Maggi Barnard

Benjamin Franklin might have said: “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy,” but for the owners of Twisted River Wines outside Parkes a very special trophy for their Shiraz has put them in high spirits.

“When we bought the vineyard in 2007, I had a vision of us picking grapes to the sound of Vivaldi. It is in fact very hard work,” said Michelle Davies, who handles sales and marketing. She and Helen Armstrong, the vigneron, not only have day time jobs, but do everything by hand, including pruning and picking, on their 14 acre property
about 40km outside Parkes. That was why winning the trophy for the best Shiraz at the 2017 Australian New Zealand Boutique Wine Show with their 2016 Shiraz Viognier was a very big deal for them.

“We are really excited as there were 196 entries. It is so good to see our hard work come to fruition,” said Michelle. She was also relieved winning the prestigious prize, as the same wine won the trophy for the best red blend at the recent Cowra Wine Show. “This shows consistency, and that our win was not a flash in the pan.” According to Michelle the main motivation for them to enter wine shows are to get feedback on their wines, and to know they are on the right track. She said credit was also due to their winemakers, Chris Derrez and Lucy Maddox from Orange, who have been with them since 2010 when they first started making wine.

If you would like to share in the happiness of the Shiraz, you’d have to hurry as only 300 cases were produced. Visit the cellar door on weekends, or join the Twisted River Wine Club.

By Maggi Barnard

Three day passes for the Parkes Show are now available from Cunningham’s IGA, Byrnes Clothing and the Show Office in Welcome Street. The passes are only available until Sunday, 27th August. Once the Show commences on Monday, 28th August, a single entry at the gate will be $15.

A three day pass offers you unlimited entries over the three days of the show for just $5 for Schoolies (anyone attending school), $15 for Adults, and kids not yet attending school are free. This amazing deal offers one of the cheapest show tickets in the Central West! Concession tickets are only available from the Show Office and are $10 each.

If you buy tickets before the Show you can also go into the draw to win a $500 open order from Cunningham’s IGA or Byrnes Clothing, or one of two packs of 20 show ride tickets.

Parkes has many talented people and two of them combined their creative powers to do something they have never done before – writing and illustrating a children’s book. Erica Brazel and Jasmine Cole launched their book, I’m special and it shows from my head down to my toes, at the Parkes Library last Saturday.

“It is a book to help children learn more about their different body parts, from their head to their toes ad all the bits in between,” said Erica, mother of three boys. She started writing the book about five years ago when her eldest was two years old.

In response to a question of where the idea came from, she said the honest answer was in the shower and it was as a tune. “I never intended to publish the book, and if it was not for Jasmine I would never have done it.”

Erica and Jasmine are friends from church. Jasmine does drawing for a hobby and ventured onto new ground illustrating a book. “The first time Jasmine showed me her drawings for the book, I started crying,” said Erica.

Although it took Erica five years to see her first book published as she was doing it herself, she has since written six more books. “I have done a book about dads who sometimes work away from home, as my husband had to do FIFO (Fly In Fly Out). I am keen to see this one published too.

Shellie Buckle of the Parkes Library said it was very exciting to be hosting the launch. “We look forward to adding the book to our collection.” Erica grew up in Lake Cargelligo and moved to Parkes when she was 14. After living in Canberra, Sydney and Newcastle until 2008, she moved back with her husband to have their family.

By Maggi Barnard

Brittany Glover joined the team at Charisma Hair Design in Parkes last week. Brittany has gained a great deal of knowledge and experience in her career as a hairdresser. She has worked with Paula Hibbard styling hair for the magazine, Modern Wedding Bridal and will soon be working back stage on the bridal hair expo runway.

Brittany enjoys making beautiful balayage/ombré with blondes and coppers, loves upstyling, blowdrying, and creating personalised hair styles for the individual. She is excited to share her knowledge and skills with the community of Parkes!

Hailing from Wollongong, Brittany is looking forward to enjoying a slower pace in Parkes and meeting new people. “It is not as crazy here as it is in Wollongong,” said Brittany. Although she’s been a dancer all her life, she might try something different to do in her free time.

Call Charisma on 6862 3798 to book an appointment with Brittany. You can also follow Brittany on Instagram: hairbybritterz.