Maggi Barnard

Maggi Barnard has been with the Parkes Phoenix since it was established in March 2016 and loves writing about her community.

A Year Of Writing Positively

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Phoenix has reached its first big milestone celebrating our first anniversary today.

Over the past year we have brought you stories and photos from just about every letter that makes up the alphabet of the Parkes Shire community.

Our very first issue on 4th March 2016 featured Dean Messiter, Manager of West- pac, raising money for Queensland’s worst affected drought areas by setting up a bar- beque outside the bank to sell to passersby.

Since then we have covered numerous stories about people exerting themselves to raise money for charities and community groups, we have reported on community events, environmental initiatives, family reunions, special public holidays, festivals, shows, new developments, achievements and many more.

For Editor, Maggi Barnard who joined the paper from the second edition, the highlight has been meeting so many wonderful people in the community who all have amazing stories to tell. “People love it when you are interested in what they do, and we enjoy telling positive stories! It’s a win-win situa- tion for everybody.”

Cheryl Newsom, founder and publisher of the Phoenix Group of Newspapers, said the motivation to start the Parkes Phoenix followed on from the success of the Forbes and Canowindra Phoenix. “As this market did not have a local free newspaper, we believed the opportunity was there to portray local happenings, local news and feel good stories. “

Cheryl said the support from local businesses, the Parkes Shire Council and the readers had been fantastic. “The comments we receive vindicates the reason why we started this.”

Parkes Shire Mayor, Ken Keith said “Congratulations to the Parkes Phoenix. They have presented a new, fresh way of deliver- ing news in our community and should be commended on their approach. It has been a pleasure seeing them attending such a wide range of community events.”

For Karen Creith of Furniture One, The Parkes Phoenix has provided a breath of fresh air. “They have engaged regularly with residents to enable a greater focus on all the amazing stories and events we have in our town. It has its own personality and seems to inject an extra level of enthusiasm in its reporting that makes reading the Phoenix a pleasure.”

Luke Williams and the team at Leading Edge Computers said “Congratulations to the Parkes Phoenix on your first year of publication. It is a privilege to have been with you from the start, and is great to have such a wide reaching and easy advertising platform to work with. You have made it very easy this last year to promote our business, and we look forward to working more with you in the years to come.”

Mayoral Notes

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

A big congratulations to the Parkes Elvis Festival for its success at the 2016 QAN- TAS Australian Tourism Awards, awarded the bronze in the Festivals and Events category. The 2016 Festival was awarded the prestigious accolade in front of 800 industry leaders and peers at a gala ceremony in Darwin last Friday. This esteemed award is a reflection of all the hard work, dedication and support that our wonderful community, volunteers and staff contribute each year to make the Festival what it is today.

Parkes Shire residents are invited to join the nation-wide effort to help conserve the environment on Sunday for Clean Up Australia Day. Community members are encouraged to gather friends, family and colleagues to join Council staff in helping to clean up, fix up and conserve our local parks, gardens and reserves. Registrations will take place at Lions Park from 8am, where they will be given a clean-up kit and allocated a site. Participants in Peak Hill can register from 7.30am tomorrow and on Sunday at the Commercial Gardens. You’ll be rewarded for all your efforts with a sau- sage sizzle after the clean-up.

The community will have the opportunity to learn how to write a winning grant application at the upcoming Grant Funding Forums on Thursday, 9th March. All community groups, sporting groups, schools and other organisations are welcome to attend one of two workshops, from 2 to 4pm or 6 to 8pm at the Coventry Room. Please reserve your place by emailing ellie.odonoghue@ parkes.nsw.gov.au or phoning 6861 2398.

For those who missed the Parkes 2030 Community Workshops, join the conversa- tion via our online survey – www.parkes. nsw.gov.au

Have an enjoyable weekend.
Yours Faithfully, Cr Ken Keith OAM

Mayor of Parkes Shire

Be Seen

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Mia, Rhonda, Norma & Bev enjoyed a cuppa at the Red Cross drop in last Friday.

