The Parkes Dragon Boat Club (PDBC) won the $1,000 prize for the best float in the popular Elvis Street Parade for the second year in a row. The sponsor of the street parade, CMOC-Northparkes Mines also sponsored the prize money. The cheque was recently handed over to (L-R) David Potts and Bill Thomas of PDBC by Stacey Kelly from North-parkes Mines and Parkes Elvis Festival Director Tiffany Steel. (Photo: Jenny Kingham)
Sue Henry: It is a good idea. I know people in Forbes, and it is also good to know what is happening over there. I no longer buy the paper so it is good to pick up one publication with all the news in it.
Jenny Short: It is a great idea, and good for resource sharing. I worked in Forbes many years ago and it will be good for people from Parkes to go over to events and activities in Forbes and vice versa.
Sue Ridley: I like it, and we are close enough to go over to Forbes if there is something interesting happening, and for Forbes people to come here.
The Kate Kelly exhibition at the Coventry Room at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre will be open to the public from Saturday, 16th July to Saturday, 6th August.
The incredible story of Kate Kelly, sister of Australia’s infamous bushranger, came to life last year when a Forbes author published her debut book.
Rebecca Wilson wrote ‘Kate Kelly, the true story about Ned Kelly’s little sister’ after she made a discovery about Kate. When Kate was a teenager, she had ridden as a decoy and delivered news and supplies to the Kelly gang when they were on the run in north-east Victoria from 1878 to 1880. “I was instantly intrigued, and jumped down the rabbit hole of research, hot on Kate’s heels,” Rebecca told The Guardian newspaper when her book was launched.
Rebecca has also completed a collection of paintings on Kate, and the official opening of her exhibition takes place tonight, 15th July in the Coventry Room at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre at 6:30pm.
Rebecca, who is the first person to uncover the full story of Kate after years of research and investigation, will be hosting the opening of the exhibition.
The exhibition celebrates the retold story of Kate Kelly and her life as sister to infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly.
Manager Cultural, Education & Library Services, Kerryn Jones said: “Kate became quite a celebrity until she vanished. Rebecca uncovers the story of this amazing woman’s life, 14 years of which she lived in Forbes.”
The exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, 16th July to Saturday, 6th August. Tickets for the official opening can be purchased at parkes.nsw.gov.au or via Parkes Shire Council’s Facebook page. Alternatively, you can book your tickets by visiting the Parkes Library & Cultural Centre.
The three Paul Harris Fellowship recipients are Kerrie Peden, Charlie Pecenka and Janice Cassidy recognised for their service to the community.
The Parkes Rotary Club ‘no-Changeover dinner’ held at the Bushman’s Motel on Saturday was a wonderful night of recognition and celebration attended by 70 people.
President Robert Shore introduced a new award and presented Life Membership to three stalwarts of the club: Arthur Byrne, Bill Ward and John Pizarro. The three current Rotarians have each been with the club for over 50 years.
Charlie Pecenka received the Arthur Roeder Shield for service to the Rotary Club, and three Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to members of the community. Kerrie Peden and Janice Cassidy were recognised for their service to the community and to people in need, and Charlie Pecenka was also presented with a Sapphire Pin in recognition of his service in the Parkes community and within the Parkes Rotary Club.
Robert was inducted for a second term as president, and the board members also remained unchanged from last year.
Robert praised the board members for the way they had worked together to create a welcoming and enthusiastic club that everyone was proud to be associated with.
A new member, Michelle Cook, was inducted from the Grenfell Club by District Governor Nominee Rob Uhl.
A fundraising game of heads and tails was played with proceeds (over $300) going to Robert and Judy’s fundraising for ShelterBox. Robert has recently taken on the role of chairman for ShelterBox in the District. Shelterbox is a charity supported by Rotary that provides emergency aid for people who have lost their homes. Robert, and his wife Judy recently spent the night sleeping at Jemalong Weir without power and raised over $2,000. The Parkes Rotary Club also donated a Shelterbox for the Haiti Appeal.
Artist Jimmy Dvate at the mural at the Manildra Flour Mills that he completed using a photo taken by Cathy McPherson from Parkes. Right: Cathy McPherson is an active member of the Parkes Camera Club.
Parkes Camera Club member Cathy McPherson loves taking photos of birds but she never dreamed that her images would end up as giant artworks.
About 18 months ago a friend of Cathy from Manildra, Sue Reynolds, asked her for some wildlife photos of the region. Last week Cathy’s image was turned into an amazing mural on a tank at the Manildra Flour Mills.
If you’ve driven through Manildra over the past week you might have noticed the first mural of Cathy’s king parrot and grass parrot on a tank near the Mandagery Creek Bridge.
Jimmy Dvate, a renowned Australian contemporary artist who specialises in large scale public murals, was commissioned by the Manildra Flour Mills and the first mural he painted was Cathy’s birds. “It looks amazing, I am really thrilled,” said Cathy.
Sue proposed the idea of the murals to the owner of the Flour Mills Dick Honan and he agreed to commission the artist. “I chose Jimmy because his speciality is flora, fauna and wildlife,” said Sue.
