Maggi Barnard

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

Question of the Week?

November 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

What did you learn from your experience as a Green Army participant?

Seb Berry: I learned a lot about the environment and how to protect it. I hope the experience will be of benefit in my future working life.
Jackson Sense: I learned about spraying weeds, planting trees and all about different trees. I’ve gained much more appreciation for nature.

Thomas Davis: It was a new experience, I earned a bit of money and learned how to plant trees properly.
Myles Scibberas: I now have a lot of general knowledge about plants and nature.

Billie Jones: I will miss the Green Army so much. I learned to appreciate plants and different species in nature. Working with the team was really good too.
Bradley Dunn: I enjoyed working as a team, and hope to benefit from the experience and the certificate we have earned after three months.

Snippets…

November 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Congratulations: To Sharon Woods! She is the winner of our very popular Spring Photo Competition with this image. Sharon has won a family photography session including 20 high resolution images with Chemical Creations Photography! Well done Sharon, and thank you to everyone who entered.

More Winners: The three lucky winners of Woolworths gift vouchers in the Close the Loop competition are: 1st prize Alarna Zammit – $100; 2nd prize Nicole Tolhurst – $70 and 3rd prize Lisa Johnston – $30. Congratulations and thank you for entering!

NSW Tourism Conference: Parkes Shire Council has been selected to co-host the 2018 Local Government NSW’s Tourism Conference in March next year. The annual conference gives councillors and council staff the opportunity to meet, listen to experts and peers, and find out how other councils engage and manage their tourism industry.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming tourism professionals from across the State to Parkes,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith. Tourism is a key economic driver for Parkes Shire with an estimated value of $58 million per annum. Approximately 200 delegates are expected to attend the three day conference at Parkes Leagues Club.

Christmas Parade: The parade is on again this year and with only five weeks to Friday, 1st December, now is the time to start planning your float and to get your entry in. Businesses, clubs, schools and community groups are all welcome to enter. Entry forms available at the library or email parkesactionclub@gmail.com. Call 0448 166 016 for more information.

Who can remember?: The Thornford Woman’s Institute (TWI) from Dorset in the UK is looking for more information on a link they had with the Parkes Country Women’s Association during the early 1950’s. According to their minute books the TWI founder and president, Baroness von der Heyde “formed a link with the Country Women’s Association in Parkes” that continued until at least 1954. Food parcels were received from Parkes which contained mincemeat, dripping, lemon cheese, beefsteak, marmalade and condensed milk – all items very much valued in times of serious food shortages and rationing in the UK. “Sadly there is little record of what your association may have received in exchange, except for books, Christmas cards etc,” said Joy Coffin of the TWI.
In preparation for their 70th birthday celebrations in February next year, the TWI would love to get more details on this link. If there is a reader who has a story to share, please contact Amelia Stephens, publicity officer of the CWA in Parkes.

Kim Takes Club Minor Singles Title

November 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

In the final of the Club Minor Singles played this week, Kim Evans defeated Lorraine Baker 25 -14 in a very evenly played game. In other games played, Marja Iffland, Hilda McPherson and Liz Byrne defeated Di Howell, Frances Charlton and Rhona Went.

Merilyn Rodgers and Flo Riseborough defeated Chris Curteis and Minnie Riordan, while Jean Kennedy and Joan Simpson won the game against Isabel Svendsen and Betsy Johnstone.

Next week is Melbourne Cup day with Mufti clothes to be worn. The Club will be having Melbourne Cup lunch at $20 per head. Bookings by 3rd November please. The Christmas Trading Table will be 14th November with Pick-A-Box prizes. Wear Christmas shirts and bling. Bring a friend to play bowls.

To play social bowls please ring table selectors Kim Evans and Rosemary Mitchell on 6862 1446 between 8.30am and 9am. Social roster is Robyn Morgan.

By Rosemary Mitchell

Coobang Members Fire On All Cylinders

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Almost half of the Coobang Rural Fire Brigade members received long service medals at a ceremony held on the farm Trelawney outside Parkes last week. The 29 long service medals represented a combined total of 954 years of service at one of the oldest and most active rural brigades of the Mid Lachlan Valley Team.