The CanAssist men are the organisation’s most price- less asset as they selflessly give hours of their labour and expertise to collect and repair goods for the garage sales. They are (L-R) Eric Davies, Tom Kearney, Trevor Southwell, Steve Mitchell, Ian Mill, Bernie Crowe, JFK – John Francis Kelly and Jim Jennings. Bob Srictland was absent.

Representatives from local schools gathered for the first 2017 Parkes Junior AECG meeting on Tuesday. At the back (L-R) are Nicayden Greenwood, Katlyn Turnbull, Kyah Turnbull, Jazlyn Greenwood, Harmih Turnbull, Kye Herft and Izaac Handcock. In the middle (L-R) are Angus Johnston, Jake Herring, Bob McEwan and Hope Kealley Smith. In front (L-R) are Makayla Sloane, Lara Bennett, Ella Ward and Sophie Cronin.

The Lachlan Dragonboat members who paddled for the Western Region Rogues team bringing back a silver and bronze from Penrith are (L-R) Beth Thomas, Helen Rowbotham, Claire Davis, Coach Deb Clarke, Warren Edwards, Carmen Stephens and Rochelle Smith. See report on page 12.

Editor’s Note

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Hurray it’s a week of celebrations: The Parkes Phoenix turns one today! Yes we have done it thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers. Thank you for all your encouragement and positive feedback we receive just about every day. See pages 3 and 6 for some reactions from readers and supporters.

We also celebrate seniors and women this week. See the seniors program on page 11. Apart from International Women’s Day (IWD) on Wednesday, we also celebrate the inspiring founder of the Phoenix Group of Newspapers, Cheryl Newsom, who has decided it was time to hand over the reins. Read her story on page 4, and there is more about an IWD event in Parkes on page 4.

With the cooler weather taking some pressure off us, we can make time this weekend to be thankful for the many blessings we have. Let’s be grateful for grandparents and what we can learn from them.

Enjoy Issue 52! Maggi Barnard, Editor

All Ages, Shapes, Colours And Sizes

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

International Women’s Day is next week and Parkes Quota Club is inviting all women to a luncheon to celebrate women’s achievements.

Not only will guests enjoy a delicious chicken and prawn meal, but there will be great entertainment too.

This year we are featuring Women In the Arts. Artists Marilyn Nash, Jo Laurie and Rosalie Burns willl display some of their work and talk to us about it, we will listen to the magnificent voice of Cr Barbara Newton, learn about yoga from Monica Lea and enjoy a mini fashion parade from The Red Chandelier.

Set Sunday, 12th March aside for a wonderful time at the Parkes Services Club starting at 12pm.

Tickets at $30 can be purchased from Absolutely Hair at 207 Clarinda Street until 6th March, unless all sold out beforehand.

Get your friends toghether, and pick up your tickets to avoid disappointment, as we sold out very quickly last year.

Our Quota Club is always happy to wel- come new members. We work towards making the world a safer and better place. Money raised from this event will help us achieve these goals. Give me a call on 0407 486612 if you would like to know more about Quota, or chat to one of our members at the International Women’s Day luncheon.

International Women’s Day is held annually to celebrate the achievements of wom- en and to strive for gender equality.

This year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange and aims to encourage all of us to do all we can to accelerate gender parity and to help forge a better working world – a more inclusive, gender equal world.

By Pam Nankivell

NSW Seniors Festival

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

JOIN THE BOLLYWOOD FUN AT PARKES SENIORS FESTIVAL

Bollywood is coming to Parkes for the Seniors Festival from today to 12th March.

Neighbourhood Central is hosting the 2017 Seniors Festival in Parkes with a va- riety of events. You can come dressed in your most colourful outfit and watch The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, enjoy a barbeque lunch or be part of the Central West Olympics activites in Orange.

The program kicks off on Monday, 6th March with a local concert at the Parkes Bowling Club with sing-a-long and morn- ing tea and lunch. Tickets are $10. On

A group barbeque will be held at Bun- nings in Orange on 5th March. Money raised will off set the cost of representatives going to the annual state conference.

The Eugowra Branch will have a stall at Eugowra Country Fair on 8th April.

A free exhibition on the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience will be in Orange from 12th to 17th March.

