Maggi Barnard

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

Australian Cricketer Attracts Large Crowd At Autism Golf Day

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Former Australian test cricketer Jeff Thomson proved a big attraction for players and guests at Sunday’s fundraising day sponsored by John Holland Construction. The 3 Person Ambrose event was in aid of the Central West Autism Awareness & Special Needs Awareness Group. Significant funds were raised to enable the organisation to erect ten Buddy Benches at schools in Parkes, Forbes and Peak Hill, as well as a bus shelter and a new 22-seater bus with specialty equipment fitted for wheelchair use for school outings.

In his address to the large crowd Jeff Thomson had a lot to say about the current system of team selections and its administration. He accepted questions from the crowd and proved to be a great ambassador for the game. However on the golf course it was the team of Matthew Duffy, Scott Hendry and Tim Magill who dominated play as they returned an excellent round of five under par 66 for a nett 54 ½ to finish nearly three shots ahead of the field.

The runners-up team consisted of Michael Dumesny, Mark Dwyer and John Davies on 57 1/6 nett, and in third place
it was Phil Smith, Paul Murray and Matt Spedding on 58 nett. The much sought after Bradman’s award saw the schoolteachers team of Sherree Rosser, Judy Elliott and Elaine Bright record a narrow victory. The Nearest the Pin awards saw Andrew Huntly take out the 1st hole at 585cm, Michael Hunt the 4th hole at 55cm, Jack Murray the 6th hole at 359cm, Luke Cross the 11th hole at 93cm and on the final Par 3 the 15th, it was Michael Dumesny who excelled at 300cm.

The Long Drive competition was won by Nathan Munday at close to 300m on the 8th hole. The general consensus was that all players enjoyed the day’s golf and they were full of praise for the sponsors and the event organisers, in particular the efforts of Jodie Goonrey and David Whitfield. Tomorrow members will contest an 18 hole Stableford for the Court Press trophy, while the Ladies will also contest an 18 hole Stableford competition for a Club trophy.

By Paul Thomas

La Bella Celebrates Another Successful Year With Clients

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

La Bella Medispa celebrated another successful year with their clients at the business’ annual Christmas party last week. This year the party was held at the newly opened Hart Bar at the Railway Hotel. The La Bella team at the party were at the back Jess Galvin, Jaymie Wheeldon, Laura Jelbart, Jasmyne Perceval, Rebecca Miller, Carla Poole and Marty Dswonitzky. In front are Codie Sense, Hannah Tanswell and Chloe Ingram.

Question of the Week?

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

What do you love about volunteering?
(Asked at Meals on Wheels luncheon for volunteers)

Veronica Sutton: I love helping out those less fortunate. It’s a great way to get out and meet other people, both the clients and the other volunteers.

Jo Tye: The joy of it. Meeting new people. It’s just fun.

Lionel Lyneham: I just love being able to help the community.

Hart Bar The Place To See

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

If you haven’t already, be sure to get to Hart Bar this weekend to check out this beautiful new venue in Parkes! With enough space to cater for almost any event, you need to make sure your next event is at Hart Bar! It is available Monday to Friday for corporate events, and Wednesday and Thursday nights are available for dinner – making the perfect excuse for a mid week catch up!

With the busy time of year picking up, weekends are now booked until Christmas, but if you have something in mind for the new year make sure you book in as soon as possible as the calendar will fill up quickly! This weekend the bar will be open for lunch and dinner Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Jac Clark’s art on display to celebrate the official opening. The Railway lunch and dinner menu will be on offer along with the new share plate menu exclusive to Hart Bar in the evenings. Booking are essential so make sure you get in quick.

The new exhibition by Jac Clark titled Figure is exploring the boldness of a monochrome palette and its place in portraiture. The original large scale artworks will be available for purchase along with limited edition prints of each piece.

It’s The Little Things In Life….

