Maggi Barnard

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

You Can Even Rock ‘n’ Poeticise At Elvis Festival

January 5, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Poetry might not be the first image that springs to mind when you think of Elvis, but the Poet’s Breakfast is becoming increasingly popular at the Parkes Festival. Draw inspiration from the Viva Las Vegas theme this year, or from one of Elvis’ many hit songs, or even from the festival itself. The Poet’s Breakfast is said to be the perfect way to get into the spirit of the festival. There will be prizes for the Best Novice Poet and Open Contender, as well as a People’s Choice Award and a performance from local star Barry Green.

The 2016 Poets Breakfast winner, Peter Robinson said: “Parkes Elvis Festival is an incredible event and the Poet’s Breakfast is one of the many highlights for me. This year my daughter and I will once again compete.” So find your inner poet and share your love of The King on Thursday, 12th January at 7:30am at the Parkes Bolwing & Sports Club.

For more information contact 6862 6000.

Old Hospital Site Blank Canvas For Redevelopment

January 5, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The demolition of the 110-year-old Parkes hospital was completed just before Christmas. It took four months to complete the project that was delivered on time and within budget. Parkes Shire Council’s Director Engineering Services, Ben Howard was pleased the project had been completed in a cost efficient and timely manner. “The second
phase of the demolition process saw the contractors transport the building material off site for crushing. This allowed the demolition phase to be finished ahead of the nominated completion date.”

Ben said with the main demolition phase complete, final site works would pave the way for a new residential redevelopment and repurposing of the two remaining buildings. The fence erected around the site will remain as final site works are carried out to remove all the footings and underground utilities, top dressing, and seeding all affected areas.

“The removal of all hazardous building materials has been done in compliance with the hazardous materials guidelines and furthermore, no incidents or safety issues arose throughout the entire project”, Ben said. The old hospital was demolished following the NSW Government’s $72.8 million investment towards building the new hospital just off the Forbes Road, which was officially opened in 2015.

Health District welcomes new Chairperson:
The Board for Western NSW Local Health District has a new chairperson and four new members. Following the end of his six-year tenure as Chair, Dr Robin Williams stepped down at the end of last year. Health Minister Jillian Skinner appointed Scott Griffiths PSM in the role. He has been a member of the Board for the past six years, and chair of the finance and performance sub-committee for the same period.

Western NSW Local Health District Chief Executive, Scott McLachlan said Dr Williams and the Board had been instrumental in leading the organisation towards a clearer vision and pioneering the introduction of key health strategies, including the very successful Integrated Care initiative.

Who Will Be The Next Miss Priscilla?

January 5, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Helen Rowbotham, Miss Priscilla 2016, is ready to hand her crown over on Thursday, 12th January at theGoodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner at the Parkes Services Club. Bookings at 6862 1966. Doors open at 6:30pm. (Photo: Parkes Elvis Festival)

Mayoral Notes…

January 5, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

In my first mayoral message for 2017, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our returning guests and new friends as we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Parkes Elvis Festival with a Viva Las Vegas theme.
To celebrate this milestone a special 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner is being held on Wednesday, 11th January. Tickets can still be purchased from the Parkes Leagues Club at www.parkesleaguesclub.com.

With more than 120 individual events taking place over the five days, we are expecting to welcome over 22,000 festival-goers to town, set to surpass last year’s visitation numbers. Be sure to secure your piece of history with an official souvenir program, calendar and the Festival’s 25th Anniversary DVD ‘This is Our Story’, all available for purchase from the Parkes Information Centre, the Elvis Central Store, Council’s Administration Building and other participating businesses.

These are great keepsakes to take home to show family and friends just how much fun you had at the Parkes Elvis Festival. Free Festival pocket guides are also available throughout town and I encourage everyone to pick one up and start planning your itinerary so you don’t miss a thing! A big thank you goes out to our dedicated volunteers, valued sponsors and supporters, Elvis Revival Incorporated, local businesses, community members and Parkes Shire Council staff for all their hard work in preparation to the 2017 Festival – no doubt it will be our biggest and best one yet!

