Maggi Barnard

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

FOX AND HUTCHO BEST OF THE WORST

February 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Golf Club members are used to playing fourball bestball events, but last Saturday they contested a worstball.
As part of the BWR Summer competition, 65 starters did their utmost to minimise the pain they inflicted on their side. In a bestball, the best of a pair’s score counts for the team, while in worstball, the second player was forced to battle for points as the score counted.

Mick Horan and Richard Hutchison combined the best to take out the event with 31 points. Horan also claimed the individual stableford with 40 points, while Hutchison finished with 39. The win saw Horan climb up the summer
competition rankings to equal sixth with two rounds remaining.

Michael Lynch and Rob Hey are equal leaders on 28 points.

By Denis Howard

Australia Day Sports Awards Winners

February 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Sportsperson of the Year: Talesha Quinn (rugby league). Talesha represented Australia at the Women’s World Cup.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Ryan Dunford (cricket, athletics and hockey). Member of the PSSA winning hockey
team, captain for Western Region and played for NSW. Represented Western in athletics and went to State. Member
of school cricket side western region winners. Named Western Region’s player at the State carnival. Parkes Public
School sports person of the year.

Sporting Team of the Year: Parkes Public School Boys Hockey Team. The team finished first in the state primary
school knock out competition with over 90 teams participating.

Senior Sportsperson or Team: Troy Dickson (water skiing). He broke records in New Zealand’s Bridge to Bridge, and
is currently the world record holder for that distance. Placed second in the Australian National Championships with a broken foot; third in the Australian National Championships; first in the ACT/NSW Country Masters speed ramp;
third at the Catalina Classic Long Beach California 3rd Skier Masters, and is the NSW State Champion in the Masters
Marathon division.

Coach, Trainer or Manager of the Year: Glen Johnstone. Some of his achievements include coach of Parkes
O35 Women’s Hockey Masters Team – Division 1 Half State Champions; Assistant Coach Hockey NSW Centre of
Development program; Recently gained Level 2 National Coaching Accreditation

Referee, Umpire or Official of the Year: Carlton Magill. Carlton officiated locally, in Premier League and at State
and National level for school sports and at the national schools championships in South Australia.

Long Service and Dedication in Sport: Greg Duffy (OAM). In recognition of Greg’s more than 30 years on the
Parkes Sports Council and his contribution to cricket.

Administrator of the Year: Derick Hoe (Rugby League). Group X1 president; Western Rams and NSW Country Selector

Ron Harrison Sports Bursary: Maddison Spence (cricket)

What’s On @ The Library?

February 1, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

MR CHICKEN RETURNS TO PARKES LIBRARY
Leigh Hobbs: Characters from the Drawing Board – 5 February to 2 March
An exhibition of works created by legendary Australian author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs will be on exhibit at Parkes Library during February. Leigh Hobbs: Characters from the Drawing Board takes a close look at some of Leigh’s characters, in particular, Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken. The exhibit shares information about Leigh, his art and the development of his characters.

STORYTIME
Stories, music, craft on Wednesdays from 10.30 – 11.30am.
Help your child to develop and explore early literacy skills in a creative, fun environment. For children 3-5 years and parents/carers (younger children welcome).

RHYME TIME
Read, Talk, Sing, Rhyme on Thursdays 10.30 – 11.15am. Spend special time with your child reading, rhyming, singing and dancing together. For children 0-3 years and parents/ carers (older children welcome).

LITTLE BANG DISCOVERY CLUB
An introduction to science for little people from 13 February to 6 March, 10.30 – 11.30am
This fantastic four-week STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) program will develop ideas and skills that inspire further scientific exploration, discovery and learning. Each child and their parent/carer work together on hands-on activities, question and answer time. A Discovery Box and book is loaned to each child for the duration
of the sessions. Engage with your child in the learning process whilst having loads of fun. Only eight places available for children and their parent/carer per session and attendance is required for all four sessions. Bookings required in person before the first session starts.

Mayoral Notes…

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Residents are encouraged to join the Australia Day celebrations across the shire. I am delighted to welcome Australian art educator and exhibition curator, Ann Snell as the Parkes Shire Australia Day Ambassador. The day is an opportunity to recognise the tremendous achievements and contributions of eminent members of our community
– congratulations to the nominated residents.

Residents and visitors are also invited to join the celebrations when the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) comes to Parkes on Monday, 29th January. The Relay will start at 4.30pm at Memorial Hill, making its way through the CBD, to finish at the Parkes Aquatic Centre with community celebrations from 5:30pm. Parkes Aquatic Centre will host a family friendly pool party, with free entry from 4pm until 7pm, outdoor games, and entertainment.