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

As we grow older and our lives get busier I keep going back to this simple belief of mine. It is the little things in life that are important to our well being. As our routines and commitments get more hectic it is the time we spend in our own homes that becomes precious.

Our homes can feed our souls and enrich our lives. It can be a sanctuary from the pressures of the outside world.
So how do we create these havens of bliss where we can relax and make everlasting memories with our family and friends? We want a home that looks sensational and has the WOW factor, but is easy to maintain and an absolute joy to live in.
Follow these guidelines and tips.
• A home free from clutter is a breeze to live in. If objects have a place to be stored away in when not in use, your
home can be free from mess.
• Remember the age-old adage that less is always more. This is my mantra that I follow to the letter. I always have one big WOW piece on a piece of furniture and the rest of the surface is empty. This minimalistic approach is very easy to achieve and makes cleaning and dusting a breeze as there is not a plethora of objects to move.
• Always have a neutral colour palette to work from in each decorating project. This makes changing more dramatic
pieces a breeze because you have not limited yourself by bold paint or curtaining choices.
• Cushions can perform magic tricks. The addition of cushions can literally change the feel and style of a room. They can bring cohesion to an overall design of a space and add colour, texture and intimacy to a space.
• Rugs define zones and create different areas effortlessly within today’s open plan living areas. A plush rug will also add warmth, texture and cosiness to any room.
• Be realistic and make sure the choices you make in decorating and styling your home will suit your lifestyle. The
choices we make should enhance the way we choose to live rather than be a hindrance.

When I enter my home, I feel such a sense of contentment and excitement that I am lucky enough to live within this space with my family. I make sure that I take time to really enjoy all the different spaces and areas within my home and to allow myself time to just be in the moment. My home energizes me and sends me out into the world again with renewed vigour. Wouldn’t it be great if you too could experience this every day?

By Karen Creith

Have You Got Your Elf On The Shelf Yet?

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

At the North Pole, Santa has many helpers who make the Christmas season special! His scout elves serve as his eyes and ears in homes around the world… The Elf on the Shelf is being accepted into more and more homes each year. The children’s book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition came out in 2004 and tells a Christmas-themed story that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and who is nice.

The story describes how Santa’s scout Elves hide in people’s homes to watch over events. But first the scout elves need to be named. Once a family has named the elf, it receives its special Christmas magic, which allows it to fly to and from the North Pole.

At night when everyone goes to bed, the scout elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa the activities, good and bad, that have taken place. Before the family wakes up each morning, the scout elf flies back from the North Pole and hides. By hiding in a new spot each morning, the scout elf and the family play an ongoing game of hide and seek.
The Elf on the Shelf is available at Colouby Creations in Parkes.

Parkes Women’s Bowling Club

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The combined charity day with the Parkes Railway Diggers was very enjoyable and successful. Ronald McDonald House will benefit from the day. Several pairs games were played and the winners on the day were Diane Greenhalgh
and Robyn Morgan with 2 wins plus 11 and runners-up were Audrey Jones and Elaine Bradley with 2 wins plus 7.
Winners of the spider prizes were June Burgess, Gwenda Carty, Diane Greenhalgh, Evelyn Gibson, Bev Ellis and Maree Grant.

The winner of the raffle was Gwenda Carty and second prize went to Diane Greenhalgh. Our Presentation Day and Christmas Lunch will be held on 13th December. Names on board please; lunch is $15. To play Social Bowls please ring table selectors Brenda Davies and Marja Iffland between 8.30am and 9am. Social roster is Merilyn Rodgers.

By Rosemary Mitchell

Meet You Up the Street – Carnival Atmosphere In Peak Hill Next Friday

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

‘Tis the season to be merry and bright and the Parkes Shire is filled to the brim with shining things to do and brilliant gift ideas to help you enjoy the festive season as much as possible. To make the most of the longer days and good weather in December, a variety of events are on offer and Peak Hill residents can look forward to the Meet You Up the Street festival, and Carols by Candlelight in the Commercial Gardens on Sunday, 18th December from 7pm.