I would like to make special mention of the founders of the Festival, Bob and Anne Steel, whose unwavering dedication over the past 25 years has led to its success. Finally, with temperatures on the rise, I encourage all festival-goers to keep hydrated and slip, slop, slap throughout the festivities. I look forward to rock ‘n’ rolling with you all next week.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Outstanding Field Of Nominees For Sports Awards

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The nominees for the 2016 Parkes Shire Sports Awards have been announced with an outstanding field of candidates. The annual awards recognise outstanding achievement in sport across the Parkes Shire. “From Olympians down to the grass roots level, the Parkes Shire is lucky to have such outstanding sporting athletes, officials and volunteers,” said Parkes Sports Council’s Secretary, Anthony McGrath. “It has been another amazing year of sporting achievements that wouldn’t have been possible without those members of our community,” Mr McGrath said.

The 2016 Awards are divided into eight categories. The winners will be announced during the Australia Day Awards ceremony in Cooke Park on 26th January 2017.
The nominees are:
Sportsperson of the Year: Anthony Heraghty (Cricket), Kurt Lovett (Hockey), Mariah Williams (Hockey), Jack Elliot (Hockey), Scott Westcott (Marathon), Jacob Harvey (Cricket), Sam Dwyer (Rugby League), Claire Barber (League Tag), Ella-J Harris (League Tag)
Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Victoria Simpson (Athletics), Billy Burns (Rugby League, Touch Football), Jake Magill (Tennis), Koby Johnstone (Hockey), Harrison Bayliss (Cricket), Nicholas Job (Hockey), Kane Nutley (Water Skiing), Kasey Faye-Rice (Golf)
Senior Sportsperson or Team: Denise Gersbach (Hockey), Matt Searl (Hockey), Maureen Massey (Hockey), Troy Dickson (Water Skiing)
Team of the Year: Parkes 1st XI (Cricket); Parkes Public School Boys (Hockey); Parkes Public School Boys (Cricket);
Parkes Spacecats (League Tag); Parkes Over 35s Women’s Masters (Hockey); Parkes 45 Mens Masters (Hockey) ; Railway Bowling Club – Blue Club Challenge team (Bowls)
Coach, Trainer or Manager of the Year: Sharon Dixon (Physiotherapy), Helen Magill (Tennis), Michael Dumesny (League Tag), Aaron Huppatz (Hockey) Long Service and Dedication: Paul Dunford (Cricket), Parkes Tennis Canteen Ladies: Pat Drabsch, Pauline Nicholson, Val Glasheen and Lyn Pengilly; Kevin Medlyn (Soccer), Craig Dumesny (Harness Racing)

Referee, Umpire or Official of the Year: Chris Reynolds (Touch Football), Amanda Draper (Touch Football), Taylor Draper (Touch Football), Trevor Chatman (Cricket), Stuart Peden (Soccer)
Administrator of the Year: Laurie Wakefield (Hockey), Peter Yelland (Cricket), Al Gersbach (Parkes Rugby), Sam Cox (Little Athletics), Graham Thomson (Railway Bowling Club).

Christmas Is A Special Season

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Now that I have finally got my head around the fact that it has been a year since last Christmas and that it is actually going to happen again this Sunday I have been filled with Christmas cheer and am excited for the festivities. I love that families get the chance to come together at Christmas and enjoy some special time with truly amazing food. As I sit here and write this column I am already drooling at the thought of my glazed Christmas ham that will hit the table at lunchtime within our home. For me though Christmas is a great time to be grateful and sit back and reflect on the past year.

Christmas styling needs to inject a real wow factor into our homes and set this time of year apart as something really special. The setting creates the atmosphere and it can be easily done regardless of your budget. I love injecting nature into my styling and the bigger the branches the better. We have a great range in-store now of LED trees that feature beautiful snow covered branches that look simply amazing whether they are adorned or not.

Here at Parkes Furniture One we have Christmas presents for everyone in the family and we still have time to deliver to Condobolin if you get excited and can’t fit your purchases in your own car. And remember to take time to just sit and relax this holiday season. Put your feet up and enjoy a rest. See you all in 2017.

Love Karen

Question of the Week?

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

What is your favourite Christmas tradition?

Paula Shearer with Poppy: We have a family roast lunch on Christmas Day. It is special for me as I live more than five hours away from my family and getting together with everyone is the best part of Christmas.

Nessie Holley with grandson Romeo: I am originally from New Zealand and my father always got us a real Christmas tree and in those days we decorated it with crepe paper. I love the smell of the tree and hope to carry on this tradition.

