What do you do to minimise waste at home?
Bruce Prior: By using the pre-existing bins I’ve got. I use the green bin a lot.
Jill Crisp: Recycling by using Council bins. We re-use plastic bags. We make our own juices and drinks so we don’t have to buy them.
Ken McGrath: We recycle heaps. Having the green bins is unbelievable. The Return and Earn collection scheme will be good too, the kids will get into it.
Trundle will be the epicentre of Australian Paragliding over the next five days with Australia’s first ever ground tow competition. A total of 35 pilots, including members of the Australian team, will take part in the Wings Out West ground tow paragliding competition at a tow paddock 6km west of Trundle. Pilots will be towed to around 800 metres above ground where they will release from tow and fly a challenging air navigation course using GPS technology.
The towing technology has been developed by a Dubbo local, Phillip Mansell of Fly Dubbo, and is used at most flight training facilities around Australia. During the five-day competition starting today, each day’s task could take the pilots anywhere within a 100km radius of Trundle depending on weather conditions. The central west is a popular location for cross country flying with the flatlands around Trundle offering some interesting challenges.
The navigation tasks take them to designated GPS turn points and will require the pilots to generally fly for three to fourhours covering 50 to 100km. Pilots score points for being the fastest to the designated GPS goal mark. The pilot with the most points over five days will be crowned the 2018 champion.
Paragliding is a growing adventure sport around the world. At the recent World Championships, the Australian team came 5th, well above their ranking of 14th.
To fly a paraglider, pilots are required to be licensed, receive specialist training and to maintain their rating each year. Paraglider pilots stay aloft by riding rising currents of air. Pilots need to be able to identify the location of the rising currents (thermals) by looking for clues on the ground and in the air.
For more information contact the organiser, John Brassil on 0419 285 802.
After play in Forbes last Sunday the Division 3 side of the Parkes Golf Club were the only team guaranteed a spot in this weekend’s semi-finals of the CWDGA Pennants. Parkes secured three semi-final berths from four divisions with Divisions 2 and 4 both earning the wins they needed to gain a spot in the finals.
“Outperforming many of the bigger clubs such as Duntryleague, Mudgee and Bathurst is very pleasing for us,” said Parkes Golf Club captain, Peter Dixon. In a very tightly contested competition, Parkes topped Pool B in Division 2 after a 5-0 victory over Cowra. Brendan Chambers claimed a comprehensive 4 and 3 victory, and Phil Barnard secured a 2 and 1 victory.
Joe van Opynen continued his unbeaten run to win 2 and 1, and Tim Burke scored a 3 and 1 victory. John Green won his match 4 and 2, and Division 3 topped their pool with a 3-2 win against Bathurst.
With the help of an eagle three on the 15th hole, Todd Jayet remained undefeated with a big 5 and 4 win. Peter Bristol (3 and 2) and Jake Hodge (19th) gained the two wins to claim the tie for Parkes.
In Division 4 Terry Walsh secured one of the biggest wins seen in the CWDGA competition winning nine of the 11 holes he played. Dr Dave Harwood claimed a comprehensive 6 and 5 victory, while captain Jarrod Kemp claimed the vital win 1 up to secure the tie.
Division 1 played their final match of the year against a strong Bathurst team, going down by a narrow 3-2 margin.
Lachlan Buesnell (2 and 1) earned his second victory, Rob Hey (2 and 1) claimed his match, while Denis Howard (3 and 2), Peter Dixon (3 and 2) and Aaron Wilkie (2 and 1) were beaten.
Divisions 2, 3 and 4 will play their semifinals in Dubbo this Sunday. Division 2 will play Mudgee, Division 3 play Wentworth and Division 4 play Wellington.
By Denis Howard
Keith Turk
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like most about living here? I’ve been in Parkes since May 2012. We moved from Newcastle to be closer to family and a brand new granddaughter. I love the friendliness and the slow pace of the town, and the fact that there are NO traffic lights. People are courteous and patient, they don’t cut you off for a park, they open doors for you and they always have time for a quick chat. Nobody ever seems to be in a hurry.
Where do you work or what do you do currently and what do you enjoy about it? Some people call me a street-walker… actually I go around to all homes and farms reading electric power meters. I enjoy getting the exercise and the friendly folk I meet (and the bribes they come up with to try to get me to change the reading… wish I
could!)
What do you do in your spare time and on weekends? I’m involved with Parkes Camera Club, been interested in photography for years. Love my TV shows and working on my PC which is interfaced with my Amateur Radio setup. Talking and sending/receiving photos to friends around the world via shortwave.