Actively painting on the streets of Melbourne since 1997 Jimmy has become synonymous with the graffiti and street art scenes, and his work can now be found all over Australia and the world including Adelaide and Melbourne Zoos, Phillip Island Nature Park, Darwin, Alice Springs, Wollongong and silos at Rochester, Goorambat, Waikerie and Picola.
Sue said another one of Cathy’s photos of a white cockatoo would be part of the second mural that Jimmy is currently working on that also features the historic cement bridge which is going to be replaced.
“I selected images for the designs and submitted a picture board mock up to Jimmy the artist. He refined the pictures and blended them with the background for the final design,” said Sue.
Another two, perhaps three, murals are being planned to be painted around September at the Flour Mills.
Take an adventure down the Lachlan these winter school holidays and discover 20 larger-than-life public art installations hidden among the river gum trees. Plan your selfguided adventure at www.sculpturedownthelachlan.com
Free Flu Shots Extended To 17th July: There is still time to get your free flu shots available to all NSW residents until 17th July. According to Health Minister Brad Hazzard only one in four children aged under five had a flu shot, while the figures are even lower for kids aged five to 15. He urged families to use the school holidays to book in for a free flu shot. The low uptake in the Central West has been of concern to health authorities.
NSW Seniors Festival Grants: Local councils, not-for-profit organisations and community groups can apply for grant funding to host events and activities as part of the 65th annual NSW Seniors Festival. Grants up to $10,000 are available to ensure older people remain active and connected within their communities no matter where they live, the language they speak and irrespective of their abilities. The Seniors Festival will run from 1 to 12 February 2023. Applications for grants are open to 1st August. To apply and for more information about the grants, visit www.nsw.gov.au/seniors-festival
Stop It And Swap It This Plastic Free July: To mark the beginning of Plastic Free July, the NSW Government is partnering with 17 organisations to help communities stop using single-use plastic. NSW EPA and the Great Plastic Rescue will support businesses with excess lightweight single-use plastic bags by offering a service for collection and reprocessing of that stock. OzGreen and Green Music Australia will work with music festivals and food vendors to introduce more sustainable ways of doing business, and education campaigns will be launched through Girl Guides and Men’s Sheds across the state. From 1 June, lightweight single-use plastic bags were banned in NSW. From November, the NSW Government is banning additional single-use items, including plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds, expanded polystyrene food ware and cups, and rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads. Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60% of all litter in NSW. The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years. For more information about the NSW plastics ban, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban For ideas on how to stop it and swap it this Plastic Free July, visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/environment-heritage/plastics-action-plan/stop-it-swap-it
The Parkes/Forbes Salvos Stores are looking for donations
of blankets. With the continued cold weather, customers
and community members are really struggling.
Drop your donation at the Family Stores or call 6851 1992
to arrange a pick-up.
The change of ownership of White’s Electrical from March Ralph (left) to Ken Van Dyke (right) last week was a historic moment with the original owner Bill White in attendance to give the transfer of ownership his seal of approval. (Photo: Les Finn)
In its 55 years operating as a business White’s Electrical changed ownership for a third time last week.
Bill and Isabelle White started WJ White Electrics in 1967 when they moved to Parkes from Nyngan. On 1st December 2003 Marc and Deeon Ralph took over when Bill and Isabelle retired, and last week Ken van Dyke became the third owner.
Ken, who also owns Parkes Electrical, will be keeping the name as he feels it is a well-known and respected business name in the community. Marc decided to sell the business when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s as “I wanted to enjoy some quality of life,” he said.
Looking back over the 18.5 years at White’s Electrical he said his fondest memories were of the 20 apprentices that the business trained during that time. “We were like a training centre and gave a lot of young people a good start in life.” He said a total of 53 employees worked at the business during his time there.
Five staff members will be transferring to the new owner including Anna Isbester who has been with the business for 18 years. “She would be a great help to the new owner,” said Marc.
Another long serving employee Bev Finn has taken to opportunity to retire with the departure of Marc and Deeon.
The staff going forward at White’s Electrical in Parkes under new owner Ken Van Dyke. Five staff members remained and will be joined by staff from Parkes Electrical. (Photo: Les Finn)
Chloe Pryor and Harmony Pout enjoyed doing some shopping in Forbes this week.
Carol Monahan, Maureen Wilson and Janette Lockwood met up in Forbes this week.
THUMBS UP
To Parkes Paragon Cafe – top food, top place!
THUMBS UP
To the nurses Georgia and Sue at Parkes Hospital for the care and comfort they gave to my little boy and I. Also, a shout out to Herbie and Ashley from Forbes Ambulance for taking us to Orange. You all made such a stressful time seem easy and under control. I can’t thank you enough!
THUMBS UP
To the Vandenberg Hotel on their extensive renovations, we can’t wait to see the finished product.
Barbara Goodger: I would happily choose retirement.
Val Maunder: I would love to be one of the travel guides from the tv show.
Lyn Elliot: I always wanted to be a nurse, so that’s what I chose to do.