Maggi Barnard

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

Priscilla Says Thank You To Parkes

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Meeting Priscilla Presley is something many Elvis fans can only dream of, but it became a reality for two very lucky Parkes locals last weekend.

Founder of the Parkes Elvis Festival Anne Steel and her daughter Tiffany, who recently became director of the festival, went to the opening of the much-anticipated Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

So many fans tried to meet Priscilla when she arrived at the gallery and tried to get a snapshot of her in the car.

“I was really hoping that we’d be able to meet Priscilla,” said Tiffany. “We were told that she wasn’t doing any meet and greets, and we went to look through the exhibition. To our surprise, Angie Marchese, head of archives at Graceland, unexpectedly came and found me and grabbed my hand and said ‘come with me right now’.

“We did not have time to find dad (Bob Steel) before we were whisked away into a back room where Priscilla was waiting.”

It was a very special moment for Anne. “I was really pleased to be able to meet her and to discover what a lovely person she was. She seemed genuinely interested in what we were doing at the Parkes Elvis Festival and thanked us for keeping Elvis’ memory alive.”

Tiffany said they also talked about the 30th anniversary of the festival in January next year and plans to build the replica gates of Graceland. “She was happy to hear that there are so many Elvis fans in Australia and said the Parkes Elvis Festival was wonderful.”

Sports Shorts

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Bowls News

The Parkes Bowling & Sports club Pennants team made it to state finals and travelled to Forster-Tuncurry last week. Liz Byrne presented Team Manager Kay Craft with a thank you gift.

Forbes Dragon Boat Club Raffle Winners

The major prize winners are: 1st 200L of fuel Alex Riley; 2nd Canvas Artwork Wendy Nelson; 3rd Picnic Hamper Nicole Williams; 4th Oztrail change room Ally Hetherington; 5th Chill Float Session Wendy Nelson; 6th Toaster & Kettle Luke Byrne; 7th $50 Ampol fuel card Jane Burley; 8th 2x $25 Ampol fuel cards Rachel

100 Parkruns

Erin Nichols celebrated her 100th run with a personal best time at the Northparkes Oval Parkrun on Saturday. Erin has completed eight of her parkruns at Northparkes Oval parkrun, with the remaining 92 at Cloncurry parkrun (87), Riverway parkrun (2), Mt Penang parkrun (1), Casula Parklands parkrun (1) and South Bank parkrun (1). What a huge achievement. Well done Erin!

Final Classic Outback Trial Rally Starts In Parkes On Sunday

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Buy a raffle ticket from the Parkes Prostate Cancer Support and Awareness Group outside Discount Daves today and tomorrow to stand a chance to get a ride around town with race driver Warren Briggs in his 1965 Mustang

Rally cars started arriving in Parkes yesterday and will be seen all over Parkes this weekend as cars and their crews come to town for the start of the seventh and final Classic Outback Trial.

It is an endurance rally for historic rally cars (pre-1980), and 49 cars and their crews will pass under the starter’s arch in Church Street at 9am on the first of seven long and gruelling days of fast, hard and dusty competitive car rallying covering 33 special stages and nearly 1,700km in total.

With the racing crews comes a mobile army of almost 300 people who will offer a very significant boost for the economy of not only Parkes, Orange and Bathurst – where overnight stops will be held – but also that some of the smaller towns like Condobolin, Molong and Sofala, where lunch breaks will be held.

Entries for the event include local Bathurst legends Andrew and David Travis. Driving a 1984 V6 powered Nissan Gazelle, the son and father team will be trying hard to win this year’s event to add to their already impressive tally of four Classic Outback Trial wins.

Hot on their heels will be former Australian Rally Champion Nathan Quinn in a 1972 Mazda RX2 and South Australian star driver Stuart Bowes, who will be manhandling his massive Mercedes Benz 450 SLC through the tight forests and fast and open shire roads between Parkes and Bathurst.

Another entry set to attract some attention is a 1958 British sports car fitted with 2019 Telsa S electric running gear. The car is a Sunbeam Alpine Series 3, probably best known as the “Get Smart Car” in the popular TV series of the 1970’s.

Michael Wilkinson of Victoria is the car’s owner and the brains behind the unique concept, and the Classic Outback Trial is his first foray into dusty and gravel roads of a regularity rally with an electric rally car.

Giving the rally some international flavour will be UK-based Kiwi Warren Briggs who has entered his beautiful 1965 Mustang. Aided by Victorian navigator Matt Dillon the team are hoping for a good showing. It will be a change of scenery for Warren who is more used to steering his historic Formula one McLaren around tarmac circuits instead of the dusty roads of regional NSW.

LOCAL CHARITY SUPPORT

Warren and his team usually pick a local charity to support and this year have joined with local racing legend Peter O’Donnell and Spinifex Recruiting to raise awareness and funds for the Parkes Prostate Cancer Support and Awareness Group.