The longest serving member with 64 years is Alan Somers. He joined the brigade in 1953 and became captain in 1960, and president from 1967 to 1997. Assistant Commissioner Jason Heffernan commended Alan on his achievement saying he had joined an elite band of people.

It was a special day for the Somers family, as Alan’s son Gary received his long service medal for 39 years. Gary became president in 1998 and still holds the position. Two other members who received medals for over 50 years of service were Neil Unger with 54 and Leon Laidley with 55 years.

The Deputy Commissioner said the rural fire brigades played a vital role. “If we don’t get out and do it, no one else will.” He warned of the season ahead saying it was going to be a hot and dry summer posing a real challenge to get on top of the situation. Parkes Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton thanked all the members for their bravery and dedication.

By Maggi Barnard

Sparkle and Honours At The Henrys

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

McPhersons Parts & Services received the top honour at the first sell out business awards event in years at the Parkes Services Club last Friday. More than 200 people looked their best at The Henrys with David Thompson and his team from McPhersons not only winning Business of the Year, but also Excellence in Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Industrial and Trade and Business Leader.

“I am very proud of my staff for their support and assistance, and the farming community,” said a beaming David.
Another two businesses appeared on stage twice with K&H Geotechnical Services taking out the Excellence in Professional Services and Excellence in Business awards, while La Bella Medispa won Excellence in Personal & Lifestyle Services and Excellence in Small Business. Other winners were: Start Up Superstar – Elk Films; Excellence in Social Enterprise – Meals on Wheels Parkes; Excellence in Hospitality – The Railway Hotel Parkes; Excellence in Retail – Parkes Pharmacy; Young Entrepreneur – Steph Hughes from Hughes & Co Lawyers & Conveyancing; and the Ken Birch Memorial Trophy – Ian & Judy Chambers (accepted by Dave and Tracey Chambers).

Before handing over the Business of the Year award, Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack congratulated the Parkes Chamber of Commerce on a fantastic event and said: “Research has shown that if you are a member of a chamber your business will do better as you get all the right information and have networking opportunities.”

By Maggi Barnard

Snippets…

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

New Grants Officer: Parkes Shire Council has welcomed Kimberley Harris to the Grants Officer/Funding Projects role, supported by Northparkes Mine. Kimberley, who is from Perth, will be joining Sally Chapman in the grants team from Monday to Thursday. Kimberley has a background in marketing, fundraising/sponsorship and communications, with extensive experience working with not-for-profit and community organisations in Perth. Based at Parkes Shire Library, the new-look grants team will continue to offer assistance to all groups to identify funding opportunities and provide assistance with compiling submissions.

Community Open Day: The official opening of the new Water and Sewage Treatment Plants originally planned for November, has been postponed until early next year to accommodate ministerial availability and to get the sites looking their best. Parkes Shire Council’s Director of Infrastructure, Andrew Francis said: “These are really impressive projects, and we want these state-of-the-art facilities to look their best when we present them to the community.” With a combined budget of more than $100 million, the Integrated Water Infrastructure Renewal projects represent the largest capital works that Parkes Shire Council has ever undertaken. The Community Open Day will allow residents to visit the sites with guided tours, activities and giveaways.

Aussie Backyard Bird Count: You still have time until Sunday to take part in this year’s BirdLife Australia count. All you need is 20 minutes, the Aussie Bird Count app or the website aussiebirdcount.org.au. Join one of Australia’s largest citizen science projects at aussiebirdcount.org.au or join the conversation with #AussieBirdCount

Marriage Survey: There is not much time left to have your say in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey as it closes at 6pm on 7th November. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is urging eligible Australians who haven’t yet had their say to join the 11.9 million who have already taken part. An estimated 74.5% of survey forms have been returned. The results will be published on 15th November. More information at www.marriagesurvey.abs.gov.au