Council will revitalise the entrance to the Parkes Cemetery, after an arborist’s report determined that the existing 11 eucalyptus trees lining the main entrance avenue are in decline following a severe storm in 2016. Council will remove the old trees and replace with a smaller deciduous species, rehabilitate the site, install irrigation, construct kerb and guttering along the internal road, as well as a new footpath. The full report is available for download via Council’s website.

I encourage residents to have their say.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM, Mayor of Parkes Shire

Come Cheer For Our Local Heroes

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Six weeks of school holidays will end on runner’s high on Monday afternoon when the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) arrives in Parkes on Day 35 of its 100-day journey around Australia leading up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

On Monday, 29th January the baton will leave West Wyalong, travel to Forbes and then onto Parkes for one of only eight overnight stops in NSW. In Parkes 19 selected batonbearers will carry the baton around the CBD with the relay starting at 4.30pm at Memorial Hill. Olympian athlete Scott Westcott will start the relay and run down Memorial Hill to meet Rebeckah Auld at the bottom in Bushman Street. She will carry on and turn right into Albert Street and hand over to Amanda Draper. Amanda will turn left into Victoria Street where Barry Garment will be waiting on her.

Barry will turn right into High Street to meet up with Peter Bristol. Peter will carry the baton down High Street to Helen Magill waiting near the corner of Wentworth Street. Helen will carry the baton into Bushman Hill Reserve to Nicayden Greenwood. He will run back to Wentworth Street where his grandfather Michael Greenwood will be waiting on him. Michael will turn left into Currajong Street and meet Barbara Weaver about 300m further down the road. Barbara will stay in Currajong until she gets to Maureen Massey. Maureen will turn right into Victoria street and take the baton to Richard Rice at the roundabout in Clarinda Street. Richard will go down Clarinda to meet Frances Dixon near the second roundabout, and she will carry on to hand over to Cato Rutherford in Clarinda Street.

Staying in Clarinda Street, Cato will hand over to Lauren Neilsen, and Lauren will meet up with Timothy Keith in Clarinda Street near Cooke Park. Tim will turn right into Short Street and hand the baton over to his brother, Parkes Mayor Ken Keith. The Mayor will turn right into Welcome Street and meet up with Danielle Hoskins. Danielle will go left into Cecile Street to get to Victoria Simpson.

Victoria will complete the second last leg of the relay by turning right into Bogan Street where Darrin Gibson will be waiting to take the baton on its final leg down Dalton Street and into the Parkes Aquatic Centre at 5:28pm.

Residents are encouraged to cheer on the local legends at several good vantage points along the route. The Parkes Community Celebration will start at the pool at 5:30pm with a family friendly pool party, free entry from 4pm until 7pm, outdoor games, and entertainment.

The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4th April. See a detailed map of the route at https://www.gc2018.com/qbr#gc2018-qbr-parentmap

Back To School – Road Safety

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

With the new school year starting for thousands of students next week the Parkes Shire Council is reminding drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools. The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said road crashes accounted for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.

“Children are vulnerable road users, and drivers need to pay extra attention and be patient with schools reopening.” “It is important that drivers slow down to 40km/h in school zones so they are in a better position to react to the unpredictable behaviour of children as well as the busy traffic environment.”

Melanie reminds drivers that when the orange (wig wag) lights on the back of a bus are flashing, you must slow down to 40km/h, as students are either getting on or off the school bus. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit around all schools in NSW between 8 – 9.30am and 2.30 – 4pm on school days.
Other points to remember:
• Always make sure your children wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint.
• Always drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.
• Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out.
• Never call your children across the road to you.
• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walking.
• Children up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.
• Children up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

Nominees For 2018 Australia Day Awards

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

The nominees for the 2018 Parkes Shire Australia Day Awards have been named ahead of the community celebrations tomorrow. The annual awards celebrate and acknowledge community, sporting and cultural contributions at a local level. Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said: “Each year we have the opportunity
to publically recognise the tremendous achievements and contributions of eminent members of our community.”

