What do you like about playing video games and what do you learn from it? (Asked at Gaming Hour at the PCYC.)
Haidin Hodge (8): It is fun and it is what cool kids do! I like Minecraft because I can build stuff.
Asher Gould (6): I like Minecraft because you can make TNT explode! I learn how to create things playing this game.
Casey Kelly (6): I learn to concentrate playing these games and how things work. I also like playing racing games where you can go really fast.
Convention With A View: VIEW Clubs of Australia had its convention in Tamworth recently with 550 members from all over the country meeting over three days. The Parkes delegation got into the Bollywood swing of things by ordering matching outfits made in India for the themed evening. They came to the October meeting all dressed up and got to tell all their tales of the convention. VIEW Club committee elections will take place on 14th November, and the Christmas Party is on 5th December.
Trundle’s Got Talent: On 4th November, Trundle will host its inaugural talent contest to raise funds for the Trundle Memorial Hall. The Hall is maintained by volunteers determined to ensure the continuation of this outstanding building for the benefit of the community. Entries are welcome from singers, jugglers, actors, yarn-spinners, magicians, dancers, comedians, musicians – if you have a talent, no matter how obscure, this is your opportunity to showcase it. Tickets are $75 per adult, $50 of which will go towards the hall’s insurance. Free entry for children under 18. Tickets on sale from the Trundle Newsagency and Byrnes Clothing in Parkes. Entry forms available on the Trundle‘s Got Talent Facebook page and from Trundle Newsagency. Email trundlesgt@gmail.com for more information.
New Members Welcome: The Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) welcomes school students and community members, old hands or those new to music. Dust off your instrument or hire one of ours and come and play at The Elvis Parade, Anzac March, Abba Festival, Australia Day, musicals, church fetes, ceremonial occasions, Christmas Carols and concerts for the community. Rehearsals are on Tuesday nights during school term from 7 to 9pm at
the PSCB music room above the pool complex in Dalton Street. Contact PSCB President Rhonda Redenbach on 6862 2944 or 0459 373 624 or the musical director Duncan Clement on 0405 035 164.
Amitie Grooves: Local vocal trio, Amitie recently recorded their second CD and will be ready for release at the Parkes Elvis Festival. Other great news is that Christa, Christie and Shev are extremely proud to have been invited for the third year in a row to be part of the entertainment line-up for the eight-night Cruise ‘n Groove. They will sail from Sydney on 23rd October on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Of The Seas performing to 2,500 odd passengers.
Twinkle Toes Dance Studio will present Cinderella – A Night to Remember at the Parkes Leagues Club on Sunday, 10th December at 1 pm. The one show only will showcase the students and their achievements in 2017.
The production is based around the rags to riches tale of Cinderella: from the industrious mice and bluebirds, the evil step mother and her two ridiculous daughters to the handsome prince, the beautiful fairies and the fabulous circus performers at the ball.
Come and share this wonderful story, and enjoy the achievements of the students. Tickets will be available at Parkes
Leagues Club or online from Monday, 13th November.
The Parkes Shire community is once again lending a helping hand to Timor Leste with donations packed in shipping containers last week. Parkes Shire Council donated over 200 hours of in-kind labour towards the Timor Leste shipment project as part of the Parkes-Weberek Village Friendship Agreement.
Council staff assisted members of Para Marcia, a not-for-profit charity, to pack donated furniture, fittings and building materials from the relocated Southern Cross Care unit into three shipping containers.
The containers are set to be delivered later this year to nine different destinations across Timor Leste, including Weberek Village. Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith said: “The Friendship Agreement continues to transform the lives of many East Timorese people.
“With the help of a number of wonderful individuals and local business operators, we have been able to deliver vital services and improved socio-economic outcomes to these communities.”
Two thirds of the equipment and materials will be delivered to 19 different health clinics in remote parts of Timor, with the remainder donated to orphanages, women’s refuges and schools. Parkes Shire Council signed the friendship
agreement with the village of Weberek in 2010.
In addition to donating goods and services, a delegation of community members travelled to Timor Leste to assist in the delivery of much needed projects each year.