What are you really good at? Working with computers and photography – getting there.
If you could have a superpower what would it be? Time travel.
What is your pet hate? People leaving rubbish in the streets.
Tell us about your best holiday. My partner and I went to Cairns in Far North Queensland for five weeks. We are due for another great holiday.
Nowhere in the world is there a Catholic School system similar to Australia’s with over 20% of all children in the nation attending Catholic Schools. There are over 1,700 Catholic Schools across Australia offering holistic education based on the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Red Bend Catholic College Forbes
Red Bend Catholic College is a co-educational day and boarding school in Forbes. Red Bend has a proud heritage. Prior to 1977, the Catholic education of students in this region was provided by three secondary schools: Our Lady of Mercy College, Forbes; Our Lady of Mercy High School, Parkes; and Marist Brothers’ College, Forbes.
In February 1977, the three schools combined to form one co-educational high school, called Red Bend Catholic College, at the site of the former Marist Brothers’ College on the banks of the Lachlan River. This merger, as symbolised on the College crest, brought together the great teaching traditions of the Mercy Sisters and the Marist Brothers.
Since that time, the College has expanded in numbers, in teaching areas, and in facilities. The boarding residences, the swimming pool, the multi-purpose hall and performing arts centre, and the design and technology centre have complemented the strong characteristic features of the main College building.
These days the College educates 740 students and offers 150 boarding places. Red Bend Catholic College will hold their annual Open Day on Sunday, 11th March from 11am to 2pm. Guided tours will be running on the day and prospective families will have the chance to meet the principal and staff. For more information call the College on 6852 2000.
Holy Family Primary School Parkes
Holy Family is one of five primary schools in Parkes and has a student population of 303, and a teaching staff of 20 with 11 support staff.
During Catholic Schools Week the school will run a book fair from Wednesday, 7th March to Friday, 9th March. On Friday, 9th March the week is concluded with several activities including a whole school mass at 9:45am, shared recess with family and friends from 11 to 11:30am, open classrooms from 11:30am to 12:30pm and assembly at 2:45pm. For more information call the school on 6862 1610.
They say a small gesture can go a long way and that’s exactly what happened at a recent Currajong Carers Support Group (CCSG) meeting.
The Currajong Sewing Group and CCSG donated a hand-made quilt to the Cedar Cafe at Greenparkes Garden Centre for their continued support and generosity. Cedar Cafe has kindly hosted CCSG meetings for a while and it is a partnership that has stood the test of time. “Cedar Cafe has been an incredible supporter of CCSG,” said Deitre Jackson.
“It is these types of valuable community contributions and outstanding efforts that allow organisations like the CCSG to thrive,” said Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator Dane Millerd. “Cedar Cafe has long been a part of the Currajong family and we are extremely grateful for all they do.”
“From everyone at CDS and CCSG and the Currajong Sewing Group – thank you!” said Dane.
The annual Tullamore Irish Music Festival over Easter celebrates all things Irish, namely the Irish, the near-Irish, the stereotypically Irish and the not-really Irish.
Tullamore residents were not content to see their community lose members, services and to a certain extent, heart. They decided that by working together to produce a festival, would not only give them focus but would attract people to their town.
This year’s festival celebrates the best of two cultures. John Williamson will be flying the Australian flag on Saturday afternoon, the Barley Shakes and Blackwater Irish Band will add some Irish flavour. Maria Forde, who has the voice of an angel, will do a show in the Tullamore Catholic Church on Good Friday.
Apart from great music, the festival also offers Irish Food, Irish dancing, and a shearing demonstration. The main day is Saturday, 31st March with constant entertainment from 10am to 8pm starting with a street parade. Other activities include an art exhibition, farm tours, the Good Friday concert, self-guided car tours, an ecumenical service and a Hooley on Easter Sunday.
Tickets are $60 for the entire weekend; free for kids under 18 for a weekend of family fun with a big dose of Irish.
The Return and Earn: reverse vending machine, situated at the Woolworths carpark, is now fully operational in
Parkes. More than 15,000 containers have already been collected in Parkes. You can join the Clean Up Australia Day effort on Sunday and pick up drink containers to earn some extra money with!
Sunday Is Clean Up Australia Day: Parkes Shire residents are invited to join the nation-wide effort to help conserve the environment on Sunday, 4th March. Registration will take place at Lions Park in Parkes from 8am where participants will be given a clean-up kit and allocated a site. Participants in Peak Hill can register from 7.30am at the Commercial Gardens. After the clean-up, there will be a sausage sizzle in Lions Park. Remember to slip, slop, slap, wear sturdy shoes and bring some gloves. To register online, visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/?BBQ+Area+Lions+Park.