The Meet You Up the Street festival is next Friday, 2nd December from 8am in Caswell Street until late. The streets will come alive with music, street stalls, raffles, chocolate wheel, art on the sidewalks, fun rides for children and loads of specials in the shops. Make sure you are there to shop til you drop at the markets, admire the art in the
street, try out the Lip Sync contest, grab a bite to eat from a take away shop, hotel or club, have your photo taken with Santa at the Post Office and cheer on the competitors in the Billy Cart Derby at the gold mine.

Find out who won the best decorated house, shop and best shop window and various other prizes and competitions.
Winners of the Library Writing Contest will be announced, Peak Hill 89.5 Radio will be broadcasting live and the library is hosting a kids dress up parade. The day ends at the Bowling Club for a family night of entertainment and barefoot bowling. It all adds up to a great family day out. Contact Antonia Francis or Betty Zdan on 6869 1236 or 0407 072 813 for more information or visit www.visitparkes.com.au.

Mayoral Notes…

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The Shop Parkes this Christmas retail campaign has officially launched, with residents and visitors encouraged to shop locally for their chance to win a fabulous trip to Las Vegas. Keep an eye out for the Shop Parkes posters displayed in stores, and the Christmas catalogue in your letterbox. With the festive season fast approaching, local businesses are encouraged to deck out their shop windows. The most creative CBD Christmas window display, during the 2-24 December period, will receive a marketing package valued at $500 for the 2017 Christmas Shopping campaign. The winner will be announced on the Shop Parkes Facebook page on Friday, 16th December 2016.

During the month of November, Council took a proactive approach to road safety and repair prior to the harvest season, by working with growers and heavy vehicle operators to mitigate potential hazards on the Shire’s roads. I would like to thank all motorists for exercising extra care during harvest, and sharing the roads accordingly during
this busy period.

The Parkes Elvis Festival is calling on locals to help deliver the 2017 Festival. Join the Festival family as a volunteer and experience all the fun, while giving something back to the community. For more information, or to register as a volunteer, visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au.

The Embroiders Guild is showing an exhibition of stitched circles collection along with some Christmas embroidery items and other delightfully skilled work. This exhibition runs until the end of November at the Parkes Shire Library.

On Thursday, 1st December, join us as we celebrate Parkes’ 143rd Birthday by cutting a cake at the Sir Henry Parkes statue at Chamberlain Square at 10.30am. In 1873, on this day, the township was officially named Parkes, in honour of the then Premier of the Colony of NSW, Sir Henry Parkes.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Inland Rail Project On Track

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project is set to make tracks in 2018, according to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). The first stages of the 1,700km long rail line will commence in 2018. It will be worth $16 billion to the Australian economy over the next 50 years. A spokesperson for ARTC said at a conference in Toowoomba recentlly: “The project is now two years into the 10 year $10.5 billion program.” The head offices for the project will be in Brisbane with satellite offices in Sydney and Toowoomba.

Parkes Shire Mayor and Chair of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Alliance, Cr Ken Keith OAM, attended the congress and said the news was encouraging for the region. “This is a critical piece of national infrastructure and will open up a corridor of opportunity from Brisbane to Melbourne, with Parkes uniquely positioned to leverage
economically. “The Inland Rail is set to generate $1.8 billion for Northern Western and Central NSW and $2.6 billion for the whole of NSW,” the Mayor said.

New state-of-the-art equipment is set to be used in the construction process, which will require 1.6 million sleepers, 2.5 million tonnes of ballast and 138,000 tonnes of rail. It is hoped that much of these products will be sourced and procured locally enhancing local economies along the proposed route, including the Parkes Shire.

A report will be finalised by March next year regarding opportunities for investment in the Inland Rail. For more information about Inland Rail visit http://inlandrail.artc.com.au/

Maggi Barnard

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