What did you most enjoy about the Green Army?
Bradley Dunn: I liked the teamwork, the skills we developed, improving the environment and making the world a better place.
Kyasha Palmer: I really liked the team environment and getting out there and helping the actual environment and making a difference.
Sebastian Berry: I enjoyed working as a team and helping the environment – we planted a LOT of trees.
Music Is The Key: The Parkes Shire Concert Band (PSCB) has welcomed three new members. Amy Burrows, Eliza Scarpellino and Jemima Siddall are from Sydney and came to Parkes for work. Amy and Eliza are at the RMS and Jemima at the Department of Education.
It has been a busy time for the band over the past few months with performances at Anzac Day, the Trundle ABBA Festival, the Sunrise to Sunset Heritage Day and the Southern Cross Village Fete.
Seven of the band members also played in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. “We are keen to musically support the fantastic team who organise the shows at the M & D Society. It’s a wonderful opportunity to become part of a great group of people who all volunteer their time,” said Elly Tom.
Rehearsals for the band are on Tuesdays 7 to 9pm during school term, above the pool complex in Dalton Street. If you would like PSCB to perform at your community event, or if you would like to join contact Duncan Clement, Music Director on 0405 035 164 or email duncanclement@hotmail.com
Hats Off: The Anglican ladies in Parkes have been running an “All Things” day annually when the flower show was cancelled due to drought. There has been an All Things Flowers day, All Things Animals, and last year a display of All Things Dolls. This year on Saturday, 17th June it is All Things Handbags, with a display of personal stories accompanying treasured handbags. There will be a handbag fashion show at 11am and 3pm for the latest fashion in handbags. Men are welcome too as the morning tea will be simply delicious!
Free Art Workshops: A series of free art workshops for carers of people with mental health issues will start next week in Parkes. The workshops will run over 15 weeks run by local artists Maralyn Nash and Pol Cruz.
The weekly workshops will be on a Thursday from 10.30am-1pm at the Coventry Room at Parkes Shire Council, and participants can join at any time. Arts Out- West has set up the program on behalf of House with No Steps. Visual artist Marilyn will run eight weeks of the program, followed by ceramic artist Pol. To sign up call Arts OutWest on 6338 4657 or email artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
New floodlighting has been installed at Jock Colley Field at Pioneer Oval to increase the use of the field for night time matches.
The oval is part of Parkes’ largest sporting precinct, including Northparkes and Spicer Ovals, and is home to Rugby League. The club has 75 senior and 150 junior players, and it is hoped the new lighting would enable the sport to continue to grow and attract larger competitions, carnivals and professional grade games to Parkes.
The new lighting has replaced second- hand lights from Parramatta Stadium in- stalled over ten years ago. The venue will now also be available for other sports that require the use of floodlit grounds.
The Department of Industry Lands and Forestry contributed $29,000 towards the $70,000 project under the Public Reserves Management Fund Program.
Minister for Lands and Forestry Paul Toole said at the official launch on Monday: “This facility is so important not just to the Parkes community, but to regional NSW as well, and it’s great to see the commitment of the community and the Government enhancing and preserving Jock Colley Field.”
Helen Huntly
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here?
Since I married 63 years ago. I am part of a friendly, supportive community. Parkes has been a great place to rear and educate my family of four.
Where do you work and what do you enjoy about your work?
I am a retired nurse. Being in health was a rewarding experience, being part of a team that mostly produce good results for the majority of people.
What do you do to unwind after work or on weekends?
I started with art in my later years. Painting takes me into a positive and creative thought process that in turn revitalises my spirit.
What are you really good at?
I believe I am really good at communicating with most people.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To be able to bring peace into hearts, homes and country.
What is your pet hate?
The word ‘hate’.
Tell us about your best holiday ever.
About four years ago I went with family and friends on an off road camping and some motels holiday to the Gulf country – sunset over the Gulf, the savannah plains, the Lawn Hill National Park and Gorge, the lovely small towns and the incredible vast- ness of our beautiful country are memories never to be forgotten
The work of Year 9 students of the Parkes High School will be on display at the Henry Parkes Museum for the next month.
The panels on exhibit are the end result of a study of the Industrial Revolution undertaken by the students as part of their history course.
The Involve Special Program is designed to provide students with a project-based as- pect to their studies. The Year 9 students chose to focus on child labour during the Industrial Revolution as their project. Their research lead to a series of collaborative mixed media collages combining archival images, factual information and personal reactions in the form of creative writing, to the working conditions endured by children during this period.
Parents and family members of the Year 9 students are encouraged to go and see the exhibition of the panels at the Henry Parkes Museum.
Two of the largest projects ever to be delivered in the Parkes Shire with a combined cost of $70 million are nearing completion.
Contractors at both the new Water Treat- ment Plant (WTP) and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) sites are completing the internal fit out of the buildings, as well as the mechanical and electrical installations in prepa- ration for commissioning.
