Maggi Barnard

The annual free child restraint check day is next Thursday, 28th June from 10am to 2pm at Lions Park.

Checks will be conducted by RMS authorised child restraint fitters.

Parkes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said it was important to have the checks done to ensure the safe travel of young children. “Research shows that two out of three child restraints are not used properly and this puts children at risk in the event of a crash.

“Most of the restraints checked last year had minor problems, such as tightening straps, checking clips and replacing loose bolts,” said Melanie.

Bookings are essential, phone 6861 2364. There will also be a free bbq and a colouring- in competition with a $50 prize.

Wet weather did not stop the social highlight of the year with about 2,000 people from all over the Central West attending the Parkes Picnic Races on Saturday. In the afternoon the weather cleared and the ever popular Fashions on the Field were hotly contested with a large number of entries for each category. The winners were Elegant Lady – Karlie de Kaste (Geurie), Contemporary – Aimee Hay (Tathra), Millinery – Melissa West (Forbes) and Stylish Man – Ben Terry (Parkes). The Coradgery Cup was won by Naoko ridden by Ken Dunbar and trained by Connie Grieg from Dubbo.

Fourteen learning institutions received a valuable package from the Galari-Lachlan Reconciliation Group last week.
“As part of our desire to share culture and knowledge with the community, we put together a Wiradjuri Cultural Exchange package with a grant we received from CMOC NorthParkes mines,” said David Acheson, co-chair of the group.

The package includes material for the teaching of Wiradjuri and includes a Wiradjuri to English Dictionary, a DVD titled “Yindyamarra Yambuwan”, which is a 15-minute film in Wiradjuri language, a book containing a transcript of the film, an animated DVD with children’s songs in Wiradjuri language and a DVD of common phrases in Wiradjuri.

At the presentation event with representatives of the institutions, the DVD “Yindyamarra Yambuwan” was shown with introductions from Dr Uncle Stan Grant and his  sister Aunty Flo Grant. They talk about the importance of respect in the Wiradjuri culture.

The project was initiated with a donation by the Sisters of Mercy who funded the donation of dictionaries to schools. Sister Florence Kinsela of the Parkes Sisters of Mercy was present at the occasion. The packages were handed over to Nurture  One Children’s Centre, Parkes High School, Parkes Public School, Parkes East Public School, Holy Family Primary School, Middleton Public School, Parkes Early Childhood Centre, AECG, Parkes Christian School, Bluebird Early Education Centre, Central West Daycare, Parkes Shire Library, TAFE Western Library Parkes, Forbes Wiradjuri Language Group and Bedgerabong Public School.

Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs can be lovely pets, but there are a few things you should know before making the big commitment.
1. Guinea pigs are hardy. When cared for and fed properly, guinea pigs are generally very healthy.
2. Guinea pigs are easy to care for. They require hay, fresh water, fresh vegetables and some pelleted food for guinea
pigs that includes a vitamin C supplement. They need a fairly large cage that needs to be cleaned regularly.
3. Guinea pigs are great pets for children. Not as fragile as rabbits and generally less skittish than smaller rodents.
4. Guinea pigs live long lives. Most guinea pigs live five to seven years. This is important to consider if you are thinking of adopting a guinea pig.
5. Guinea pigs are unique. They have a lot of personality. Some are shy; others are bold and dominant.
6. Guinea pigs purr! Just like cats, guinea pigs make a quiet yet audible vibrating sound often when they are petted gently.
7. Guinea pigs like to pop. “Popcorning” is commonly seen in young guinea pigs when they are happy or excited: They jump up straight into the air over and over.
8. Guinea pigs are colorful. Short-haired, long-haired, even hairless – there are 13 breeds and 10 basic colors of guinea pigs.
9. Guinea pigs like people. Many squeal with delight when they see their owners or try to climb up the sides of their cage to greet them. They are as interactive and friendly as dogs and cats.

The Parkes Pet Barn has guinea pigs, including long-haired ones, and all the necessary accessories and food to keep your new pet well cared for.

Five sporting clubs received new defibrillators and free training from the Parkes Shire Council as part of the NSW Office of Sport Local Sports Defibrillator Grant Program. The program, co-funded by NSW Government and Council, aims to assist sporting clubs across NSW in the purchase and maintenance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

An AED is a life saving device which delivers a controlled shock to an individual experiencing cardiac arrest, increasing their chances of survival. Parkes Sports Council representative, Councillor Louise O’Leary said: “Council is 100% behind having these life-saving units within out sporting facilities.”

“As a health worker, I know how important first-response CPR is in instances of cardiac arrest.” “We know that these machines save lives, so it’s fantastic that they will now be easily accessible throughout our community.”

The equipment and free training delivered by the Red Cross were given to the Parkes Railway Bowling Club, Peak Hill Golf Club, Parkes Rugby League Club, Parkes Cricket Association and the Parkes Rugby Union Club. Parkes Rugby Union Vice President Ben Ryan said: “It’s so important to have defibrillators accessible at any venue where
there will be large groups of people.”

“It’s taking care of not just players but spectators and support staff and anyone else using the venue.” “This program and the assistance from Council demonstrates that they really care about the local community and keeping people safe. We hope we’ll never need it but it’s so important to have on hand just in case.”

Round 2 of the program will open in the coming months, and local sporting groups interested in getting an AED machine for their club are encouraged to contact Parkes Shire Grants Officer on 6861 2398, to find out how to apply.

Neighbourly Objections

Most local councils have a policy of notifying neighbours of any proposed development to an adjacent property. All councils are required to have the proposed developer affix a notice at the street frontage of the property notifying the public of the proposed development.

Such developments can range from demolition and new construction to the building of a pool or a garden sunroom. It’s quite frequently a difficult time for neighbours. You may think that you get on very well with your neighbours in chatting over the fence or having a cup of tea or a beer every now and then. But wave a development notice
in the wind and things can change dramatically.

If you are thinking of a major renovation or extension, which will require council approval (and even redecoration that most of us do at some stage), have a chat with your neighbours. Listen to their concerns about any impact on their property. The great probability is, if their concerns are well-founded, that minor concessions by you will resolve the issue. Most problems are loss of view, overshadowing, or loss of privacy.

Land is an expensive commodity. Houses are the same. People are justified in protecting what they have earned. You don’t want hostile neighbours. Stick to council guidelines and recommendations. It usually leads to a development approval. If we at Matthews Williams can assist you on this or any other legal matter, feel free to phone me or one of our solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

By Mark Olson