Outstanding Supplier Award For PJL Group
A key mechanical and engineering national supplier with a branch in Parkes has won a major award at the NSW Parliament House last Thursday.
The PJL Group took out the Outstanding Supplier category in the 2017 NSW Mining Industry and Supplier Awards.
PJL Group General Manager, Luke Buck- land, said: “The Mining Industry and Sup- plier Awards recognise the people and the businesses whose hard work and achieve- ments help to make NSW mining strong. I would like to congratulate PJL Group employees from across Australia for helping the business to achieve such an award and for always giving 110% on every job.
PJL Group Manager in Orange, Ben Hockey, and PJL Group Major Projects and Tender Coordinator, Dean Jarvis, were on hand to receive the award.
The Outstanding Supplier Award recognises a business that can demonstrate excellence in working with the NSW minerals industry by adding value to a mining operation through one-off projects or on-going relationships with clients.
PJL commenced operations in Orange in 2006 with three mates purchasing a truck, which they refurbished as part of establishing their mechanical engineering busi- ness. The business now operates from five permanent sites in Orange, Parkes, Cobar, Mt Isa and Perth employing 320 people.
The business operates 24 hours a day providing a full range of services includ- ing mechanical and maintenance, engineering and fabrication, service exchange components, line boring, labour hire, non- destructive testing, equipment hire and sales, installation and construction and design services.
Snippets…
Double demerits for Easter: Double demerit points will be in force for five days over the Easter holiday across the state starting today until Monday, 17th April. Double de- merit points will apply to all speeding, seatbelt, mobile phone and motorcycle helmet offences. NSW Police will also be target- ing dangerous driving behaviours such as drink driving and driver fatigue.
“Drivers should be warned they are at greatest risk of losing their licence dur- ing this period. There will be more Police on the roads and therefore more chance of getting caught and losing points,” said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Coun- cils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Of- ficer, Melanie Suitor.
“I ask all drivers to remain vigilant over the Easter holiday period. We all have a part to play in reducing the amount of crashes and risks.”
Cultural grants: Applications for the 2017 Parkes Shire Council Cultural Grants are open to local groups and organisations un- til Thursday, 4th May.
The aim of the grant program is to encourage and support the development of local community organisations, services and strategies which make a positive contribution to the community and cultural life of the Shire. Applications must request a grant of at least $2,000 with the total funding pool at $9,800.
Funding categories include subsidy for a new project, extension or enhancement of an existing project, purchase of equipment or minor capital works.
Application forms are available on Council’s website, www.parkes.nsw.gov.au, or at any Parkes Shire Library (Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore). Contact Council’s Grant Officer Sally Chap- man, 6861 2398 for advice and support in completing the application. Successful ap- plications will be announced in June 2017.
Fashions on the green: Lights, camera, fashion! The Tullamore Irish Music Fes- tival invites guests to put their greenest foot and fashion forward to rock the green runway. There are categories for the Lady, Leprechaun and the Wee Ones under 13, each with a lush little prize. Fashions on the Green will be judged early Satur- day afternoon. Each year on the Easter Long Weekend, Tullamore turns green with visitors from across the country, cel- ebrating all things Irish. Across the three days, there’ll be plenty of music, dancing, games, food, fun and fashion (of course) to keep everyone entertained. For more information visit www.tullamore.org.au.
Question of the Week
What do you enjoy most about Easter?
Caleb Wirth: Waking up with chocolate beside your bed is the best! You don’t even have to walk to the fridge – it’s right there!
Casey Kelly: I like celebrating and telling about God.
Nelson Walker: I love all the chocolate because I love eating it!
Put Your Foot Down On Diabetes
The simple act of walking down stairs could help prevent diabetes, according to new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU). The key could be something known as eccentric exercise.
With more than one million Australians currently living with diabetes and the number expected to rise to three million in 20 years, the findings have the potential to significantly reduce the burden of the deadly disease.
Diabetes researchers from ECU’s School of Medical and Health Sciences recruited 30 obese elderly women and put them on an exercise program, with half walking upstairs and the others walking downstairs.
At the end of the 12-week program, the women who walked down stairs showed improvements on several physiological measures. They had significantly lower levels of resting glucose, insulin and haemoglobin 1AC, improved oral glucose tol- erance test, and decreased triglycerides and cholesterols together with an increase of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in their blood. All of these changes will have lowered their risk of developing diabetes, according to the researchers.
While both groups recorded an improvement it was significantly greater in the down stairs group. The greater improvement in the down stairs group is almost certainly because walking down stairs is what is called eccentric exercise. It is where load is placed on the muscle while it is lengthening, rather than shortening.
For example, walking down stairs is eccentric exercise because your front thigh muscles are lengthening when they are placed under load, as opposed to walking up stairs in which the muscles are shorten- ing, performing mainly concentric contractions.
As well as protecting against metabolic syndrome and diabetes, the researchers also found that the down stairs group’s physical function such as walking ability, balance, bone mineral density and resting heart rate and blood pressure all improved significantly more than the up stairs group. There are lots of ways to incorporate ec- centric exercise into your life to enjoy the health benefits. If you work in a tall build- ing, try taking the lift up to work, but then walk down the stairs when you go home. Or, if you are using weights, concentrate on lowering the weights slowly, because the lowering action causes your muscles to perform eccentric exercise.