The Mustang will be on display this afternoon in front of Discount Daves in Clarinda Street to raise awareness for the Prostate Cancer Support Group. The group will be running a raffle with the lucky winner getting a ride around town with Warren in the Mustang. The team welcomes everyone to come up whilst the event is on, get a photo or two or just have a yarn about the Mighty Red 1965 Mustang.

A feature of the 2022 Classic Outback Trial is the Regularity event, held in conjunction with the Special Stage Rally but on open roads and where the crews must strictly obey all traffic rules and regulations to arrive at their destination on time.

The 2022 Classic Outback Trial will move to Orange on Tuesday, 29th March and will finish at Bathurst Civic Centre on Saturday, 2nd April.

Switch On For Bowls

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Pennants teams who represented the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club at state level in Forster-Tuncurry last week are (L-R) Brenda Davies, Marja Iffland, Betsy Johnstone, Rhona Went, Liz Byrne, Merilyn Rodgers, Cherie Frame and Maree Grant.

Turn the dial forward to a new week, and pleased to report all our travellers have returned to base safe ‘n sound!

Our Pennants teams have represented us at state level. Congratulations on your achievement: Brenda Davies, Marja Iffland, Betsy Johnstone, Rhona Went, Liz Byrne, Merilyn Rodgers, Cherie Frame and Maree Grant – you’ve done us proud!

Today’s casual social bowls program allowed everyone to come back down to earth!

The handicappers were switched on, as all games were very close!

Elaine Miller/Lorraine Baker/Heather Harvey fast-forwarded to a good lead and took the win over Sue Maddison/Chris Cox/Rose Mitchell, despite a strong finish by the latter.

Fran White/Frances Charlton/Lea Orr/Betsy Johnstone/Rhona Went had their aerial tuned in and spun up a narrow win over Jan McPhee/Lynn Ryan/Marja Iffland/Maria Willcockson, despite some mid-game interference!

Gwenda Carty hit the right button when it counted and enjoyed a one-point win over Merilyn Rodgers and Di Howell.

Valmai Westcott/Kay Craft/Liz Byrne scanned several channels without result, only getting their best reception and scoring the winning points during the last few ends against Kim Evans/Carol Reed/Brenda Davies.

Money flew faster than LPs could turn as the club draws took place. The numbers spun up for Gwenda, Lea, Merilyn and Maria!

On Tuesday, 29th March it is our Easter-themed Trading Table. Gifts to the value of $10.

Please give strong consideration to your involvement in the 2022 Pennants Teams. Riding on the back of the success of our No 3s heading off to the state finals, who knows what 2022 will bring! It’s your club, support it where you can. Continue to check the board for upcoming events.

Nominations for Club Pairs are still open and will close early April.

To play social bowls, call the club on 6862 1446 between 9 and 9:30am with play to begin at 10am.

By Lea Orr

Parkes Carnival Attracts Athletes From All Over State

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Parkes athletes had a great day winning several medals in various events: Alice Williams and Ellie Tattersall; Oliver Monkerud; Khleaigha Dawson and Giselle Higgins.

The Parkes Little Athletics Club held its annual carnival recently with 130 athletes taking part from all over the state.

With about 100 different events on the day there were a lot of personal best achievements and some records broken. Gold, silver and bronze medals were handed out for each age group for boys and girls in each event.

“We always have our carnival on the second Sunday in March, and athletes use it as their last practise before the state championships in Sydney the weekend after,” said Kelli Edwards. That is why athletes come from as far as Penrith, Gosford, Temora, Cobar, Bankstown, Wyong and Hawkesbury City. There were also participants from Forbes, Dubbo, Bathurst, Cumnock, Gilgandra, Gulgong, Cowra, Canowindra, Orange, Woy Woy and Young.

“The carnival was a huge success,” said Kelli. “It is the biggest fundraiser for our club. The day ran smoothly and all the kids had fun. It would not have been possible without our amazing committee and helpers.”

The club had been very lucky to have gone through the COVID pandemic without having to cancel the annual carnival. “In 2020 we got in just before the lockdown started, and in 2021 we could run it, but with limited numbers. The only issue we had this year with COVID was that some of our families and committee members were unwell or in isolation.”

As fuel prices keep on increasing, what changes can you make to your life to save on fuel?

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Benji Redfern (Year 7): I ride my bike everywhere and catch the bus to school. I will encourage others to start using their bikes more often.

Kaitlyn Neems (Year 12): I have my P plates and teenagers like driving around a lot. I think we can do less of that and start doing jobs together to save on costs. We should also look at taking the shortest route to go somewhere and start walking or riding bikes more.

Lexi Paradowski (Year 5): It is kind of hard for me as we live a bit out of town, which makes it hard to cycle or walk anywhere. Dad is very lucky to get his fuel for free from work.

Young Soloists Ready For Big Night

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Lexi Herden and Aimee Ross from Parkes Christian School are ready to share the stage with Australia’s biggest stars in
Overture after being successful with their auditions as soloists.