International Women’s Day celebration in Boorowa on Sunday, 12th March at Boorowa RSL. Keynote speaker Ailsa Piper, writer, director and performer. Cost $25. RSVP Janene Hurley on 6835 1330 or Janene.hurley@hilltops.nsw.gov.au

Wednesday, 8th March go for Bollywood with a movie morning at Neighbourhood Central from 9:15am to 12pm. Tickets for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are $5.

Thursday, 9th March the Central West Elders Olympics take place in Orange. Tickets are $5. All tickets and bookings can be made at Neighbourhood Central, 80-82 Currajong Street Parkes. For more infor- mation call Samantha Radburn on 6862 3757.

STAYING HEALTHY IS IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS

Staying healthy means you can make the most of your life as you get older. There are many health-related issues associated with ageing including diet, exercise, heart conditions and diseases. Parkes GP offers a broad range of general health services including preventive health, chronic dis- ease management, podiatry and osteopathy. If you’re over 65 you can get free influenza (flu) and pneumococcal vaccinations.

The 75+ year old annual health assessment is a comprehensive health check that can give your GP a better picture of your current health condition and medical needs, and will consider physical, psychological and social factors that may be affecting your health and well-being. Parkes GP is open six days a week and is a bulk- billing practice.

Snippets

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Skywriters: Writers and aspiring writers in the Parkes Shire are invited to join the Big Skies Collaboration Skywriters project to author stories, in any genre, about their own or other people’s relationships with celestial phenomena in our southern sky. The project is supported by the Regional Arts Fund and hosted by Arts OutWest. Big Skies Collaborator Dr. Merrill Findlay, is working with local libraries on establish- ing a constellation of Skywriters’ hubs, where she will offer Skywriters a series of free writing workshops, support from pro- fessional editors to author new works to publication quality. Finished works of up to 3,000 words – fiction, nonfiction, prose or poetry – will be published on the Big Skies Collaboration website, and may also be included in a Skywriters’ anthology to be published in 2019, the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on the moon.
The launch of Parkes Skywriters is on Wednesday, 22nd March at 12pm at the library. Join Merrill and the Parkes Library team for lunch and an information session. Please RSVP on 6861 2309. If you are in- terested in becoming a Skywriter and are unable to make the launch register your interest with Shellie at shellie.buckle@ parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Biggest and best in the Central West: Last weekend’s CanAssist Garage Sale transformed the Parkes Showground pavil- ion into a bustling flea market. With nearly 300 people queuing to get in on Friday afternoon, the volunteer staff joked that it was like a Myer Boxing Day Sale – only all proceeds go towards locals with cancer. If you missed out on bagging a bargain this time, CanAssist will be holding another one on 18th March.

Free concert: The theme for the term one free concert on Wednesday, 5th April at 7:30pm at the Parkes Presbyterian Church is courage. Performers are encouraged to choose a piece that is not a cinch to play, but requires hard work. A small part of the concert will also be devoted to discussing strategies to overcome nerves when performing out of the comfort zone.

Anyone is welcome to participate; let Pam Parkin of Flourish Music Studio know by 29th March. Contact her on 0418 166 580

Colour run: Parkes NF Colour for a Cure is a group of locals organising Parkes’ first family friendly fun run with a splash of colour over 5km to run or walk on 19th March to raise awareness and funds for The Children’s Tumour Foundation. Any support will be welcome: taking part, donating money or gifts for prizes.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a group of three genetic conditions which gives rise to the potential for benign tumours to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. NF1, which affects one in 2,500, is a lifelong condition with a wide range of severity and has no cure. This cause is very close to the Parkes community as it directly affects two locals.

Hamish (13) was diagnosed with NF1 at the age of six months. He has hundreds of benign tumours growing on all his nerve endings throughout his body. He suffers from muscle weakness, learning difficul- ties and great deal of pain. He has been visiting Westmead Children Hospital every three months since he was five years old.

Emma (28), an Early Childhood Educa- tor, was diagnosed with NF1 at the age of three. NF1 causes benign, often painful masses to grow on her nerves. She is af- fected by low muscle tone, poor coordina- tion, early developmental delay and some low level learning difficulties. She has a long-term relationship with the Neurogenetics clinic at Westmead since the age of four, where she is part of continuing stud- ies into the long term effects of NF1.