Angela Lister with Levi and Rachel Ridley: Getting a real Christmas tree. We have always been doing it in my family and it is good fun. Rachel: I love the presents, cuddles and when the whole family gets together.

2016: The Good, The Bad… It All Adds Up

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Looking at international news events 2016 might go down as one of the worst years in history, but on the local front it has been an enormously successful and productive year for the Parkes Shire, according to Mayor Ken Keith. He told The Parkes Phoenix the success of the year culminated in the Council winning the prestigious AR Bluett Memorial Award for the most progressive rural council in NSW. “We have also been successful in receiving three awards for our burgeoning Elvis Festival, two environmental awards for PAC Park and achieving accreditation for our workplace health and safety systems. It is quite an achievement for Council to reach the highest level for the first time.”

The completion of the turf 2 hockey complex, along with Mariah Williams and Scott Westcott’s selection for the Rio Olympics, were definite highlights for the community. The Mayor also listed the conclusion of the Lehman Bros settlement with the recovery of 70c in the dollar as a highlight for 2016. “The redevelopment of the Parkes Regional
Airport with the impressive looking new terminal building appropriately named after former Mayor, the late Robert Wilson OAM, and the conclusion of the building of Lake Endeavour dam and spillway, need a mention too,” he said. With one of the wettest winters ever experienced, the Mayor said: “What a year it was to try and implement improved business structures with our engineering team faced with the most challenging road conditions to maintain, and on top of that we had the freak tornado like storm that ripped through Parkes in October unearthing hundreds of trees and lifting the roof of the iconic race course grandstand.”

The Mayor said the wet conditions also made it a challenging year to start work on Council’s new sewage and water treatment plants. “But work under the John Holland Group is progressing very satisfactorily. The $85 million cost of these facilities also includes a recycling capability with a recycled water ring main. “The Parkes Shire Council launched its new branding for the Shire community based on positive feedback that it all adds up to live in the Parkes Shire.”

Mayor Keith said the year ended on a high note with the resurgence of the Christmas Street Parade, enhanced by the Sparkles Illuminations transforming buildings into an outdoor Christmas exhibition.” Looking ahead the Mayor said: “We look forward to 2017 with optimism and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Elvis Festival, the completion of major capital works projects and the opportunity to restore and upgrade the road network.”

By Maggi Barnard

Mayoral Notes…

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

I would like to invite the community to connect with Council via our new user-friendly website and social media pages. After six months of consultation, planning, tendering and user testing, the new-look website was launched this week just in time for Christmas. Residents and visitors can keep uptodate with all the Council news and events by signing up to our e-newsletter. For more information visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

The Tullamore Irish Festival has launched its new and improved event format for 2017, which will have a music concert focus. The lineup will have longer sets with each act playing for 1.5 hours. Tickets are on sale at www.tullamore.org.au , and are the perfect last-minute Christmas gift. There are just two more nights to enjoy the Christmas illuminations throughout town before they switch over for the 2017 Elvis Festival. From Boxing Day onward, the 12 projections will have a ‘Viva Las Vegas’ theme to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Festival.

Rounding out a remarkable year, Council was awarded formal safety management accreditation by SAI Global. This means that Council is delivering best practice in WHS and providing a safe workplace for all our staff and contractors. Finally, I would like to thank the Parkes Shire community for their support throughout 2016. This year has been one of the most exciting and progressive years for Council, and I look forward to what 2017 will bring for our region. For those travelling over the Christmas/New Year period, please do so safely. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year.

Best wishes,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Our Bloke – Arne Murray

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Arne Murray

How long have you lived in Parkes? I have lived in Parkes for about two months, originally from Queensland.

What do you like about Parkes? Nice small town living, but not too small. Residents are also very friendly.

Where do you work? I work at PJL Irrigation in Parkes as Irrigation Manager.

What do you enjoy about your work? Not one day is the same. Interaction with my clients as well as the technical side of my job.

What do you do with your free time? I like reading about my profession as well as attending and spending time in my religion.

How do you like your coffee? Strong good quality coffee always with two sugars – sweet tooth.

What makes your day? Helping others and at least trying to do one good deed for the day.

If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be? Somewhere in Italy- enjoying a good Italian meal with my family.

Maggi Barnard

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