The new office bearers of the Parkes Painting Group are (L-R) Helen Huntly (publicity), Di Hutchins (treasurer), Kim Chambers (president) and Annette Witherow (secretary).

If you’ve never picked up a paint brush it does not mean you cannot join the Parkes Painting Group.

After three months of lockdown, the group has been back at Northparkes Oval on Wednesdays from 10am for a day of painting and sharing.

“We are a happy, friendly group doing our own thing, but enjoying the company of others when painting,” said re-elected president, Kim Chambers.

Annette Witherow said the best part of being a member was learning from other painters and their experiences as they all used different mediums.

At its recent inaugural annual general meeting as a newly established incorporated club, all the outgoing office bearers were re-elected with the secretary position going to Annette Whitherow, treasurer to Di Hutchins and publicity to Helen Huntly.

The group became incorporated in order to be able to apply for grants, and they have already been successful with their first application from the Northparkes Community Investment Program.

“We will use the grant as prize money for an Elvis Art Exhibition in combination with the Parkes Camera Club annual exhibition at the festival,” said Kim.

The group had to cancel their annual exhibition because of COVID-19, and are hopeful the Elvis exhibition would be able to go ahead.

The Parkes Painting Group also organise workshops with well-known artists from out of town for members, but has not been able to this year so far. They are just happy to be able to be back as a group.

Parkes Shire Council received $2.2 million for the East Street project that includes a new bridge and culvert structure.

The condition of East Street where it crosses the railway line and creek has deteriorated vastly over recent years, but not for much longer. The Parkes Shire received a cash injection of over $3.5 million for the rehabilitation of East Street and to upgrade and seal Cookamidgera Road.

The scope of the East Street project of $2.2 million includes a new bridge and culvert structure, replacing failing units, formalising a drainage channel to improve flow conditions, kerbs and gutters to improve drainage, widening of the narrow pavement and rehabilitation, and relocation of four water mains and sewer main.

The Cookamidgera Road project, totalling $1.3 million involves the sealing of 1.3km of an existing unsealed road, improving safety on substandard bends and crest reconstruction. The project also includes a concrete causeway reconstruction through high volume waterway mitigating the damage caused by flooding.

“I know regional and rural residents rely on roads much more than our city counterparts, which is why I took our fight to the Cabinet table to deliver for residents in the Parkes Shire,” said Riverina MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.

“Parkes Council submitted a shortlist of projects which they deemed as shovel ready and from there I have worked tirelessly in my role as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development along with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole to ensure our regional roads receive the funding they deserve.”

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway said: “We’re turbocharging this funding to ensure we create jobs and create better journeys on the roads that really matter to local communities, in what has been a difficult period for all.”

Consider volunteering for Share The Dignity this August in Parkes.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has proved to us all how important kindness is, here is an opportunity to show some compassion for others.

Share the Dignity works to make a real difference in the lives of women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or doing it tough, through distributing sanitary items. A call has been made for the Parkes community to help out.

Share the Dignity is looking for more volunteers to help collect, count and distribute sanitary products to local charities to help combat period poverty with the upcoming August Dignity Drive.

Rochelle Courtney, Share the Dignity’s Founder says that with the increase in period poverty the charity needs help on the ground to bring the Dignity Drive to life.

“At Share the Dignity, our volunteers are called ‘Sheroes’ and ‘Heroes’; they are the heart and soul of our organisation. We simply couldn’t do it without them. They volunteer their time to help women and girls dealing with period poverty in their local communities, delivering the products such as pads, tampons and menstrual cups to local charities. Every woman in Australia deserves to be able to manage their period with dignity.”

For more information on how to become a volunteer, visit their website at www.sharethedignity.com.au