“This is an exciting time for the staff and contractors on site as we prepare to switch over to the new systems in the coming weeks,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure, Andrew Francis.
“Council is planning to host a public open day to provide Parkes Shire residents the opportunity to tour both sites and learn about the benefits of the new systems.”
Parkes residents may experience some changes with the commissioning of the STP at the end of May, and the WTP towards the end of June.
Andrew warned there might be disruptions to potable water services with the change over from the existing Water Treatment Plant to the new plant, but said advanced warning would be given to residents affect- ed. “Once commissioning is complete, residents can expect superior water quality and optimal pressure.”
He expected “no disruptions to household sewerage systems”. John Holland Project Manager, Peter Stark, said the team had enjoyed working on the projects over the past 12 months.
“We’re proud to have partnered with the Parkes Shire Council to deliver such a vital project.”
The new $40 million WTP will supply safe, secure and reliable water for the Parkes and Peak Hill communities, while the $30 million STP will replace the existing facility that was constructed in 1936.
1. Brushing habits
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is the best way to avoid dental diseases, which can lead to tooth loss.
For adults this can reduce this risk of tooth movement and tooth loss, which is a common side effect of gum disease.
For children this can reduce the risk of early tooth loss due to tooth decay. Baby teeth are very important for maintaining the spaces needed for adult teeth to develop and erupt into the mouth.
2. Avoid thumb sucking and dummies
The pressure associated with sucking thumbs, fingers or dummies for a long pe- riod of time can lead to altering how the jaw and teeth develop. This can affect the shape of jaw and tooth positioning, which can cause the teeth to develop crooked and distort the appearance of the natural jaw shape.
3. Early intervention
Genetics play a major role in tooth and jaw development. Attending regular dental appointments will not only reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, but will also allow your dentist to observe and monitor the growth and development of the teeth and jaw and provide intervention as needed.
If you have any questions or concerns, or need to book an appointment, call Richardson dental surgery on 6862 1261.
The NSW Parliament has passed the Motor Accident Injuries Act, 2017 which changes and limits what claims maybe made on your green slip insurance policy.
The new statue will commence on or about 1st December 2017 and will apply to motor vehicle accidents occurring after its commencement. The existing statue applies until then.
People sustaining a personal injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident will now only have access to statutory benefits regardless of fault, unless they have been charged with or convicted of a serious driving offence.
No common law damages will be recoverable for so called minor injuries and a new Disputes Resolution Service will be established. Serious injuries may still enable some common law claims but they are limited.
The time for making and serving a claim will be reduced from six to three months, and if you are losing income and do not serve a claim within 28 days of the accident, you may lose your right to back claim lost wages.
Statutory benefits for minor injuries and those at fault may cease after 26 weeks.
In short, most claims benefits will be limited and green slip costs will no doubt in- crease the profitability of the insurers to the detriment of benefits.
If you have a personal injury claim that is very complex, we can assist in this or any other legal problem. Please contact any of our Solicitors at Matthews Williams.
Splitting headaches, dizziness, sickness, dehydration – we all know the symptoms and why they’re there – ALCOHOL!
While there are many myths surrounding hangover cures, this is pretty much all they are – myths!
Alcohol is a diuretic, so it removes water from the body. This is what causes most of the nasty symptoms. As well as dehydration, alcohol can also upset your stomach and give you a bad night’s sleep. And you must remember, the more you drink, the longer it takes for alcohol to vacate your body. So, no driving or operating machinery until you’re alcohol-free. As a general rule, your body metabolises alcohol at a rate of .005 per twenty minutes, i.e. having a BAC of 0.08 would take about five hours and 30mins to be eliminated. Now, obviously a healthier liver will work better, so over-estimate to be on the safer side!
Useful information, right? Well here’s some more…
Tips to avoid a hangover!
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach! Heard the phrase, ‘eating’s cheating’? Well, let me say this, you will be the one suffering!
• If you’re sensitive to them, stay away from dark-coloured drinks. They have natural chemicals that irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain that can make a hangover worse.
• Drink water in between alcoholic beverages. Carbonated drinks can speed up the absorption of alcohol, so stick with water.
• Keep some Hydralyte® handy. This is the best way to rehydrate your body and if taken before bed, you’ve got a good chance of waking up hangover-free!
Now, if you ignore our tips, and your head is pounding when you awake, you’re on your own.
Hello cold days, and hot chocolate, fuzzy socks, warm fires, frosty mornings, hot soup, good books and warm friendship… Yes it’s time to keep calm and welcome winter.
I am sure you can all add at least one favourite thing about winter to this list. Most of all, winter is a time to enjoy the comforts of your home, your family and friends and good food. With the long weekend ahead of us, we have brought you a decent read with a variety of stories and ideas what to do.
Over the past two weeks we have been getting a lot of stories about young people doing well, putting their stamp on life and looking at the future with hope and optimism.
May you feel inspired by them and have a week filled with optimism!
Enjoy Issue 66! Maggi Barnard Editor