PopUp Op Shop With A Purpose: Go and shop at the Parkes Christian School hall tomorrow (Saturday) from 3 to 5.30pm to help women in developing countries through Compassion Australia. Get your friends, daughters, grans and aunts together for a fun afternoon of shopping of pre-loved fashion, and learn about Compassion Australia and how they assist mums and babies in the developing world. There will be a short information session about Compassion at 3.30pm, plus a parade and auction of some donated items. Contact Katrina Harris on 0408 601 774
or k.harris@parkescs.nsw.edu.au or visit https://www.compassion.com.au
2018 Churchill Fellowship: This prestigious award offers Australian citizens the opportunity to travel overseas to investigate a topic or an issue they are passionate about. It is for anyone who would like to see what other countries are doing in a similar field to inspire new ideas and innovation. No prescribed qualifications are required to apply and the subject of the proposed project is limitless provided a benefit to Australia is evident and a willingness to share the knowledge gained is demonstrated. Register to attend a session to gain helpful advice on how to apply and discuss your project ideas at www.churchilltrust.com.au/events. Find out more by visiting www.churchillfellowships.com.au Applications close Friday, 27th April.
Tourism Directory: Parkes will join forces with other Central NSW tourism stakeholders over the next six months to develop a regional tourism directory. The directory will bundle tourism products together, like Food and Wine, Adventure Tourism, or Culture and Heritage. Visitors will be able to search the information hub for key experiences in their chosen destination and neighbouring destinations thanks to an inbuilt geospatial feature. Local operators are encouraged to get involved in the development of the directory by listing their business with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW).
Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless visited the Parkes Shire this week to officially open the second stage of upgrades to Middle Trundle Road, one of our region’s key transport routes. Thank you to the NSW Government for its significant contribution towards the upgrades, which are set to deliver improved accessibility,
productivity and local linkages throughout the region.
Parkes Shire residents are invited to join the nation-wide effort to help conserve the environment as part of this year’s Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, 4th March. Registrations will take place at Lions Park in Parkes from 8am where they will be given a clean-up kit and allocated a site. Participants in Peak Hill can register from 7.30am at the Commercial Gardens.
Last year 6,215 ute loads of rubbish were removed by 266,831 Clean Up Australia Day volunteers from 2,822 sites across NSW, including Parkes and Peak Hill. This year, the Parkes Shire has the opportunity to help set some new records.
This week Council has teamed up with the Roads and Maritime Services to promote Road Rules Awareness Week, giving local motorists an opportunity to refresh their knowledge of the law. Running from Monday this week to Sunday, 4th March, locals are encouraged to check out the NSW Road Safety Facebook page to view animations of the top 10 misunderstood road rules, some of which include manoeuvring roundabouts, merging traffic and conducting U-turns.
The Free Cuppa for the Driver campaign kicked off this week and Council is delighted to be a partner in the incentive program, which aims to combat driver fatigue. Drivers are encouraged to stop for a Free Cuppa until 31st May when they’ve driven over 100km from their home address. Find participating businesses via the new website, www.freecuppa.com.au.
Enjoy the weekend.
Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire
If you missed out on the drama and action last year, don’t despair. The second annual Steve Magill Earthmoving Parkes Rodeo Stampede at the Parkes Showground tomorrow, promises to be even better.
Last year the crowd witnessed with shock and horror one of the greatest wrecks in international rodeo. Clown and veteran bullfighter Matt Darmody was flung in the air by one of the meanest bulls on the rodeo circuit. Darmody staggered to his feet and walked out of the arena after being knocked out cold.
The committee has worked tirelessly to improve on last year’s event addressing more food, better seating, extra entertainment and parking.
As the last rodeo in the Southern Zone before the finals, this event is set to be a huge draw card for the top cowboys and cowgirls chasing championship points. The program includes saddle bronc riding, the original rodeo event; bareback bronc riding, the suicide event of rodeo; bull riding, the only event a cowboy can earn over one million dollars a year; and motor bike barrel racing where top riders from the motor cross circuit will battle it out against the ladies of the professional barrel racing.
The gates open at 4pm on Saturday, 3rd March and the rodeo starts at 6pm. The rodeo is presented by McPhersons Parts and Services, Signs You See, Langlands Hanlon, Uni Fence, Derrick Hoe Excavations, D’Aquinos, The Cambridge Hotel, See Solar Smart Lighting, Magills Concrete Pumping and Parkes Diagnostic Imaging.