New Paths For Pedestrians And Cyclists

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes residents will soon have access to a series of new bike paths around town.

Locals are encouraged to take a test ride or walk along the 1.3km of bike pathway from Bushman Street to Webb Street already completed. Construction on the 1.8km section along Renshaw McGirr Way is expected to be complete soon.

The Parkes Phoenix caught up with a resident who was walking on the pathway. She said it was an excellent idea and that it would make their regular walk more in- teresting.

The new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project will not only secure our water sup- ply in years to come, but the installment of new pipelines is also being put to good use to create new pathways. Several sections of raw and treated water pipelines need to be replaced and the disturbed strips of soil are being transformed into bike paths, which will eventually connect to form a cy- cle network across the town.

Parkes Shire Council’s Director Infrastructure, Andrew Francis said: “The Urban Water Mains Augmentation (UWMA) contractors have done a tremendous job of converting the previously unused pipeline corridor into an asset for the community to use and enjoy.”

“As part of the UWMA project, Leed Engineering and Construction were commis- sioned to design and construct a bike path to follow the pipeline alignment.

The gravel used to construct the bike paths was procured locally through West- lime, with Council crews were assisting throughout the construction phase.

Construction of the bike paths was done in accordance with the Parkes Pedestrian and Cycling Plan, which aims to improve pedestrian and cycling access throughout town and enhance health and wellbeing opportunities for residents and visitors.

New Owners At Choices Flooring

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

If you are building a new home or planning to do renovations, Choices Flooring in Parkes has new owners and will beat any written quote for the month of March.Michelle and Richard Bligh, who recently moved back to their hometown from the Sunshine Coast, took over Choices Flooring on 16th January.

“We owned a business in Caloundra selling custom made screens, blinds and awn- ings for the past nine years,” said Michelle. The family sold the business on the Sunshine Coast and took a three-month trip to Cape York before relocating to Parkes.

“I grew up in Parkes – my parents are Neil and Janelle Unger – and we wanted to be closer to family and give our three children the opportunity to grow up in a great rural community and enjoy a laid back country lifestyle,” said Michelle.

When Choices was up for sale, it was too good an opportunity to pass up, “as we had been working in a similar business environment”.

According to Michelle they are looking forward to making a great business even bet- ter. They are starting by doing a full makeover of the showroom, getting new samples, as well as introducing a mobile showroom to give better service to outlying areas Choices Flooring services Parkes, Forbes, Trundle, Condobolin and other surrounding areas.

The new owners have also kept the three members of staff and one contractor at Choices Flooring to continue the level of experience and local knowledge offered by the business.

Whether you are looking for new carpets, hard flooring, vinyl plant, sheet vinyl, shutters, blinds and awnings, Choices Parkes is a one stop shop for all your flooring and window covering needs.

Call them for a free measure and quote, visit the showroom or pick up a free copy of Inspiring Choices in store for more ideas.

Eugowra CWA Keeps Members Busy

March 2, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The Eugowra CWA branch welcomed several new members at its recent meet and greet event at the home of Yvonne and Colin Smalley. The next meeting will be in the CWA rooms on Friday, 10th March at 11am. Frances Anderson will talk about Nepal after attending a CWA of NSW study weekend in Canberra. Eyewear Specs op- tometrists are renting the CWA rooms once a fortnight for consultations.

Future dates to remember: The Central West Group Craft & Cooking Expo will be in Orange from 12th to 17th March. Eugowra members are putting in a selection of arti- cles.

A group barbeque will be held at Bun- nings in Orange on 5th March. Money raised will off set the cost of representa- tives going to the annual state conference.

The Eugowra Branch will have a stall at Eugowra Country Fair on 8th April.

A free exhibition on the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience will be in Orange from 12th to 17th March.

International Women’s Day celebra- tion in Boorowa on Sunday, 12th March at Boorowa RSL. Keynote speaker Ailsa Piper, writer, director and performer. Cost $25. RSVP Janene Hurley on 6835 1330 or Janene.hurley@hilltops.nsw.gov.au

Maggi Barnard

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