NDIS At Your Fingertips: WesterNDIS has launched recently, bringing together the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) expertise of four trusted local notfor- profit businesses to support people across western NSW to get the most out of the NDIS. The WesterNDIS portal is a collaboration between Birrang Enterprise Development Company, Currajong Disability Services, Marathon Health and The Westhaven Association. It will connect people with a disability, their carers and support people to a range of NDIS services across Western NSW. People with a disability, their carers or support workers can visit www.westerndis.com.au to register, email ask@westerndis.com.au for more information or go to Facebook.
Ranger safety and animal welfare: Parkes Shire Council has invested in a new system for safely capturing, transporting and holding impounded animals. A K-9 Kube has been fitted onto the back of Council’s two ranger utility vehicles and has a hydraulic lift to allow dogs to be load-ed at ground level and moved up onto the tray of the vehicle without being lifted by the ranger. The K-9 Kube was developed to solve the work, health and safety issues associated with handling animals, including problems of dog bites, scratching, and lifting injuries. Previously rangers had to manually load animals into a standard transporter cage on the back of their vehicles, which proved difficult when dealing with larger or uncooperative dogs. The K-9 Kube has ventilated cages with sight windows so the
condition of an impounded animal can be closely monitored and it won’t suffer from heat exhaustion or lack of air.
Registrations For Free Cuppa 2018: Local businesses are invited to register for phase eight of the Free Cuppa for the Driver scheme. The driver fatigue awareness campaign will run from 1st March to 31st May next year. Drivers are encouraged to stop at participating businesses for a free cup of tea or coffee to take a break from driving. Participating businesses have reported an almost 30% increase in sales. With almost three quarters of vehicles containing two or more passengers, other purchases are evident above the driver’s free cuppa. The scheme will operate in at least 24 local government areas in western and south western NSW stretching from the Victorian border to the Queensland border.” The closing date for registrations is Friday, 6th October. Contact Melanie Suitor on 6861 2364 or Melanie.Suitor@parkes.nsw.gov.au
The Parkes Antique Motor Club (PAMC) and Central West Car Club (CWCC) have combined forces for the second year for a fantastic extravaganza with a record number of entries.
The public and car enthusiasts can delight in a display of classic, vintage and veteran motoring history cars, and get the opportunity to view and purchase from both novice and professional traders from far and wide.
The CWCC annual Show and Shine’s 13th year has grown rapidly to include the Sundowners Club, Club Commodore,
Monaro Owners Club, Monaro Local Club and Orana Elite Ford Club, as well as other clubs from far and wide with a record 191 vehicles, plus motor cycles and vintage machinery that was also on display last year.
There will be different entry gates for the Show and Shine (gold coin donation) and the Parkes Swap Meet ($5 entry) celebrating its 24th year. Entrance to the venue at Pioneer Oval will be from the eastern end of Victoria Street.
All proceeds from the car show will go to CanAssist. The Swap Meet attracts professional traders from all eastern
Australian states who usually set up stalls on Friday for an early 6am start on Saturday. All proceeds are administered by PAMC, a not-for-profit organisation, to resource the Parkes Motor Museum, which has a wonderful display of quality vintage and veteran vehicles.
The Parkes Motor Museum moved from its original 1972 location in an old disused service station on the corner of Dalton and Bogan Streets to the Henry Parkes Centre at the northern end of the Newell Highway. The centre incorporates the Parkes Visitor Information Centre, the King’s Castle Elvis Exhibition and Motor Museum, and Henry Parkes Museum and Antique Machinery Collection.
After a four-year hiatus, the popular GP Cup will make a return to Parkes on Saturday, 28th October. Teams of 10 will compete in soccer, netball, touch football and a mystery event over the course of the action-packed day at McGlynn Park.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning team, as well as the best dressed team.
Team nominations are now open, with proceeds from the $1,000 team entry fee donated towards the GP Working Group. Download a nomination pack via Council’s website.
Traditionally, the event raised funds to address the district shortage of general practitioners. Parkes has been fortunate with an increasing number of GPs relocating to the region with a current workforce of 21 doctors. This year the GP Cup will address the growing need for GP proceduralists in the community. Parkes Shire Council’s Director Planning and Environment, Steve Campbell said:
“Parkes, like many other rural communities across Australia, is in a position where the GP proceduralist workforce is ageing.” GP proceduralists provide a unique service delivering procedural services in hospitals usually in obstetrics, surgery and anaesthetics, in addition to providing general practice services.