How To Get Rid Of The Junk In Your Trunk

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

We accumulate possessions and items over time regardless of their level of importance or actual significance. This innate desire to keep these possessions causes clutter. If we get rid of possessions and objects we can make our homes instantly bigger. So what is clutter?
There are two main types:
1. Day to day clutter is items that we may use regularly but don’t necessarily have a place, so they tend to lay around on surfaces creating a mess.
2. Long-term clutter include items like outgrown or unworn clothing, obsolete papers, broken or old toys and disliked, but well-meaning gifts that take up valuable storage space like filling up a garage leaving no space for the family car.
If you accept that you have too many objects, follow these guidelines to live clutterfree:
• Don’t be overwhelmed by the clutter. Take a big breath, relax and deal with it room by room.
• Focus on one key area until that is done. The end result will trigger the feel good endorphins to keep you going.
• Be strong and divide your clutter into three groups:
a) Items to be thrown out. If you haven’t used it recently chances are you won’t need it in the future either, so it needs to go.
b) Items that can be given to charity or hold a garage sale to make some money out of your unwanted possessions.
c) Items to be returned into a freshly cleaned and organised area.
• Do you have enough shelving or space to keep your possessions neat and tidy? If not, you might need to buy extra shelving to make sure all your hard work is not for nothing.
• Give yourself adequate time to make sure you can finish them over a day or a weekend.

Once you get started you will be so proud of your achievements and how you can live within your new clutter-free home that all the effort that you have put in will be worth it.

By Karen Creith

Question of the Week?

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Are there any more kids activities you would like to see in Parkes?

John Simpson: There are a lot of activities and opportunities, especially sports for kids. I cannot think of anything else and the benefit is that people are less concerned here when kids go out, because we are a country town.

Melissa and Vicki: There are not much we haven’t got on offer here in terms of sports, music and dance. There is only so much to go around in a town of our size, but there could be more family fun activities like the movies. Our town is probably too small for something like Flip Out.

Lee-Anne Glastonbury: We have pretty good facilities, but if I have to find fault the top of my list would be a movie cinema. Overall there is enough here to keep the kids busy with.

Millions Flow To Make Parkes The Rail Freight Capital

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes is going to be the rail freight capital of Australia with plans to build the biggest freight terminal in the country at a cost of $35 million. CEO of Australia’s largest rail freight operator, Pacific National Dean Dalla Valle was in Parkes on Tuesday to unveil the site at the Parkes Logistics Hub with Mayor Ken Keith. “This project will turn our dream of the Parkes Logistics Hub into reality,” the Mayor said.

“It is wonderful to be here at the site,” said Dean. “Located at the intersection of the main western railway line running from Sydney to Perth, the future Inland Rail corridor from Melbourne to Brisbane, and the Newell Highway, Parkes is the perfect place to establish a major intermodal freight terminal,” Dean said.

Once fully operational, the terminal will have the capacity to process up to 500,000 cargo containers each year, including the ability to haul double-stacked containers from Parkes to Perth.

Construction of Parkes Logistics Terminal will generate 50 full time jobs and opportunities for local construction work, while the future terminal will provide up to 20 new skilled jobs including train drivers and terminal crew.

The double lane terminal will be 1.8km long, making it the biggest in the country with Perth’s 1.2km terminal the second longest.

Mayoral Notes…

October 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Council is delighted to have received a second prestigious accolade for the Water and Sewage Treatment renewal projects, presented with the Sustainable Systems Award at the Blue Star Awards conference in Maitland on Saturday.

This week we joined representatives from Pacific National as they announced an initial $35 million to commence development of the company’s Parkes Logistics Terminal within the Parkes Logistic Hub. Pacific National’s investment has been triggered by the first stage of construction of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project between Parkes and Narromine valued at $300 million, part of the Australian Government’s $8.4 billion commitment. The terminal will generate 50 full time jobs, and provide up to 20 new skilled jobs in the future, including train drivers and terminal workers.

Council has identified the first round of projects to be submitted under the Stronger Country Communities Fund. Those projects include upgraded seating at The Little Theatre, more shared pathways to link recreational precincts and the upgrade of the Community Hall at the old hospital site. Parkes Aquatic Centre has launched new Aqua Aerobics classes for all ages and abilities.

The pool will run two 45-minute sessions on Tuesdays at 7.15am and 7.15pm, for $10 a class. This initiative aims to encourage members of our community to live active, healthy lifestyles.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Maggi Barnard

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