“These people are what make the Parkes Shire a wonderful place to live, work and visit.” Each nominee will be presented with a certificate with the recipient of each category awarded the honour by our 2018 Australia Day Ambassador. The nominees are:

PARKES
• Citizen of the Year: Barry Read, David Brock, Laurie Ashcroft, Roseanne Jones, Warwick Tom, Leanne Mathews
• Young Citizen of the Year: Gracey Denham Jones, Brenton Hawken, Yasmin Potts, Maddison Spence
• Community Event of the Year: Peak Hill Early Literacy, Paint Parkes Read, Rotary Fun Run, Rotary Peace Park Dedication, Parkes Open Houses, Show ‘n’ Shine Charity Day
• Marie Bashir Academic Award: Janie Green
• Cultural Award – Adult: Carmen Sharah, Scott “Sauce” Towney
• Cultural Award – Student: Gordon Richter, Gracey Denham Jones
• Cultural Award – Group: Parkes Action Club, St Elmo Shearing Shed Art Show – “Ducks on the Pond”, Sean James Cassidy, Scott “Sauce” Towney, Scott Turnbull – Sculpture in the Rotary Arboretum, Parkes Antique Motor Club, Ub Ubbo Exchange

PEAK HILL: Dean Colmer, James Jelbart, John van der Reyden, Bill Sanders, Peak Hill Golf Club, Chloe Gould, Brad Hart, Tom Symons, Ellie Parker, James Robinson

TRUNDLE: Les Whiley, Stella Farmer, Peter Kelly, Trundle Day Care – Sue Morrison, Julie Jones, Karen Quade and Suellen Taylor

TULLAMORE: Kevin Boneham, Troy Carey, Marie Darcy, Robert Mortimer, Sherryn Perks, Leanne Porter, Tallis Stevenson, Emma Williams.

Our Bloke – Mark Olson

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Mark Olson

How long have you lived in Parkes?
30 years

Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work?
Matthews Williams Solicitors. I enjoy helping people and solving their problems.

What do you do in your spare time after work and over weekends?
Gardening (if it is not too hot) and eating good food, particularly big breakfast on a Saturday morning!

What are you really good at?
Having a snooze at lunch time before going back to work.

If you could have a super power what would it be?
Create a genie who would grant three wishes every day.

What is your pet hate?
Making beds.

Tell us about your best holiday ever?
Visiting our son in England last year. Driving a steam train on the Isle of Wight, travelling around Europe (particularly visiting Sweden), and enjoying wonderful food and drink (especially good Scotch whisky) whilst looking at great sites.

Question of the Week?

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

What does it mean to you to be a baton bearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay?

Rebeckah Auld: It is a great privilege and honour to do this for my local community. I was nominated by my sister and together we raise about $6,000 per year for CanTeen by hosting tea parties. I will be carrying the baton for my mum who has cancer and for CanTeen, who is supporting me through all of this.

Michael Greenwood (with grandson Riley Winter): Is it nice to be representing Parkes to showcase what a wonderfully resilient community we are. I am proud to be doing it with my grandson Micayden Greenwood – we might be the only grandfather-grandson pair in the whole relay.

Frances Dixon: It is a great honour as I am a Royalist. My family nominated me and they could not have chosen a prouder Parkesite as I will be doing it for my family and my community. It is my dad’s birthday on the day of the relay, and two days later my brother’s we lost. I am very excited about it.

Snippets…

January 24, 2018 By Maggi Barnard

Mr Chicken Returns: An exhibition of works created by legendary Australian author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs will be on exhibit at Parkes Library from 5th February to 2nd March. Leigh Hobbs: Characters from the Drawing Board takes a close look at some of Leigh’s characters, in particular, Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken. Manager Cultural, Education & Library Services, Shellie Buckle said: “It is very exciting to follow up Leigh Hobbs’ visit last year with an exhibit of his works, including illustrations of his famous book characters and original sketches and sketch books.”

Visit By Veterans Pensions Officer: An officer from the Veterans Outreach Program will be visiting Parkes on Monday, 5th and Tuesday, 6th February to offer a free service to any veteran, service or exservice personnel seeking assistance with service pension, disability pension, war widow and/or an MCRS claim from any confrontation. All appointments will be for one hour at the Parkes Services & Citizens Club. Contact the Parkes Sub Branch Secretary Paul Thomas on 0427 624 683 to make an appointment. Paul stressed that the Outreach Program is not only for ex-Vietnam personnel. The co-ordinator Dennis Hanmer OAM said: “We are here to help, assist and represent former as well as current members of the defence forces in their battles with Veterans Affairs (DVA).” Dennis will also be available to assist widows and families of departed comrades and members irrespective of whether they are members or not of the local Sub Branch. People from surrounding towns can also make appointments.

Double Demerits: A reminder that double demerit points will be in force for four days over the long weekend from today to Sunday for all speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences. “Please drive safely and take extra care on the roads this long weekend,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor. Lachlan Highway Patrol Sergeant Dearne Jeffree is encouraging all road users to pay attention to road conditions and allow plenty of travel time. “Drivers should be warned that they are at greatest risk of losing their licence during this four-day period. There will be more Police on the roads and therefore more chance of getting caught,” said Dearne.

Maggi Barnard

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