Sharing the stage with Australia’s celebrity artists in your home town is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the two junior soloists in Overture are super excited for the 2nd of April.

The two Parkes Christian School students might only be 12 and 13 years in age, but Lexi Herden and Aimee Ross are ready for the challenge of performing on the big stage and would like to see the whole community come out and support them on this unforgettable night.

Lexi will be singing ‘When I grow up’ from the musical Matilda. “I will sing two verses and then the choir will join in,” said the young star who has only had two solo roles before in her life.

Aimee will be singing ‘I know it’s today’ from Shrek with Australian superstar Lucy Durack and Holly Hare from Bathurst. Aimee sings the part of little Fiona, Holly is young Fiona and Lucy is adult Fiona.

The two students had to do an audition at the end of last year and are the only two school-aged soloists chosen from auditioneers from all across NSW.

“My mum took a video when I got the good news,” said Aimee. “I was ecstatic! I really wanted it,” said the young star who has been in several Parkes M & D productions.

Lexi said she did not really understand how big a deal it was until her mum explained. “I got really excited, but I’m also feeling a bit nervous about performing in front of such a big audience.”

She would love to become a professional in musical theatre one day, and can’t wait to meet Lucy Durack and talk to her about

what it takes to get to the top.

“It would be amazing to meet Lucy and perform with her on stage,” said Aimee, who also have a passion for law and politics and becoming a lawyer.

The two students will conclude their preparation with a singing lesson with the other big star of Overture, Josh Piterman shortly before the big night.

Be Seen @ Little Atletics

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Lucas Edwards

Tully Cassidy

Emrys Cassidy.

Arlo Cassidy

Cheers To 300!

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

March is a special month for The Parkes Phoenix as we turned six on the 4th and today we celebrate our 300th issue!

When The Parkes Phoenix first hit the streets on 4th March 2016 as a free community paper, residents were not too sure what to make of it. It has since become a Friday feature and stood with the community through tough times of the drought and the COVID pandemic, and celebrated the happy times and achievements.

The Parkes Phoenix is part of the Phoenix Group of Newspapers and over the past six years the paper has changed ownership three times. It was started by Cheryl Newsom, and her daughter Sarah Maynard took over when Cheryl retired in January 2017. The current owner, Joshua Matic, took over in October 2019.

“In the three years that I have owned the Parkes Phoenix we have been through some great challenges, including drought and COVID-19, that have made it difficult to continue to thrive, but I am extremely proud of the way that we’ve done it,” said Joshua.

“To make it to 300 issues after starting in 2016 under the original owner is a wonderful achievement. We are very proud to be a part of the Parkes community and communicate the best news in the Parkes Shire each week.

“We are very excited to see the return of the Parkes Elvis Festival next month. The last installment of it in January 2020 was a huge one and after one year off I think this year’s event will be even bigger and better.

“I would like to thank all of the staff that have worked on The Parkes Phoenix during my time as its owner, particularly Editor Maggi Barnard who has been a part of it since it first began six years ago.”

Search Is On For Face Of The Festival

March 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The 2020 Miss Priscilla winner Shania Sarsfield from Wellington.

With Priscilla fever running high all over Australia and definitely in our town, it is time to start preparations for the Miss Priscilla competition at this year’s Parkes Elvis Festival.

After the visit of Priscilla in Bendigo last weekend, the Miss Priscilla title should be sought after this year as women from all walks of life spend the day getting their hair and make-up done and dressed up to resemble Elvis’ one time love, Priscilla Presley. The winner of Miss Priscilla will become the Face of the Festival at the Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner on Thursday, 21st April.

Being crowned Miss Priscilla brings instant fame as she will make special appearances at many of the festival’s wonderful events and will enjoy all the perks of being crowned Elvis’ leading lady for the weekend. There are also some great prizes to be won.

“We’re still accepting applications and encourage anyone who is keen to enter,” said Festival Director Tiffany Steel, who was fortunate to have met the real Priscilla

in Bendigo. “If you have long-dark hair and would like to enter and don’t know where to start get in touch with us”.

Jenny Goodsell of Goodsell Machinery, the sponsor of the competition, said: “We would love to see more entrants in the competitions from around the region.”

There are also two other competitions on the night: Hairstyles of the 60’s and Miss Speedway. Simply recreate the gorgeous 1960s hairstyles or have some fun with Speedway inspired novelty hairstyles. Miss Speedway gives blondes the opportunity to recreate the look of Nancy Sinatra from the movie Speedway.

The evening includes a two-course dinner and entertainment by leading Australian Elvis tribute artist Dean Vegas, local Parkes trio, Amitie and a Speedway inspired fashion parade by the NSW Pinup Pageant entrants.

To enter the competitions and to purchase tickets for the night go to www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au

Maggi Barnard

Subscribe