Even sitting down in your chair slowly makes your leg muscles to contract eccentrically.
Aviation Museum ACES Attractions
The Parkes Aviation Museum boasts two new attractions; a Convair that landed at the museum late last month, and set of air-stairs arriving last week.
The Convair has only just retired from a long career in the skies. It is a twin propeller craft that first flew in 1947, and was operated across Australia the following year.
The Convairs can be quickly modified to accommodate passengers, or freight, or both. It can accommodate between 32 and 50 passengers in its roomy cabin. As a full-cargo freighter it can transport supplies to the most challenging destinations, and can handle a range of runway conditions. Some have even been used as a water tanker for fire-fighting.
The newly acquired air-stairs are a less obvious, but no less exciting, exhibit. The air-stairs were designed by Qantas in the late 1950s to complement the Boeing 707 jet airliners. The hydraulic stairs were made with Ford car components, and essentially look like a vintage car that has been equipped with a ladder. They were driven right up to the aircraft to access the passenger door.
The Parkes’ new air stairs were acquired from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and delivered to the museum by Wayne Jones Towing. Probably one of their most unusual loads!
The air-stairs are in rustic condition, but will be restored by volunteers and eleven students from Parkes High School.
The students are learning the ins-and- outs of aircraft restoration as part of the high school’s ACES Program. The school teamed up with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society to give the students the opportunity to get practical experience in a hangar.
This is the first term for this program, and instructor Terry Job believes it is off to a flying start. “Some of the students have really been putting a lot of work into it,” he said. “It’s also a bit of a history lesson, and it’s great to see them so interested and engaged.”
The students have already made good progress refurbishing the interior of a De Havilland Heron aircraft and spray-painting the fuselage of a vintage Lockheed Electra.
A reconfiguration of the Convair is also being planned. Mike De La Hunty, of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Albion Park, said they hoped to uncover the original passenger seating of the Convair. Once refurbished the Convair will go on public display alongside the Vietnamera Caribou.
By Raen Fraser
Be Seen
Rose Jones and Gail Hall looked after all the hungry tummies at the recent Smoke, Rust and Noise Day at the Henry Parkes Museum.
Maddison McCormick, Caleb Wirth and Stephanie Milling learned first-hand the art of using props, sound effects and physical comedy at the Andy Jones Show.
The audience were delighted to find they were part of the Andy Jones Show.
Tania Fryer, Shane Mann and Ann Adams were staffing the barbeque at the end of season pool party.
Our Gal
Karen Creith
How long have you lived in Parkes and what do you like about living here?
I have lived in Parkes basically my whole life and love the friendly people and size of our community. It isn’t too big or too small so I feel we have the best of both worlds.
Where do you work and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I work at Parkes Furniture One as a stylist and I am the author of two home decorating books. I love my job as I get to work with wonderful people, plus I get to help them bring their home decorating dreams to life. I also work with my hubby every day and we have a great time together!
What do you do to unwind after work and on weekends?
I love to stay home and relax. I like to cook and am very partial to the odd Netflix binge session.
What are you really good at?
I am really good at eating and I love food! If there is a great meal being planned I get quite ex- cited!!
What is your pet hate?
Terrible coffee!
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
I think I would like to fly because it would make it so much easier to walk around in my stilettos each day!
Tell us about your best holiday ever.
My best holidays have always been around the kids and I love the times we spent on the Gold Coast being kids for the day at the fun parks or at the beach. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days again just to enjoy them all over again!
School Scoop
Changing of Guard At Parkes Christian School
The Board of Parkes Christian School has accepted the resignation of the Principal for the past seven years, Graham Hope.
According to a message from the board, Graham plans on remaining in the role for term two before taking leave for the re- mainder of the year and officially finishing at the end of 2017.
In the second half of the year Graham will be taking some study time, but will as- sist the board in the transition to the next Principal.
In Graham’s tenure as Principal, Parkes Christian School has made significant pro- gress and the school saw the introduction of Stage 6, including the completion of the first two years of HSC graduates and enrol- ments doubled.
“It would be remiss if we did not thank Graham’s wife Lynne, acknowledging the steadfast support of Graham but also a highly capable and diligent member of the school executive who has contributed significantly to many achievements during this period,” the board said in its message.
A Place For Creativity And Innovation
Holy Family School is very proud of the new Makerspace Centre. The Makerspace Centre is an exciting place for children to be creative and innovative. There are gadgets and tools that cater for the interests of all children. The Makerspace area has the lat- est Mbots, BeeBots, circuit boards and robots, which the students have assembled themselves.
Fun For Everyone At The Andy Jones Show
Dozens of kids brought their parents to the Parkes Library on Tuesday to enjoy the Andy Jones Show.
The raucous show provided plenty of laughs as Andy shared his unique blend of jokes, music and more jokes. Participants were treated to an impromptu comedy master-class as Andy explained some of the tools of the trade before inviting the audience to join the show.
The 45 people – of all ages – enjoyed the interactive performance, with some finding themselves in the spotlight with physical comedy, others trying their hand at a bit of stand-up and everyone getting up to dance.
Andy Jones is a best-selling children’s author, musician, song writer and come- dian. He has released five CDs, written 12 books, and performed thousands of shows around the country. His titles include The Ripper Razzle Dazzle Big Book of Fun, Hot Jokes for Cool Kids and The Burptionary.
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