Maggi Barnard

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

Wet Weather Machine

October 7, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The Landboss 800 UTV 4×4 is a very appropriate machine for the wet weather. Light enough to skip across the wet ground yet built to carry 450kg with a 700kg tow capacity. Other features include big tow-points provided front and rear and selectable diff locks front and rear – you select two or fourwheel- drive for the most challenging conditions.

The Perkins diesel engine, built in Japan, gives great economy with high torque and plenty of road speed. Transmission is a Canadian CVT with hi and lo ranges. You can crawl along slowly behind stock and accelerate
away to round up stragglers without changing gears.

Tyres are 6-ply heavy duty 14” in diameter with a 5-stud pattern. A bench seat with three seat belts provides accommodation for passengers. A tilt steering column gives the driver some extra room. The electric power steering helps prevent kick back from rough paddocks. The suspension is independent with adjustable load carrying springs. Available at SincockLVM Parkes and Condobolin for an amazing $17, 990 incl GST. Phone Bruce Cobb on 0447 560 342.

Peak Hill Strikes Gold On 50 Best Small Towns List

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Peak Hill has been named one of Australia’s 50 Top Best Small Towns. The town with a heart of gold, 49km north of Parkes, made it to the list after a monthlong contest run by the online travel agency, Discount My Flights, to find the most irresistible, exotic, historic and postcard-worthy small towns in the country. “It’s a great honour to have Peak Hill recognised as one of the best small towns in the nation,” said Parkes Shire Mayor, Councillor Ken Keith.

“Peak Hill is a hidden gem, founded upon a rich history of gold mining. Now that the secret is out, we are proud to share Peak Hill with the rest of Australia,” said the Mayor. “It is not a surprise Peak Hill was selected.” With gold first discovered in 1889, it still attracts visitors to the town with the Gold Mine Open Cut Experience topping the list
of must see attractions.

Residents were very excited about the inclusion on the list saying it would give their town positive publicity. The town, with a population of around 1,400, also offers many other tourist attractions such as a unique nature walk, the
Bogan Weir, Australia’s first upright wheat silo, heritage listed hospital, arts and crafts, the Big Fish Fossil hut, and a unique street facade which takes you back in time.

The first public wheat silo built in Australia was constructed at Peak Hill in 1918 after government surveys found the district had great potential as a wheat producing region. The winning towns gain promotion through various media channels and a coveted badge for their website. Central NSW was well represented in the top 50, with Orange, Lithgow, Blayney, Dubbo and Narromine also making the list.

Mayoral Notes…

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

I am elated to announce that Council has been selected as a finalist in the Destination Marketing category of the 2016 NSW Tourism Awards for the development and implementation of the ‘Parkes it all adds up’ brand and associated campaigns. I am dually excited that the Parkes Elvis Festival has also received finalist status in the
Festivals and Events category. The NSW Tourism Awards are held annually to celebrate and acknowledge tourism excellence across the State. The winners will be announced at a Gala Celebration at Luna Park in Sydney on 24th November.

Parkes is moving into the digital future with the construction of the National Broadband Network (nbn™) getting underway this week. More than 5,700 homes and businesses in Parkes will soon have access to a world of new opportunities, with crews in town to check pits and pipes, lay fibre backbone to the network and install node cabinets.

This week Council welcomed NSW Roads Minister, The Hon Duncan Gay to Parkes to inspect the damage to the Shire’s roads caused by recent flood events and wet weather. Parts of the Shire’s road network has suffered extensive damage and motorists need to be aware that there may be pot holes and defects that pose a major risk to road users.
Locals are encouraged to grab yourself some handmade and homegrown produce at the UpMarkets in Cooke Park on Sunday.

While the school holidays are drawing to a close, residents and visitors still have plenty of time to access the special deals on offer at our local attractions, shopping outlets and cafes by downloading your ‘Colour Pass’ from www.visitparkes.com.au.

Enjoy your weekend.
Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Our Gal – Shellie Buckle

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Shellie Buckle

How long have you lived in Parkes? I was born and grew up in Parkes, leaving in 1994. After time in Dubbo and Sydney I returned to Parkes in 2006.

Where do you work? At Parkes Shire Council, managing cultural, education and library services.

What do you enjoy most about your work? Being able to make a difference in the community. It is very rewarding delivering storytelling, art workshops, exhibitions, providing book clubs, a writers group, author visits, programs for young and old. Offering opportunities for inspiration is important to me.

What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy gardening, cycling, mosaic creating, travelling and of course reading!

How do you like your coffee? Flat white with two sugars.

What makes your day? Being a librarian first and foremost, it is recommending a new author or book to a person and them letting me know they really enjoyed it.

What is your favourite food? I had steamed mussels in an Asian broth travelling once. I dream about going back.

If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be? Ethiopia, to trek in the mountains and visit some of the oldest historical sites in the world.

40th Anniversary For Antique Bike Rally

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes Antique Bike Rally, first started in 1977, celebrated its 40th anniversary over the long weekend. A special commemorative medallion was made featuring Brian Coote’s 1914 Douglas, as he was one of the instigators of the rally. Only one entrant, Don Liddle, a former president of the Veteran & Vintage Motorcycle Club based in the Sydney region, has been to all the rallies. According to Bob Steel, organiser and founder of the event, most of the original entrants have either passed on or are unable to ride. The number of entrants was also reduced to 31 this
year because of the closure of the Newell Highway. Parkes locals who took part were John Frogley, Rex Veal, Brian Gray, Scott Mill, Ray Johnston and Bob Steel. Ray Johnson on his 1960 BSA came first in the Post war 1945 – 60 category.