The GP Cup is proudly presented by the Parkes GP Working Group and supported by CMOC Northparkes Mines and Parkes Shire Council.
The final of the Club Championship Fours were played this week and was won by Elaine Miller, Brenda Davies, Rhona Went and Liz Byrne. They defeated Marja Iffland, Valmai Westcott, Gwenda Carty and Cherie Frame 27-24 in a great game.
In triples games played Di Howell, Jean Kennedy and Maureen Miller defeated Di Greenhalgh and Merilyn Rodgers. Lorraine Baker, Margaret Hawken and Kim Evans defeated Kate Keogh, Frances Charlton and Rosemary Mitchell.
The minor singles will commence on 10th October with the draw as follows:
Lorraine Baker v Eileen Bradley; Chris Curteis v Frances Charlton; Kate Keogh v Marja Iffland; Kim Evans v Maureen Miller.
The draw for the minor pairs:
Isabell Svendsen, Eileen Bradley v Lorraine Baker, Kim Evans; Marja Iffland, Maureen Miller v Frances Charlton, Chris Curteis.
Melbourne Cup day will be mufti dress, fun attire to be worn.
As daylight saving has commenced please ring table selectors Gwenda Carty and Di Greenhalgh between 8:30am and 9am, for play at 9:30am. Social roster is Laurie Keane.
By Rosemary Mitchell
The Craft Corner in Parkes is leading the way in the revival of the tea cosy! Last Friday more than 50 people attended
the grand opening of the Cosies at the Corner exhibition and competition with no less than 74 entries from as far as Coffs Harbour, Sydney and Condobolin.
“We are overjoyed with the results,” said organising committee member Alison Evans. “The community has really come together in entering and sponsoring prizes.” A Parkes family showed the way with Sharyn Preisig crowned the champion for her entry into the Floral Splendour category, while her daughter Eleanor won the People’s Choice award with her cactus garden creation.
Sharon also won the Festival category with her Elvis tea cosy, while Yvonne Smith from Toormina won the Weird and Wacky and Treasured Memories categories. President of the Craft Corner Rosemary Mitchell thanked Pat Hurley for judging the competition, and Cathy Littlewood from Wholesome Blend for providing a selection of teas to enjoy with scones from Mary McIntyre.
Rose Jones of the Parkes Historical Society organised a display of tea cosies from the past including a beautiful 90-year-old celluloid doll dressed in a Madam Weigel tea cosy pattern.
If you have not seen this impressive and very creative exhibition, it will still be on for another week or two. If you fall in love with one, you can buy it too.
By Maggi Barnard
Gary Somers
How long have you lived in Parkes and why do you like living here? I was born in Parkes. I have lived here ever since, except for six years at boarding school, one part year working in Sydney and three years of tertiary study at what is now Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga. Parkes is just a great place to live!
Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work? Our family farm “Trelawney” is just 12km from Parkes in the Coobang Valley. I am fourth generation to work on this farm and feel a deep love and attachment to the property! I see myself as a temporary custodian of this land and feel a responsibility to leave it in better condition for future generations. I have always enjoyed the challenges and rewards that go with farming and grazing livestock!
What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends? I enjoy reading, taking our dogs for walks, good food, good coffee and the occasional glass of wine. I love to host family and friends here at “Trelawney”. I also enjoy playing bridge at Parkes Bridge Club and am a keen rugby union supporter (the Boars, Waratahs and Wallabies).
What are you really good at? I think I am more a ‘Jack of some trades and master of none’!
If you could have a super power what would it be? I am sceptic about ‘super powers’ but if I could conjure up a decent fall of rain that would be great!
What is your pet hate? Littering our environment with rubbish! Intolerance and prejudice towards our fellow humans!
Tell us about your best holiday ever? Five weeks visiting my wife Christine’s relatives north of Venice in Italy and visiting friends of my paternal grandfather (JR Somers) and the original Somers farm “Cranmore West” near Bath in Somerset, England.