australia and around the world. “It is very exciting to watch television and see people with colourful rugs wrapped around them and knowing it might have been made by one of us,” said Rosemary. She said Wrap with Love works closely with the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation in Ethiopia in Africa.

One rug is made up of 28 squares measuring 25cm X 25cm. Rosemary expected the Craft Corner to contribute about 50 rugs to this year’s drive. The rugs will go to Sydney from where it will be distributed around Australia and the world.

Parkes And Forbes Students Unite Against Domestic Violence

August 2, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

The White Ribbon Cup came to Parkes this year after the inaugural event in Forbes last year with a crowd of about 2,500 packing the Pioneer Oval on Monday. The annual footy event between Parkes and Forbes High Schools aims to raise awareness of domestic violence.

“Our youth are standing up and saying loud and clear: ‘It needs to stop!’” said White Ribbon Ambassador and Forbes
High School Aboriginal Educational Officer (AEO), Barry Merrit. The staggering statistics of domestic violence speaks for itself.

On average, one woman a week is murdered in Australia in a domestic violence incident and one in four children has witnessed domestic violence in their lifetime. “It was an amazing day for our students,” said Peta Moran of Parkes High School.

She said the idea of spreading the message through sport was definitely making an impact judging by the huge crowd on the day. “It does not stop with the game. We will invite the Forbes team over for a barbeque, and on White Ribbon Day in November we plan more activities at the school.”

Although Forbes High School took home the cup for the second time with a 42-10 victory, the day was not about winning the game but about students coming together and raising awareness.

The Oliver Carlisle Memorial Medal for the best sportsman from Parkes was awarded to Harrison McGregor, while
Charlie Staines from Forbes High School received the Jess Cole Memorial Medal.

By Maggi Barnard

Our Gal – Rosemary Mitchell

August 2, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Rosemary Mitchell

How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here?
I have lived in Parkes for 62 years. I love the size of Parkes, it is not too small and not too big, easy to get around in a short time.

Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? I do volunteer work spending several days a week at Parkes Craft Corner and one day at Anglicare Op Shop, Georgies Boutique. I play bowls at Parkes Sporting and Bowling Club on Tuesdays. I do Meals on Wheels twice a month. I enjoy meeting people and interacting with other volunteers.

What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? On weekends I like to relax and knit items for Craft Corner.

What are you really good at? I am really good at knitting beanies.

If you could have a superpower what would it be? If I had a superpower I would build houses and units for homeless, vulnerable people, especially older women on very limited incomes.

What is your pet hate? My pet hate is people who litter. Take your rubbish home, please do not drop it in the street.

Tell us about your best holiday. My best holiday was travelling by bus through Tasmania with my husband.

Planting For Posterity

August 2, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

A new record was set at the National Tree Day event in Parkes on Sunday when nearly 70 people turned up to plant trees. “We were thrilled with nearly 70 people in attendance at Akuna Road. Our largest number yet for a National Tree Day event. Well done Parkes!” said Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) Co-ordinator, Marg Applebee.

Volunteers helped to plant, stake, water and mulch an area adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant. This area closely links with plantings from the National Tree Day planting event three years ago and extends the wildlife corridor from existing bushland in the area. “The existing plantings have grown extremely well, with excellent planting conditions making a significant impact on survival,” said Marg.

“Whether volunteers could donate one or two hours to the project, it has all made a fantastic contribution to the area. Our previous National Tree Day plantings are progressing well and we hope to see the same success at the Akuna Road site in the years ahead.”

CWLL partnered with Parkes Shire Council on the day. Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental Officer, Michael Chambers prepared the site to get it ready for planting, and Toyota provided shirts and gloves for the volunteers. After all the hard work, volunteers enjoyed a sausage sandwich.

Parkes residents joined over 300,000 people who took part in National Tree Day all over Australia each year.

Emergency Funding A Lifeline For NSW Farmers

August 2, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced an additional $500 million in emergency funding to help drought-affected farmers on Monday. The announcement came after the government has been criticised, including at last week’s NSW Farmers Annual Conference in Sydney, for not doing enough.

With 99% of the state now in drought, the new support measures respond to the compounding effects of drought and their impact on people, business and communities, and builds on the existing NSW Government Drought Strategy, taking the overall drought response to $1.1 billion.

The Emergency Relief Package includes $190 million for the introduction of transport subsidies of up to $20,000 to help cover the cost of transporting fodder and water. Transport subsidies will be back-dated for expenses incurred since January.

The NSW Government has waived Local Land Services rates, fixed water charges and class-one agricultural vehicle registration costs.

NSW’s Farm Innovation Fund — which helps farmers improve their infrastructure to better deal with weather fluctuations — has also been boosted by $150 million as part of the package. The Premier said the additional funding
would help farmers who had faced an “unforgivably dry winter”.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the package would assist farmers who had been forced to source fodder from interstate as local supplies diminished during a drier than expected winter. The NSW Farmers’ Association welcomed the “generous” package but stressed the importance of it being easily accessible.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Orange, Philip Donato MP responded to the announcement saying:

“Well, it’s about bloody time. I have been calling on this National Liberal Government all year to introduce freight subsidies for our struggling farmers who are enduring the worst drought this century. “It’s better late than never. Thank goodness they are offering up to $20,000 in 50% freight subsidies for each eligible farming business for transport of fodder, water and stock.

As part of the emergency funding, farmers will also be eligible for waivers on Local Land Services annual rates, fixed charges on water licences, registration costs for class-one agricultural vehicles, and interest on existing Farm Innovation Fund loans.

The package also includes funding for counselling and mental health services, drought-related road upgrades and animal welfare and stock disposal. The NSW Rural Assistance Authority will begin processing applications from Monday.

Below average rainfall since April 2017 has been exacerbated by warm, dry weather, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. September 2017 was the driest September on record. The three-month outlook to October does not look much better for farmers, with more warm and dry conditions predicted. Parts of NSW already experience less than one per cent soil moisture content. (Sources: ABC Rural, News.com.au and own reporting)

Maggi Barnard

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