The Saturday run took them to The Dish, and on Sunday they went to Eugowra, Cudal and then Molong.

Question of the Week?

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

How do you feel about Peak Hill being placed in the top 50 best small towns?

David Cornish: Great! Really good to see Peak Hill get some publicity.

Georgia Sharkey: Encouraging that our town has been recognised for its township and scenic surroundings.

Dianne and David Hewett: Really lovely that our small community with ‘a heart of gold’ has been seen and recognised for its qualities.

Snippets…

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Construction on NBN begins: More than 5,700 homes and businesses in Parkes will soon have access to the National Broadband Network (nbn™). Crews have arrived in town to start work on the nbn™. Parkes Shire Mayor Councillor Ken Keith OAM said this was an exciting time for the region. “Parkes will soon transition into the digital future, bringing greater opportunities for residents and businesses to maximise their potential.” More than 650 residents and businesses in the southern area of Parkes are already able to connect to the nbn™ through the
fixed wireless technology.

Council finalist in NSW Tourism Awards: Parkes Shire Council has been selected as a finalist in the Destination Marketing category of the 2016 NSW Tourism Awards for the development and implementation of the ‘Parkes it all adds up’ brand and associated campaigns. Now in its 27th year, the Awards celebrate over 100 finalists across 26 categories. Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith OAM said he was delighted with the news. “Marketing
the Parkes Shire as an attractive tourist destination and growing our visitor economy provides tangible economic benefits to our region, and it’s great to see Council’s investment is being recognised. “We are dually excited that the Parkes Elvis Festival has also received finalist status in the Festivals and Events category,” said Cr Keith. The winners will be announced at a Gala Celebration at Luna Park in Sydney on 24th November.

Red Cross Tea Rooms: The Parkes Red Cross tea rooms reopened last Friday for its traditional morning and afternoon teas. The Red Cross Emergency Services teams are working in Forbes and Condobolin at the evacuation centres, and money taken at the tea rooms assists to finance this service – your support is most gratefully received. The tea room will be open every Friday from 11am to 3pm until the Christmas recess. Under new leadership the Parkes branch meeting date has been changed to the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 2pm. The next meeting is on Tuesday, 18th October in the Parkes Red Cross rooms in Church Street. Red Cross is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Canowindra Baroquefest 14th – 16th October: Four concerts celebrating the music of the great composers brought to
Canowindra by internationally renowned performers. The schools program starts on Friday, 14th October and will present an introduction to string instruments and concert performance to 170 children over three sessions. The official opening is at 5:30pm and at 7.30 pm Camerata Antica presents a concert of English baroque on old instruments. Entertainment continues over the remainder of the weekend. Full program details and bookings are available at www.canowindrabaroquefest.com.au or contact 0429 443 215.

Dry Weather Good For Golf

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

We finally had a dry weekend that allowed members of the Parkes Golf Club to shed the cobwebs off their golf clubs and prepare for some competition golf. The men contested an 18 hole 2 Man Team Stableford last Saturday for trophies put up by members Michael Craft and Peter Dixon. Holes 1 to 6 were played as a Best Ball, holes 7 to 12 as Aggregate and the final 6 holes as a Mutliplier. The last 6 holes proved crucial as Michael Dellaca and Scott Mann edged out Matthew Swetland and Rod Kiley on a countback after both pairs returned excellent scores of 61.

In the Individual event it was plain sailing for Shen Taranto who recorded the day’s best nett score of 39 points.
Ball Winners on the day went to 61 Matt Swetland and Rod Kiley, 58 Mitch McGlashan and Cameron Butler, 53 Neil
and Cameron McMillan and on 52 were Marty Woods and Max Haley. Only a small contingent of ladies contested
an 18 Hole Stableford round for the Cherrie Phillips trophy. Junior Kasey Fay-Rice spread-eagled the field with a convincing 7 point victory as she returned a great 35 points.

Ball winners went to Margaret Hogan on 28 points and Kaye Jones with 27. The first round of the Dixon Physiotherapy 36 Hole Members Club Foursomes Championships will be played on Sunday.
By Paul Thomas

Second Year 12 Class Graduates At Christian School

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

The last day of term 3 was also the last day for the second Year 12 class to graduate at Parkes Christian School. The graduating class received their final reports and prizes at the Founders’ Service held on Friday night. Bethany Magill won the Dux Award for Year 12. She also won the Long Tan Youth Award for Leadership and the Caltex All-Rounder Award. The Rueben F Scarf Award for Commitment to Learning was presented to Kaitlyn Strudwick.

Rachel Thorncroft and James Simpson were announced as the School Captains for 2017. They will head up the newly formed Student Representative Council from the start of term 4.

Ostini Wool Weekly Market Update

October 6, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Further strength in the finer microns was somewhat overshadowed last week by weakness in the broader types. 19.5-microns was the pivot point with finer microns gaining 20 to 40 cents whilst the broader microns fell 20 cents.
Over the past month the finer microns have firmed slightly whilst 21 to 23-microns have lost ground, resulting in the Northern Region 19 – 21 micron price differential jumping from 25 cents in early August to 134 cents this week. Thursday provided a strong finish to the week, with all fleece categories closing in front. Lots with a low CVH found good support attracting significant premiums to the rest of the market. The skirting market followed a similar trend with finer microns holding up reasonably well. While the medium to broader microns were generally 10 to 20 cents cheaper.

Crossbreds were reasonably limited in supply but managed to post increases for the broader microns, while the finer end eased. Oddments also firmed slightly on a limited selection.

Maggi Barnard

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